The Fall of ’55:
The Boys of Boise Scandal
ABOUT THE FILM
The Fall of ’55 is a documentary by filmmaker Seth Randal about the 1955-56 Boise homosexuality scandal, also known as the “Boys of Boise” scandal — Idaho’s most notorious anti-gay investigation. What began as an investigation into alleged homosexual activity expanded into a sweeping campaign that exposed private lives, damaged reputations, and raised profound questions about fear, morality, civil liberties, and the treatment of gay people in mid-century America.
Drawing on interviews and historical research, the film examines the people caught up in the investigation, the forces that drove it, and the lasting consequences for Boise’s LGBTQ+ community. Released in 2006, The Fall of ’55 documents a largely forgotten chapter of LGBTQ history and explores why its questions still resonate today.
The film raises many questions that prove difficult even today: With the accusers ranging in age from 14 to 21, at what age did their accusations of sexual corruption become simple hypocrisy? What kinds of behavior were immoral? How far should the community have gone to protect the youth? Who were the victims, and who were the exploited? In Boise, decades later, opinions are still deeply divided.
Unlike earlier accounts of the 1955 Boys of Boise scandal, The Fall of ’55 draws on independent research and historical documents to explore not only how the 1955–56 investigation unfolded, but also what happened to the people caught up in it. The documentary examines the investigation's lasting consequences for individuals, families, and the Boise community, bringing new details and previously untold perspectives to a largely forgotten chapter of Idaho history.
Since its initial release in 2006, The Fall of ’55 has been declared “the definitive work” on the 1955 Boys of Boise scandal, and “a significant contribution to gay history.” It has appeared on screen in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, and is used as a teaching tool by universities around the U.S. and beyond. The film has been discussed by media outlets including Associated Press, National Public Radio, KCBS Radio, Variety, and The New York Times.
The Fall of ’55 also inspired “The Show on the Roof,” a musical by Tom Ford and Alex Syiek for Boise Contemporary Theater, as well as the memoir “San Francisco, Open Your Golden Gate,” by Larry Oberg.
The Fall of ‘55 is distributed through Frameline Distribution.
THE HISTORY
THE LAVENDER SCARE AND THE BOYS OF BOISE
The 1955–56 Boise investigation unfolded during the Cold War, when fear of homosexuality fueled discrimination against gay people across the United States. The federal campaign to identify and remove gay and lesbian government employees became known as the Lavender Scare.
Although the Boise investigation was not formally part of that federal campaign, the backgrounds of people involved in the local investigation offer important context for understanding the era. Both Dr. John Butler, who is featured in The Fall of ‘55, and investigator William Fairchild had backgrounds connected to government investigations involving suspected homosexuals. Their histories illustrate how concerns about homosexuality extended beyond Washington into local institutions and communities.
The Boise morals drive had its own local circumstances, participants, and consequences. Understanding it alongside the broader Lavender Scare helps place the events in a wider history of government scrutiny, public exposure, and discrimination against gay people in mid-century America.
JOHN GERASSI AND THE STORY OF THE BOYS OF BOISE
In 1966, journalist John Gerassi brought national attention to the Boise homosexuality scandal with his book The Boys of Boise: Furor, Vice, and Folly in an American City. Reissued by the University of Washington Press in 2001, the book features a foreword by Dr. Peter Boag, a historian who is also featured in The Fall of ’55. Boag places Gerassi’s account in historical perspective and examines how attitudes toward homosexuality shaped the investigation and its legacy.
The Fall of ’55 revisited this history through independent research, historical documents, and interviews with people connected to the events. The documentary explores not only how the investigation unfolded, but also what happened to the people caught up in it — their families, their lives, and the lasting consequences of the scandal.
I RECOMMEND YOU WATCH THIS DOCUMENTARY MANY TIMES BECAUSE YOU’LL KEEP LEARNING SOMETHING NEW.”
OUR GOALS
When we began making The Fall of ‘55, we established three goals that continue to guide the film today.
1.
To sensitively explore the 1955–1956 morals drive in Boise, Idaho — and examine the ongoing consequences of the investigation and its subsequent publicity.
2.
To reveal and record untold stories, by speaking with people who have never before shared their perspectives.
3.
To fairly and accurately present the various sides of the story, without judgment and bias.