Berkeley Community Theater (original) (raw)

Theater in Berkeley, California, U.S.

Berkeley Community Theater

The "Bird Cage"
Berkeley Community Theater is located in CaliforniaBerkeley Community TheaterBerkeley Community TheaterLocation within California
Location Berkeley, California, U.S.
Coordinates 37°52′06″N 122°16′17″W / 37.86845°N 122.27147°W / 37.86845; -122.27147
Type Theater
Capacity 8,000
Opened 5 June 1950 (1950-06-05)
Berkeley Community Theater Berkeley LandmarkDesignatedDecember 7, 1992Reference no.179[1]

Berkeley Community Theater is a theater located in Berkeley, California, United States, on the campus of Berkeley High School. The theater is administered by the Berkeley Unified School District. It is listed as a Berkeley Landmark (no. 179) since December 7, 1992.[1][2] It is part of the Berkeley High School Campus Historic District,[3] and the Berkeley Historic Civic Center District.[4]

The theater building, a City of Berkeley Landmark since 1992, also holds the Florence Schwimley Little Theater, a smaller venue often used for Berkeley High School music and theater performances. The Art Deco-style theater has 3,491 seats, including a balcony section. A large stage is extended by an orchestra pit that can be raised or lowered.[2]

The theater was designed in 1938 and construction began in 1941, but was not completed until 1950, due to delays caused by World War II. Students attending Berkeley High during the war years often called it the "Bird Cage" since the exposed metal framework was a roost for many seagulls waiting for students to finish their lunches.[5]

The theater was designed to house a theater organ, but one was not installed at the time of construction. In the 1980s, an organ was moved from the Paramount Theater in Toledo, Ohio and installed in the Berkeley Community Theater by the Nor-Cal Theater Organ Society. Now with 41 ranks (sets of pipes) and two fully functional 4-manual (four keyboards plus pedals) consoles, this Wurlitzer is one of the largest and finest in existence. It is maintained solely by the volunteer work of the Society.[6]

Bruce Springsteen, Dido, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Paul Robeson, Dream Theater, Bob Dylan, Tangerine Dream, Stan Getz, The Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Robin Trower, Frank Zappa, James Taylor, Richie Havens, Alice Cooper, Lenny Bruce, Harry Chapin, Elton John, David Bowie, Genesis The Band, The Doors, King Crimson, and Iron Butterfly have played shows at the theater. Numerous albums have been recorded in the theater, including one by Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony.[7]

Famous speakers have included the Dalai Lama, Lenny Bruce, Bernie Sanders, Maya Angelou, Timothy Leary, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Al Franken, and Amy Goodman.[8]

Funding and renovations

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The citizens of Berkeley have directed funds towards the theater on numerous occasions. Berkeley voters passed measure AA in 2000, allocating around $15 million to the theater for renovation. These funds were later taken to build the new administration building at Berkeley High School. A few of the funds came back into the building in renovating the fire alarm system. During this process the grand curtain was damaged. It was finally replaced as well as all other soft goods in July 2009.

In the spring of 2010, a new sound system was installed in the theater.

Major renovations began in July 2020 with funding from a 2010 school facilities bond measure.[9]

  1. ^ a b "Berkeley Landmarks Designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Berkeley, CA". Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA).
  2. ^ a b Thompson, Daniella; Susan Cerny (2003–2008). "Berkeley High School". Berkeley Landmarks. Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  3. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Berkeley High School Campus Historic District". National Park Service. January 7, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2023. With accompanying pictures
  4. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Berkeley Historic Civic Center District". National Park Service. December 3, 1998. Retrieved July 1, 2023. With accompanying pictures
  5. ^ Smith, Harvey L. (2014). Berkeley and the New Deal. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 41. ISBN 9781467132398.
  6. ^ "About Our Organ". NorCal Theatre Organ Society. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Berkeley Community Theater". Discogs. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  8. ^ "The Berkeley Community Theater & The Florence Schwimley Little Theater". Berkeley Schools. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Renovations underway at historic Berkeley Community Theatre". Berkeleyside. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.