Berkeley Community Theater
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The "Bird Cage" | |||||||||||||||
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| Location | Berkeley, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
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| Capacity | 3,491 | ||||||||||||||
| Type | Theater | ||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||
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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]
Description
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]
History
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, Stan Getz, 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, The Clash, Elvis Costello, Van Morrison, The Kinks, Tangerine Dream, Humble Pie, The Tubes, Bay City Rollers, Peter Gabriel, Iggy Pop, and Iron Butterfly have played shows at the theater. Numerous albums have been recorded in the theater, including S&M by Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony.[7]
The Grateful Dead played a total of twenty-four shows at the Community Theater, and Jerry Garcia another six times - two with the New Riders of the Purple Sage, two with Merl Saunders, one with Maria Muldaur and one acoustic show with John Kahn.[8]
Famous speakers have included the Dalai Lama, Lenny Bruce, Bernie Sanders, Maya Angelou, Timothy Leary, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Al Franken, and Amy Goodman.[9]
Funding and renovations
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.[10]
References
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- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Berkeley Landmarks Designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Berkeley, CA". Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA).
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Thompson, Daniella; Susan Cerny (2003–2008). "Berkeley High School". Berkeley Landmarks. Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."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
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."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
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Smith, Harvey L. (2014). Berkeley and the New Deal. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 41. ISBN 9781467132398.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."About Our Organ". NorCal Theatre Organ Society. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Berkeley Community Theater". Discogs. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Grateful Dead Venues: Berkeley Community Theater". Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Berkeley Community Theater & The Florence Schwimley Little Theater". Berkeley Schools. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Renovations underway at historic Berkeley Community Theatre". Berkeleyside. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
External links
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