Berkeley Community Theater facts for kids
|
The "Bird Cage"
|
|||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
 Berkeley Community Theater
Location in California
|
|||||||||||
| Location | Berkeley, California, U.S. | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°52′06″N 122°16′17″W / 37.86845°N 122.27147°W | ||||||||||
| Type | Theater | ||||||||||
| Capacity | 8,000 | ||||||||||
| Opened | 5 June 1950 | ||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
The Berkeley Community Theater is a famous theater in Berkeley, California. It's right on the campus of Berkeley High School. The local school district, the Berkeley Unified School District, manages it. This special building has been recognized as a Berkeley Landmark since 1992. It's also part of two important historic areas in Berkeley.
Contents
What Makes the Berkeley Community Theater Special?
This theater building is a City of Berkeley Landmark. It also contains a smaller space called the Florence Schwimley Little Theater. This smaller venue is often used for performances by Berkeley High School students.
The main theater has a cool Art Deco design. It has 3,491 seats, including a balcony section. There's a big stage with an orchestra pit that can move up and down.
History of the Berkeley Community Theater
When Was the Theater Built?
The theater was designed in 1938. Construction started in 1941. However, it wasn't finished until 1950. This was because of delays caused by World War II.
Why Was It Called the "Bird Cage"?
Students at Berkeley High during the war had a funny nickname for it. They called it the "Bird Cage." This was because the metal framework was exposed. Many seagulls would sit there, waiting for students to finish their lunches!
The Amazing Theater Organ
The theater was designed to have a special theater organ. But one wasn't put in when it was first built. In the 1980s, an organ was moved from a theater in Toledo, Ohio. It was installed in the Berkeley Community Theater.
This Wurlitzer organ is now one of the largest and best in the world. It has 41 sets of pipes. It also has two full control panels with four keyboards each. Volunteers from the Nor-Cal Theater Organ Society keep it working perfectly.
Famous Performers and Speakers
Many famous artists have performed at the theater. These include Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, and Elton John. Other big names like The Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, and Metallica have also played here. Metallica even recorded an album with the San Francisco Symphony at the theater!
Important speakers have also visited the theater. These include the Dalai Lama, Maya Angelou, and Bernie Sanders.
Keeping the Theater Great: Funding and Renovations
How the Community Helps
The people of Berkeley have often helped fund the theater. In 2000, voters passed a measure called AA. This set aside about $15 million for theater renovations.
Some of these funds were later used for a new administration building at Berkeley High School. However, some money did come back to the theater. It was used to fix the fire alarm system.
Recent Improvements
During the fire alarm repairs, the grand curtain was damaged. It was replaced in July 2009. All other soft items in the theater were also replaced.
In the spring of 2010, a brand new sound system was installed. More major renovations started in July 2020. These were paid for by a school facilities bond from 2010.
