The theaters were temples, made to feel eternal – proof that cinema was the height of entertainment, and always would be. But, of course, it wasn’t.
A group of the Save United Artists Theater Berkeley stand in front of the United Artists Theater in Berkeley, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. The group is trying to save the historic theater from demolition for a housing development. In the golden age of California’s movie palaces, these expansive theaters – with their fine art deco interiors, towering facades and flashing marquees – were designed to make guests feel like royalty.
“We have seen buildings like this preserved in cities around the country, and they’re all happy they preserved them,” said Allen Michaan, the owner of the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland. “That’s because they’re an important part of civic life.” But as 1,800-person screenings became increasingly unfeasible, UA split the theater into four or five different auditoriums. Later, the original facade was replaced by a more modern one. Last year, the theater finally closed for good, and the building was purchased by a developer who plans to turn the entire space into housing.
The grand interior of the Paramount Theatre photographed in Oakland in 2013. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Paramount Theatre’s restoration. To Ellis and Michaan’s group, those efforts are not enough. In their view, the whole building needs to stay — revived as a performing arts, cinema, and events space. There are so few theaters in downtown Berkeley, they say, the city cannot afford to lose another one.
The UA theater is located downtown, in an area that is already densely zoned. It is just minutes from UC Berkeley, less than a block from the closest BART station, and in one of the most walkable parts of the East Bay. The need for housing in Berkeley is particularly high. All told, it is exactly the type of location housing advocates believe should be prioritized for development.
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