Since 1916
From first-run films to Rocky Horror midnight screenings, from a decade of darkness to a second life as a nonprofit music hall: the story of Berkeley’s most storied stage.
Opening night
The UC Theatre opened on June 30, 1917 as a first-run movie theater on University Avenue, and is among the oldest and most historically significant theaters in Berkeley. The theater was named after, but had no relation to, the University of California, Berkeley.
Of the movie theaters built in Berkeley at the dawn of the film age, only the Elmwood and the California, both opened in 1914, are still in operation alongside it.
Through the fire
In the 1940s a fire gutted the UC's interior, and the original decor was never fully restored. The theater carried on, screening the films of the day for decades.
The East Bay’s premier arthouse
Landmark Theatres arrives
Theater owner Gary Meyer acquires the UC as one of the first venues in what becomes the Landmark Theatres chain, alongside the Nuart in Los Angeles. For more than 25 years, East Bay film lovers enjoy domestic and foreign classics, often as double or triple features.
Rocky Horror begins
The UC starts screening The Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight, a Saturday tradition that runs for 22 consecutive years.
Herzog eats his shoe
At the premiere of Errol Morris’s first film, Gates of Heaven, Werner Herzog honors a bet by cooking and eating his shoe on the UC stage, captured in Les Blank’s short film.
A home for film culture
Orchestras accompany silent films live. Special effects legend Linwood Dunn talks about the making of King Kong at a screening of the film.
A world record ends
After 22 years without a missed Saturday midnight show, the Rocky Horror run ends in January 1999, the longest continuous run in the world.
The lights go dark
In March 2001, Landmark closes the UC rather than fund a required seismic upgrade costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A Berkeley landmark
In 2002 the City of Berkeley designated The UC Theatre a city landmark, recognizing its cultural and architectural significance. Even so, the building sat empty for more than a decade.
David Mayeri started as a 16-year-old Berkeley High intern working Bill Graham Presents shows, and left BGP 35 years later as Chief Operating Officer. In 2012 he founded Berkeley Music Group as a 501(c)(3) to bring the UC back as an independent music venue and a genuine community institution.
A second life in music
The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall welcomed its first show in 2016.
The same year, we launched Concert Career Pathways: a nine-month, tuition-free, paid training program for young adults ages 17 to 25, built on the same kind of start that launched Mayeri’s own career.
Explore CCP
The story continues
National recognition
CCP earns coverage in Forbes, Hypebot, and BARTable for its model of equitable access to music industry careers.
CCP-X goes to Bumbershoot
With Third Stone, which operates the Pacific Northwest’s largest music festival, the CCP model launches at a major festival for the first time.
10 years, Reaching for the Stars
Our 10th anniversary campaign grows programming and CCP and upgrades the venue. Today 80% of our leadership team is BIPOC, 64% are CCP graduates, and 80% of graduates are placed in their field within 3–6 months.
The story is still being written
Every ticket sold and every donation made helps us continue as a venue, a school, and a community anchor.