Cinema-Guild and Studio

Berkeley, CA

2436 Telegraph Avenue

, Berkeley, CA 94704 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Twin
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Bar, Restaurant
Seats:	Unknown
Chain:	Independent

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

The Cinema-Guild was opened in a duplex storefront on the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street in 1952 by Ed Landberg and, according to an East Bay Express article (12/28/84) was said to be "the first repertory cinema in America". Within a year Landberg opened a second theater, the Studio, adjacent to the Cinema-Guild, resulting in "the country's first-ever 'twin cinema'".

It was at the Cinema-Guild and Studio that the "program guide" which included film reviews and essays on film, was introduced and became extremely popular with patrons of the theaters.

For a time Pauline Kael (who was married for a few years to Landberg) worked there as a manager before heading to the East Coast to become a legend in her own right.

Landberg expanded his operations in 1960 when he converted a recently-closed restaurant several blocks down Haste Street (at Shattuck Avenue) into the Cinema, which would years later be known as the Fine Arts(q.v). He would also go on to open the Gateway in San Francisco (q.v.). But in 1967, he closed the by-now legendary Cinema-Guild and Studio.

The storefront that housed the two theaters was subsequently converted into a bar and grill.

Contributed by Garrett Murphy

YOUR COMMENTS

In no way were the Cinema-Guild and Studio "the country's first twin cinema".

The Bexley Theatre in Ohio might be a better candidate for that honor.

posted by Ron Newman on Mar 8, 2005 at 5:55pm

I don't know about "first twin cinema" but I can tell you about the Cinema-Guild and Studio and the most bizarre "twin bill" I've ever experienced. It was in the mid or late 1960s. The two films were "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" and "The Pawnbroker." Like I said, bizarre!

posted by Denis Vaughn on Apr 26, 2008 at 6:50pm

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