
Rivoli Theatre
1941 San Pablo Avenue,
Berkeley,
CA
94702
1941 San Pablo Avenue,
Berkeley,
CA
94702
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Golden State Theater & Realty Corp.
Architects: Marc T. Jorgensen
Functions: Retail
Nearby Theaters
Located in West Berkeley at San Pablo Avenue & University Avenue. The Rivoli Theatre was opened in 1926 with Marie Prevost in “Up In Mable’s Room”. It was equipped with a Hope-Jones orchestra organ and a fully equipped stage. It was still open in 1957.
Contributed by
William Gabel

Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
A Souvenier Program dated October 31, 1931 for the grand opening of the Merced Theatre in Merced CA also lists the Rivoli as being part of Golden State Theatre Corporation’s chain. Ward Casady is listed as being the manager of the Rivoli Theatre.
Good news to report—-the 99-Cent store that’s taken over the Rivoli has kept the interior “remains” that Smart N'Final had uncovered and Longs Drugs had retained.
Now the site of a 99 Cents Only Store, this former theater is worth a visit to view the amazing painted ceilings, as well as pick up very inexpensive candy. I will have to post a photo at a later date.
Must point out that the opening contribution by William Gabel mistakenly says “Rialto” rather than “Rivoli.”
Wild looking theatre in 1986 picture.
Lawrence Borg, my Uncle, built the Rivioli in 1925. and in 1926 he bacame owner of the Parkway Theatre,Berkeley. The Rivoli and Parkway were thus sold in 1931 to the Golden State Theatre & Realty Corp., San Francisco.
It is my dream to one day soon, be able to purchase one of his theatres back that is shut down and revive it, as they did in Napa with the Uptown Theatre .
Last night I got to see a single pencil-on-vellum longitudinal section drawing of the Rivoli which has been owned by a friend of mine for nearly ten years, but I hadn’t seen it as it had been in storage. The drawing (from Jorgensen’s drafting table) shows the auditorium’s ornamental scheme exactly as one sees it today—that is, what survives. The drawing also shows that there was much cove lighting. I realize now that I didn’t pay much attention to the lobby in the drawing, but it was rather low. The box down in the lower right corner names the theatre as the “West Berkeley Theatre.” Clearly, this was the proposed name at the time of its design. Perhaps the name change to Rivoli was to save money on sign design and maintenance.
Photo from March 2000 here, showing the exterior and stage house:–
BERKELEY RIVOLI THEATER
Opening night ad and a photo that accompanied an article in the Berkeley Gazette added to the photo section
Grand opening ad:
Rivoli theatre opening Thu, Oct 21, 1926 – Page 15 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com