Rivoli Theatre
1941 San Pablo Avenue,
Berkeley,
CA
94702
1941 San Pablo Avenue,
Berkeley,
CA
94702
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It breaks my heart that this place is being torn down. I shopped at the 99¢ Only store quite frequently, and I loved to look up at the glorious old ceiling.
Incidentally, before the 99¢ Only store, there was a Grocery Outlet in this building, circa 1990, before it moved several blocks west on University Avenue. I remember buying several boxes of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Cereal there.
Hmm. The above bio states that it was still open in 1957, then back in 2010 a poster informed that it’s now a 99 cent store. Here we are some 12 years later and no update. Pity that it’s going to be torn down, but that’s the Bay Area.
FYI, I’m in the parking lot of the old Rivoli (current 99¢ Store) right now. Just spoke to the manager, and their last day of business will be Nov. 18th. After that, the entire structure is being razed to put up a housing high-rise.
You have only three weeks to see the former Rivoli Theater. After that, IT WILL BE GONE.
Grand opening ad:
Rivoli theatre opening Thu, Oct 21, 1926 – Page 15 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com
Opening night ad and a photo that accompanied an article in the Berkeley Gazette added to the photo section
Photo from March 2000 here, showing the exterior and stage house:–
BERKELEY RIVOLI THEATER
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.
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 .
Wild looking theatre in 1986 picture.
Must point out that the opening contribution by William Gabel mistakenly says “Rialto” rather than “Rivoli.”
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.
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.
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.
To answer a much earlier comment that perhaps something is left of the interior of the Dimond, Oakland: Unfortunately not. It was totally gutted. Nothing but steel trusses and the wooden underside of the roof are visible. Offices fill the stage house. I would imagine that the concrete proscenium opening is still there, but stripped and hidden. The Dimond was originally Egyptian in style, with a pylon gate-like facade, but was completely remodeled Moderne in the late 30s.
I don’t know about the Granada in Oakland, also long since converted to a store. According to Jack Tillmany and Jennifer Dowling’s book, “Theatres of Oakland,” the balcony structure is gone and most other interior features are either removed or hidden.
The Long’s Drugstore that currently occupies the building is scheduled to be closed.
I just moved into this neighborhood at the 1st of the year and finally took a good look at the building when I went up yesterday to buy some cleaning supplies. I have a friend who went to this theater in the ‘50’s and plan to interview him. I myself grew up less than six blocks from from the theater but don’t recall ever going to it. I always went down/up town to Shattuck to go to the movies. I do recall going to the public library next door to the Rivoli and Bobo’s (home of the 19 cent burger) which I suspect was on the site of Everett and Jones BBQ.
There are nicely preserved deco friezes on the San Pablo Ave side of the building, which would have been the front of the theater. I noticed the Long’s marquee too and it appears to be relatively new. There appear to be apartments above the store close to the street. Inside at ceiling level you can definitely see the remains of the balcony. I wonder what else is up there?
The “front” of the drugstore comprises the screen area most of the seating area. The ceiling is breathtaking.
I just visited this theatre building for the first time. Wow, what impressive ornamentation this place has. Anyone know for certain what style this is? It looks very baroque, with cherubs holding a shield above the proscenium, majestic dragons, and small faces all around. The balcony is still there, blocked off, and the ceiling paintings are quite detailed, even for a theatre. The area that was once the lobby doesn’t look anything like it, and there is no front entrance…just windows. There is a store sign, though, that looks like a marquee. The entrance to the store is on the side (auditorium). Does anyone know if the original lobby was gutted, or is it hiding under the false ceiling, and walls? Also, does anyone know exactly when this theatre closed? The building exterior looks to be in remarkably good condition, and the (former) auditorium is lovely, to say the least.
The Rivoli Theatre opened in 1926
Longs Drugs has just opened its store at the former Rivoli, and has indeed retained the theater remains. Much credit to them for doing so!
The Rivoli’s auditorium was virtually identical to that of the Irving, on Irving St. in San Francisco (demolished).
When Smart N' Final was preparing the interior of the building, they opened up the ceiling, found detailed remains of the theater auditorium within, and decided to leave them intact, making for quite a unique shopping experience (word has it that Longs Drugs will retain this feature). This development leads one to believe whether the Dimond or Granada theaters have similar auditorium remains just waiting to be uncovered someday…
This theater is now the site of a Longs Drugs store. Closed as a theater in the 1950’s.