Shattuck Cinemas

2230 Shattuck Avenue,
Berkeley, CA 94704

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Landmark Theatres (USA), Pacific Theatres

Styles: Egyptian

Nearby Theaters

Shattuck Cinemas

Built from the shell of the legendary Hink’s Department Store, the Shattuck Cinemas was the brainchild of Allan Michaan of the Renaissance Rialto theater chain. However, by the time of the Shattuck’s opening on May 25, 1988, ownership was in the hands of Cinerama, and soon after in Pacific Theatres (the final operating chain was Landmark Theatres).

Still, the Shattuck’s appearance is true to Michaan’s original vision. The entranceway and lobby’s classical pillars and ceiling are remnants from the Hink’s store (though painted and touched up); the eight original theaters, of varying sizes, are Egyptian and Moorish styled and have opening and closing curtains; in effect (like the small Grand Lake theater additions) they are smaller-scale versions of the old picture palaces of yesteryear (two of them even have balconies).

Originally an eight-plex, the Shattuck added two more cinemas in an expansion about 2000 (which, at least initially, are, in this writer’s opinion, nothing like even the blandest of the original eight).

Since the closing of the UC Theatre in 2001, the Shattuck Cinemas devoted a portion of its programming to UC-like repertory programming (showing offbeat films in limited release).

It was closed on June 2, 2022. The auditorium had been demolished by June 2024 for housing to be built on the site. The front entrance and the marquee remain.

Contributed by Garrett Murphy

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 6, 2009 at 5:11 pm

Here is a March 2009 article about some renovations at the Shattuck:
http://tinyurl.com/74n29l

darquil
darquil on May 8, 2010 at 1:26 am

According to the box office attendant, the the auditoriums have the following seating capacities:
1 – 145
2 – 145
3 – 116
4 – 119
5 – 54
6 – 54
7 – 61
8 – 61
9 – 40
10 – 60
Total capacity: 855

Mikeyisirish
Mikeyisirish on June 26, 2012 at 12:29 pm

A 2012 photo can be seen here.

Robert L. Bradley
Robert L. Bradley on March 20, 2013 at 10:45 pm

I visited this theater the other day and was quite impressed. I was in Cinema 1, which I thought might have been an old single-screen theatre until I read otherwise on this site. Then I saw another movie, in Cinema 6. It was so nice to see the gold curtains with red footlights, rare for a multiplex today.

xsallnow
xsallnow on February 5, 2015 at 5:52 pm

I much prefer the nearby UA to the Shattuck. The theater is OK but they (Landmark) have the worst ticket stubs in the world. They’re just faded receipts similar to store receipts. C'mon Landmark, spend a few bucks for real ticket stubs. I try to avoid Landmark theaters for that reason.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 17, 2018 at 3:25 pm

This opened on May 25th, 1988. Small grand opening ad in the photo section.

jwmovies
jwmovies on May 20, 2022 at 5:15 pm

Well…πŸ₯ΊπŸ₯ΊπŸ₯ΊπŸ˜’ it’s come to this.

Like the venarable Cal, this landmark (no pun intended) WILL CLOSE FOR GOOD MAY 24TH!!! 🀬🀬🀬 this is per SF Examiner from 2 employees no less! E TU LANDMARK? WHY?? 😫😫😫 Albany you’re next! 34 years to the day for nothing!

stevenj
stevenj on June 1, 2022 at 4:18 pm

According to the Landmark website for this theatre, today is the closing day.

Shattuck Cinemas

gsmurph
gsmurph on June 19, 2024 at 5:07 pm

To make way for Berkeley’s housing expansion/obsession, the Shattuck Cinema portion of the building (the hotel remains intact) has been demolished; only its entrance and marquee remain as of this writing.

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