HNY-14 (MCH) The Berkley Theatre Traditional Cache
Hidden : 12/14/2013
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is placed for the Roseville, MI
HNY14 event (GC4Q44X) on January 1, 2014



The Michigan Cinema History (MCH) caches are dedicated to the local creation, viewing,
or enjoyment of movie and cinema-related items in the local area.

This can include, and is not limited to, people, places, and things of Cinema or both past-and-present.

(This series is a companion to the Detroit Cinema History (DCH) and Ontario Cinema History (OCH) series.)


Michigan Cinema History:
The Berkley Theatre
2990 W 12 mile Road, Berkley, Michigan
OPEN: 1940 | CLOSED: 1999 | SEATS: 851

The front of the Berkley (1941)
Opened in 1940, the Art Moderne Berkley could seat 851 and screened first run features. Its sleek and curving facade featured a tall vertical marquee with the theater’s name on each side.



August 1979 view of the front.

The interior decor featured a clock with the neon light around it near one of the exit areas, as well as the large mirrors in the foyer. They were so large that you could see the movie (in mirror-image) in them as you went up an aisle to the top.

When the Berkley was built, it also featured a "cry room" for mothers to take their nursing or unsettled little ones, where they could enjoy the show and not disturb the other patrons. This was a feature in many of the theatres built around this time.


Inside of the Theatre Lobby

Many folks said that the Theatre had a "home"-type feel to it, even though much of the decor inside was cement-block and hadn't changed much since the 1940's when it was designed and built.

The Auditorium, just before the Berkley closed for good.


There was also an unusually-designed telephone room, with almost a 'clausterphobic feel' to it, where patrons could use the pay phones to make and receive calls.

Sunday afternoons held matinees which would be a good value of an afternoon's entertainment for only a quarter.

The concession stand

By the late 70s, the Berkley had switched over to second-run fare and in the early 90s, the theater was showing a mixture of first and second-run films.

Later-on when the economic times changed, a nationally-known retail chain wanted to purchase the entire building, including the theatre portion.  This would lead to the end of the Berkley as a Theatre, and this beautiful moviehouse would close in 1999.



October 1984 night view of the Berkley Theatre

In 2003, the building had been remodeled and what remained of the theatre was the facade, marquee, front entry doors, and some seats.  The retail store created a display with some of these items from the Berkley Theatre as a reminder to times-gone-by.


The display that is inside the store that now occupies the building.

This piece of Berkley history was well-known and loved for many years. Anyone who attended shows here has many fond memories of the theatre and it's "hometown" feel that made you feel welcome.  It's one reason that the facia was kept for the business district and the sign is currently used for various public event notices and other things that this prominent landmark could help promote.



View of the marquee and sign from the East side
of the former main entrance (recent photo).


Today, what remains of the Berkley Theatre is a testament to the history of the area.  The photographs and the theatre facade that adorns the building along the north side of Twelve Mile Road bring back memories to anyone who attended a show here.

Those good memories of the Berkley Theatre are what makes it part of Michigan Cinema History.

IF you have any more information or details on this theatre, please email me and i will include it in the description.

Thank you.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fvtarq

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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