The Guild Theatre, a Peninsula venue that opened in 1926, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. This astounding achievement will be marked with a special concert series featuring diverse artists and events that honor the theater’s storied past while looking toward its future.
The celebration opens with a nod to the theater’s cinematic roots, firstly hosting a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show alongside a live performance by Bawdy Caste, reviving its long-running, midnight cult-film tradition.
The bulk of the festivities will run from June through late 2026, a centennial series boasting performances from soulful indie artist Cat Power, country singer-songwriter Margo Price, folk duo Shovels & Rope, blues phenomenon Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, improvisational guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, and prolific electric guitar wizard Buckethead. The Psychedelic Furs were slated to appear though a band member’s health crisis forced the tour’s cancellation. The programming is presented by Peninsula Arts Guild, the nonprofit that owns and operates the theater.
Drew Dunlevie, president and board chairman of the Peninsula Arts Guild, commented on the venue’s local impact: “Most folks on the Peninsula would need to drive to SF or San Jose to see live music, and now there is a place to experience music and arts in their own community. It’s become a hub not just for music, but for films, comedy, educational talks and private events. The community definitely utilizes the space.”
Originally opened as the Menlo Theatre, the building was the Peninsula’s first purpose-built movie house and began during the silent-film era. Through the decades, it evolved alongside the entertainment industry, at times even hosting vaudeville and burlesque acts before becoming a neighborhood movie house known for promoting independent films. Renamed the Guild Theatre in 1948, it operated for decades under Landmark Theatres before closing as a single-screen theater in 2019.
The venue entered its fourth act after an extensive renovation in 2022, reopening as a 500-seat live music and event space, combining state-of-the-art sound and lighting while carefully preserving its historic features, including sections of the original structure and marquee. Tiered seating and upgraded amenities were added while maintaining a close-knit atmosphere that’s tethered to its longstanding reputation.
Since reopening, the Guild has moved beyond concerts to include live comedy, expansive film screenings, and community gatherings, such as “Doing Good at The Guild,” which connects events with charitable causes and local partnerships. One such example included a special Duran Duran performance tied to cancer awareness. Organizers say the venue’s broader mission also includes civic engagement initiatives committed to enriching the community.
Barry Synoground, the theater’s current general manager, touched on his experience and the community, thusly: “Bringing world-class bookings to Menlo Park and putting the Guild on the map has been incredible. But more than that, the community is so appreciative and supportive of what we are trying to build… It’s delightful.”
As part of its long-term fundraising strategy, Peninsula Arts Guild is also launching the Legacy Giving Circle, a donor initiative that’ll provide supporters access to special events, while helping fund future programming and preservation efforts, through tax-deductible contributions.
At a time when live stages in the Bay Area are either vanishing or struggling to survive, the Guild’s continued growth has made it something of an outlier. From its opening in 1926, to its name change and renovation in the 1940s, to its 30-year run as an independent movie house, all the way to its current incarnation, the Guild has repeatedly evolved and reinvented itself as a cultural force in the Peninsula.
“100 years is a long time, said Dunlevie. “I hope we’ve built a place and community that will stand the test of time and continue to enrich the Peninsula for another 100 years.”
