Tag Archives: Berkeley

Kate the Burger Murderer

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: University Student
Residence: Hayward, California

Age: 18
Date of Performance: 3/25/2025
Language: English
Nationality: American
Occupation: University Student
Primary Language: English
Residence: Hayward, California

Legend Text:
“Once upon a time, there was a Bay Area woman named Kate. She was secretly a serial killer, though no one knew. Much like Jeffrey Dahmer, she lured victims into her home and murdered them. Afterward, she allegedly ran a burger shop—this is what we heard as kids—where she sold burgers made of 70% human meat and 30% beef. She managed to make a living this way for 34 years until she was finally caught in her mid-50s. According to the legend, she owned the now-abandoned burger joint on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley.”

Context:
The informant first heard this story as a child on the playground during elementary school recess. It was shared between classmates as a spooky urban legend tied to a local location, enhancing the eeriness and making it more believable for children. The real abandoned burger shop added a tangible anchor to the tale.

Analysis:
This legend appears to be a locally adapted variation of cannibalistic folklore, reminiscent of real-life serial killers like Joe Metheny, who allegedly served human flesh in food. The informant suggests that a classmate may have blended true crime details with imagination to create a personalized Bay Area legend. The location-based element (Telegraph Avenue) helps localize the horror and make it culturally relevant for young listeners. This legend functions as both cautionary tale and urban myth, warning of hidden danger beneath everyday appearances.

Berkeley Senior Steps

Nationality: German-American
Age: 20
Residence: student
Performance Date: April 23
Primary Language: English

Context: The informant was reminiscing on traditions at her high school, Berkeley High in Berkeley, California. The senior steps were a major part of the folklore at her high school.

Piece: So in high school, there were these like these stairs, these steps with like a bench on them and we called them the senior steps. So like only the seniors were allowed to stand on them and if there was like a freshman or sophomore standing on the senior steps, people would like stare them down slash be like what are you doing on the senior steps? It’s inside of the school, and we actually had a meme page that has like 5,000 followers, ha weird flex, and like basically some sophomore actually a few weeks ago peed on the senior steps to like disrespect the seniors or something. And it was the biggest ordeal because like they’re just fucking steps and its like where the cool seniors eat lunch or meet up. Everybody knows the senior steps. And we had like rally day which is like once a year we dress up and everyone was drunk and high at school it was crazy and everyone was like yelling on the steps “Seniors, Seniors!”

I guess it’s just like a pride thing, and like I definitely like after three years of not being allowed you finally get to elevate yourself onto these brick steps. I didn’t really care but like a lot of people cared and like mind you these are gross steps like ugly and dingy. And like there was like tagged names or gossip written on the steps too. Ha it was so wack

Background: The informant, a 20 year old USC student, went to Berkeley High School, and experienced the tradition/rite of passage of the senior steps.

Analysis: This piece is a form of a rite of passage and ritual that was created surrounding these steps in her high school. The steps have become an honor that is bestowed upon seniors, as a form of status and privilege that they are entering the adult world. The steps create a hierarchy, showing that the school and consequently American society, pushes for the future and growth and moving up. In order to get to the privileges of the steps, you must work your way and finally get your status– which hows how the seniors will be leaving and moving into the future. The steps have been ritualized further by hosting the rally and the gossip markings, indicating its connection to school culture and spirit. The mention of more popular students being the regular utilizers of the steps indicates further this level of hierarchy ingrained in the culture of high school, and ultimately our society as Americans. By gaining the status, it serves as a stepping stone or rite of passage into the adult world.