diff --git a/Docs/Changelog_sm5.txt b/Docs/Changelog_sm5.txt
index 33a48dcacd..ef8365b326 100644
--- a/Docs/Changelog_sm5.txt
+++ b/Docs/Changelog_sm5.txt
@@ -5,9 +5,13 @@ from StepMania 4 alpha 5 to sm-ssc v1.2.5, see Changelog_sm-ssc.txt.
 ________________________________________________________________________________
 
 ================================================================================
-StepMania 5.0 Preview 3 | 20110???
+StepMania 5.0 Preview 3 | 201108??
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+2011/08/13
+----------
+* [Theme-side] Added Fancy UI Background preference to Theme Options. [AJ]
+
 2011/08/07
 ----------
 * [LifeMeterBattery] Added LostLife param to LifeChanged message. [AJ]
diff --git a/Themes/default/BGAnimations/ScreenWithMenuElements background/default.lua b/Themes/default/BGAnimations/ScreenWithMenuElements background/default.lua
index c2a57262bf..e94a5e66f4 100644
--- a/Themes/default/BGAnimations/ScreenWithMenuElements background/default.lua	
+++ b/Themes/default/BGAnimations/ScreenWithMenuElements background/default.lua	
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+local hideFancyElements = (GetUserPrefB("UserPrefFancyUIBG") == false)
+
 local t = Def.ActorFrame {};
 
 t[#t+1] = Def.ActorFrame {
@@ -9,12 +11,12 @@ t[#t+1] = Def.ActorFrame {
 	};
 	Def.ActorFrame {
 		LoadActor("_pattern") .. {
-			InitCommand=cmd(rotationy,-12.25;rotationz,-30;rotationx,-20;zoomto,SCREEN_WIDTH*2,SCREEN_HEIGHT*2;customtexturerect,0,0,SCREEN_WIDTH*4/256,SCREEN_HEIGHT*4/256);
+			InitCommand=cmd(hide_if,hideFancyElements;rotationy,-12.25;rotationz,-30;rotationx,-20;zoomto,SCREEN_WIDTH*2,SCREEN_HEIGHT*2;customtexturerect,0,0,SCREEN_WIDTH*4/256,SCREEN_HEIGHT*4/256);
 			OnCommand=cmd(texcoordvelocity,0.125,0.5;diffuse,color("#ffd400");diffusealpha,0.045;bob;effectmagnitude,0,0,35;effectperiod,4);
 		};
 	};
 	LoadActor("_particleLoader") .. {
-		InitCommand=cmd(x,-SCREEN_CENTER_X;y,-SCREEN_CENTER_Y);
+		InitCommand=cmd(x,-SCREEN_CENTER_X;y,-SCREEN_CENTER_Y;hide_if,hideFancyElements;);
 	};
 --[[ 	LoadActor("_particles") .. {
 		InitCommand=cmd(x,-SCREEN_CENTER_X;y,-SCREEN_CENTER_Y);
diff --git a/Themes/default/Languages/en.ini b/Themes/default/Languages/en.ini
index 9254cadf41..1f6d10d092 100644
--- a/Themes/default/Languages/en.ini
+++ b/Themes/default/Languages/en.ini
@@ -98,9 +98,10 @@ UserPrefShowLotsaOptions=Options Density
 UserPrefLongFail=Fail Length
 UserPrefFlashyCombo=Flashy Combo
 UserPrefGameplayFooter=Gameplay Footer
+UserPrefFancyUIBG=Fancy UI Background
 
 [OptionExplanations]
-UserPrefAutoSetStyle=Allow the game to list all one player and two player modes at once instead of one style only. This might require a restart of StepMania\n( or alternatively hit F2! )
+UserPrefAutoSetStyle=Allow the game to list all one player and two player modes at once instead of one style only. This might require a restart of StepMania (or press Shift+F2).
 UserPrefNotePosition=Determines where the arrow receptors are placed in gameplay. 
 UserPrefComboOnRolls=Choose if rolls should increment the combo or not.
 UserPrefComboUnderField=Determine if the combo should display under the notes or not.
@@ -108,9 +109,10 @@ UserPrefComboUnderField=Determine if the combo should display under the notes or
 UserPrefGameplayShowScore=Show or Hide the score display in gameplay.
 UserPrefGameplayShowStepsDisplay=Show or Hide the step information display in gameplay.
 UserPrefShowLotsaOptions=Choose how many lines/rows of options to choose from. &oq;Few&cq; keeps the list to a minimum. &oq;Many&cq; adds various show-off mods.
-UserPrefLongFail=Choose between the original sm-ssc fail (Long) or the new, shorter fail (Short).
+UserPrefLongFail=Choose between the original "Long" sm-ssc fail or the "Short" fail adopted later.
 UserPrefFlashyCombo=Determine if combo flashes should be shown or not.
 UserPrefGameplayFooter=If on, displays a footer that blocks visibility of incoming arrows for a certain region ( DDR's score frame ).
+UserPrefFancyUIBG=Toggles the fancy background. "Off" is recommended for older computers. Changes will take effect at the title screen.
 
 ScoringType=Defines which scoring method to use. If Special is selected, you can select a Special Scoring Mode in Theme Options.
 
diff --git a/Themes/default/Scripts/03 ThemePrefs.lua b/Themes/default/Scripts/03 ThemePrefs.lua
index 91790899af..243b7762c4 100644
--- a/Themes/default/Scripts/03 ThemePrefs.lua	
+++ b/Themes/default/Scripts/03 ThemePrefs.lua	
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ function InitUserPrefs()
 	if GetUserPrefB("UserPrefComboUnderField") == nil then
 		SetUserPref("UserPrefComboUnderField", true);
 	end;
+	if GetUserPrefB("UserPrefFancyUIBG") == nil then
+		SetUserPref("UserPrefFancyUIBG", true);
+	end;
 --[[ 	if GetUserPref("ProTimingP1") == nil then
 		SetUserPref("ProTimingP1", false);
 	end;
@@ -476,4 +479,42 @@ function UserPrefComboUnderField()
 	setmetatable( t, t );
 	return t;
 end
+
+function UserPrefFancyUIBG()
+	local t = {
+		Name = "UserPrefFancyUIBG";
+		LayoutType = "ShowAllInRow";
+		SelectType = "SelectOne";
+		OneChoiceForAllPlayers = true;
+		ExportOnChange = false;
+		Choices = {
+			THEME:GetString('OptionNames','On'),
+			THEME:GetString('OptionNames','Off')
+		};
+		LoadSelections = function(self, list, pn)
+			if ReadPrefFromFile("UserPrefFancyUIBG") ~= nil then
+				if GetUserPrefB("UserPrefFancyUIBG") then
+					list[1] = true;
+				else
+					list[2] = true;
+				end;
+			else
+				WritePrefToFile("UserPrefFancyUIBG",true);
+				list[1] = true;
+			end;
+		end;
+		SaveSelections = function(self, list, pn)
+			local val;
+			if list[1] then val = true;
+			else val = false;
+			end;
+			WritePrefToFile("UserPrefFancyUIBG",val);
+			MESSAGEMAN:Broadcast("PreferenceSet", { Message == "Set Preference" } );
+			THEME:ReloadMetrics();
+		end;
+	};
+	setmetatable( t, t );
+	return t;
+end
+
 --[[ end option rows ]]
diff --git a/Themes/default/metrics.ini b/Themes/default/metrics.ini
index 5d6ff164ea..8644a193c7 100644
--- a/Themes/default/metrics.ini
+++ b/Themes/default/metrics.ini
@@ -1252,7 +1252,7 @@ LineRollCombo="lua,UserPrefComboOnRolls()"
 Fallback="ScreenOptionsServiceChild"
 NextScreen="ScreenOptionsExtended"
 PrevScreen="ScreenOptionsExtended"
-LineNames="gNotePos,gAuto,gScore,gSDisp,gOpts,gLongFail,gComboUnderField,FlashyCombo,GameplayFooter"
+LineNames="gNotePos,gAuto,gScore,gSDisp,gOpts,gLongFail,gComboUnderField,FlashyCombo,GameplayFooter,FancyUIBG"
 LinegNotePos="lua,UserPrefNotePosition()"
 LinegScore="lua,UserPrefGameplayShowScore()"
 LinegSDisp="lua,UserPrefGameplayShowStepsDisplay()"
@@ -1262,6 +1262,7 @@ LinegLongFail="lua,UserPrefLongFail()"
 LinegComboUnderField="lua,UserPrefComboUnderField()"
 LineFlashyCombo="lua,UserPrefFlashyCombo()"
 LineGameplayFooter="lua,UserPrefGameplayFooter()"
+LineFancyUIBG="lua,UserPrefFancyUIBG()"
 
 [ScreenSelectGame]