Strand Theatre
1035 S. Pacific Avenue,
San Pedro,
CA
90731
1035 S. Pacific Avenue,
San Pedro,
CA
90731
2 people
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I think I saw Star Wars here as a kid
Grand opening ads for the California and Strand posted. It became a twin cinema on November 23rd, 1973.
Harthorn and Walker launched the California with Bebe Daniels in “ Ducks and Drakes” on April 30, 1921. On October 1, 1924, it became the Mark Strand Theatre relaunching with the film, “Daughters of Pleasure.” Its name was shortened not long after to the Strand Theatre. Movies showed until August 20, 1978 with the final double feature of “Brothers and Sisters” and “Celebrating at Big Sur.” Live music was tried in 1979 before wrestling completed the theater’s lifecycle in 1980 through May of 1981.
It was run by Pacific Theatres at the end and operated as a single screen in its final days.
Didn’t this theatre use to be called the “California Theatre” back in 1923?
Due to the following listing, I was searching for a “California Theatre” in San Pedro on this site for ages without finding one.
THEN I tried Google, and presto, Mr. Counter’s San Pedro Theatres page came up listing THIS theatre also as the “California”.
https://sites.google.com/site/losangelesmoviepalaces/san-pedro#TOC-Strand-Theatre
Could one of you admin folks please add “California Theatre” to the “Previous Names:” list in the “Additional Info” sidebar, so future CinemaTreasures users can find it on this site via a simple search? Thanks a lot!
According to “the Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Pipe Organ” by David Junchen, pg. 629, the “California Theatre” in San Pedro had a Smith theatre pipe organ, installed in 1923. Its blower serial # was 14187. No other details, such as size (# of manuals / # of ranks), or blower HP or static pressure, are given in the book (not known to the author in 1989).
Does anybody have more details on this organ, and/or where it (or its parts) is/are today? Thanks!
This is for Pamela, who posted in 2008:
If you have any research to share that didn’t get posted, I would like to hear from you. I’m also starting to dig into San Pedro theatre history.
My San Pedro Theatres page:
View link
Here is a December 1974 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/qrgpe4
OK, Joe, I guess that’s a second opinion. I will add it to the San Pedro theaters. Thanks.
The California Index has a card for a book that mentions the Alhambra Theatre in San Pedro. Card.
The LAPL has posted a new photo of an Alhambra Theater which they claim is in San Pedro. I’m not adding this as they seem a little vague on the details.
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00079/00079035.jpg
How do I contribute research to the top portion of the page? I am doing research on San Pedro movie theatres and have found some additional information.
Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/24le5x
Sloppy reporting in the LA Times, 1/3/33:
BANDITS ROB PLAYHOUSES AT HARBOR
Within fifteen minutes last night two San Pedro motion picture theaters were held up by bandits, apparently operating independently of each other, who escaped with about $2500 in cash.
The first robbery was at the Fox Grand Theater at Tenth Street and Pacific Avenue. The men escaped wih $850. Fifteen minutes later police were called to the Warner Brothers Theater at Sixth Street and Pacific Avenue, where a bandit forced the manager of the theater into a large safe after taking $1800.
Rest in peace:
http://tinyurl.com/2m48ou
It’s a bank parking lot now.
The L.A. library’s California Index has a card referencing a Times article from 10/25/1925 with the headline “Theatres purchased at big sum”. The thing I found most interesting, though, is that the card names the theatre as the “Mark Strand”, which was the name of an east coast chain run by the brothers Mitchell and Moe Mark. See the comment by Barry Goodkin on this Cinema Treasures page. I wonder if the Mark Brothers did own this theatre or if there was just some sort of mistake by the person who typed up the library card? Index cards making references to the theatre at later dates just call it the Strand or (beginning in 1936) the Fox Strand.
Here is an article in the LA Times dated 12/13/31:
FIRE HITS STRAND THEATER
The Fox Strand Theater, 1035 South Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, suffered $5000 loss by fire yesterday morning when cleaning fluid knocked over by a stage hand ignited. The theater was empty.
The stage hand suffered burns about his hands and arms. The structure under the stage was charred and the sound machinery disabled, while smoke damage was heavy.
The Strand Theatre was located at 1035 S. Pacific Ave.