Strand Theater
302 S. Catalina Avenue,
Redondo Beach,
CA
90277
302 S. Catalina Avenue,
Redondo Beach,
CA
90277
9 people
favorited this theater
The Strand Theater was another classic house in the Beach area, situated across from Redondo Beach Pier. It opened on January 6, 1938.
In the 1960’s, the screen was moved forward and the back of the theater walled off creating the Surf Theater which ran art films and pictures like Roger Corman’s "The Trip".
Several years later, what remained of the original theater was twinned and the whole thing renamed the Marina 1-2-3. Eventually, the Strand Theater was closed and demolished.
Contributed by
Manwithnoname
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Recent comments (view all 28 comments)
From Boxoffice magazine, January 1938:
The Strand Theater, Redondo Beach, was opened Thursday January 6, with many prominent film persons in attendance. The house is owned by Mike and Abe Gore and Adolph Ramish.
50sInglewood, the other theater was the Fox Redondo, which has its own page here on Cinema Treasures.
After this was torn down, what was built in its place?
Another fabulous-looking theatre bit the dust. How sad.
I worked at the Marina 3 theater from 1978 to 1981 and Randy Ruddy was my manager. Randy, in all the years since then I’ve always said it was my favorite job ever, and that you were the greatest boss because you were the only boss who ever told his employees “I’ll look out for you guys, just don’t screw up too badly”. Even after all my professional and intellectual jobs, serving popcorn at the Marina was my best job ever (with the possible exception of my current) b/c it was like hanging out with fun, interesting friends, all the free popcorn you want, serving customers who are typically in a good mood, and watching all the movies you want for free! Nirvana! And wearing the shortest and tiniest sailor dress. And lots of crazy times. And I’ll never forget my friend Dean.
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/c4top5
Ron, as with many other area theaters (Harbor and Torrance drive-ins, Stadium, Grand, etc.) condos now grace this site. I attended this theater as far back as the early ‘60s seeing films like “PT 109”, “Cinderfella” and “Batman”. “To Sir, With Love” was showing on a temporary screen while they were creating the Surf. I think the co-feature was “Kaleidoscope”. Another film I remember showing at the Surf was “Spirits of the Dead”. At the Marina 2 I saw “Vanishing Point” for the first time and it became one of my all time favorites playing the bottom half of a double bill with “Escape from the Planet of the Apes”. There was also a triple bill of “The Wild Angels”, “Devil’s Angels” and “Hells Angels on Wheels”. Cool.
My father loved the Strand. In the mid/late 1940’s and I believe into the 1950’s, he would always get excited about winning a theater drawing for prises. The best of all times was a MG roster.
I have great memories fishing at the local rainbow style pier.
Pat
Hi Pat
I used to fish on the Horseshoe Pier during the mid-60’s. We used to get there 4 am when it was still dark but people were already there fishing. Great times for a kid growing up during the 1960’s.
Here’s a photo of the original Strand.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ron_felsing/3313817607/
David