Bridge Theater

330 W. Las Tunas Drive,
San Gabriel, CA 91776

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PaulMartinez
PaulMartinez on January 17, 2022 at 10:29 am

I recall a few visits as a kid in the early 70s when living in Monterey Park. My parents took me to a double feature of “Diamonds are Forever” and a bullfighting documentary narrated by Anthony Quinn called “Arruza”. Another time I went was a double feature of “Snoopy Come Home” with Disney’s “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t” (Kurt Russell) – must have been 1972. Two other screenings I didn’t attend – “The Other (1972), where they were offered free admission to any identical twins on the opening Wednesday. Another time, a gory horror film, "Mark of the Devil”; I think was rated R. It was a small quaint theatre, with not that huge a screen, but had a welcoming ambiance.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 22, 2018 at 2:09 am

The Whittier Narrows earthquake struck on the morning of October 1, 1987, so if that event led to the permanent closure of this theater, the last show must have been run on the evening of September 30.

Bijoudarma
Bijoudarma on January 21, 2018 at 7:09 am

The Edwards became a Chinese Language cinema originally in 1980, named the Kuo Hwa, it ran Shaw Brother’s films, for it’s first few months and then became the home for all of Golden Harvest’s releases. When it closed (date unknown), the theatre was rechristened The Bridge, where it continued to run Golden Harvest titles until The Whittier Earthquake finally ended the run of this little house.

cphillips5
cphillips5 on September 2, 2011 at 6:02 pm

Went here many a weekend in the early 90’s to feast on the glory of HK Cinema and BBQ shrimp crackers with my pal, Jeff.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 13, 2009 at 6:59 am

This is a 1982 photo. I think the photo has been reversed.
http://tinyurl.com/pu263e

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 24, 2007 at 1:12 am

I found this on the LA Library database. I can’t add it as a new theater as they don’t provide the name:
http://tinyurl.com/2m6fvm

jmarellano
jmarellano on March 21, 2005 at 1:18 am

Haha. Thats funny manwith. I’m in Monterey Park as well.

jmarellano
jmarellano on March 19, 2005 at 6:01 pm

manwithnoname, you must live really close to me. I live not far from San Gabriel.

jmarellano
jmarellano on March 18, 2005 at 11:14 pm

The Kwo-Hwa 2 was located on Valley Blvd and not Las Tunas. Today the site is a lot.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 27, 2004 at 3:17 am

The exact address of this theater was 330 W. Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, California, 71776.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 21, 2004 at 11:55 am

From Southwest Builder & Contractor, issue of 1/31/1941, p.33, col.2:

“Theater (San Gabriel)— J.B. Lilly… has the contract and will start work about February 5 on the construction of a moving picture theater on Las Tunas Drive between San Marino and De Anza Avenues, for O.W. Lewis. It will contain 10,000 square feet and will seat 750 persons… C.A. Balch, architect…”

Given the location and description, I think this is certainly the theater which became Edwards' San Gabriel.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 2, 2004 at 11:43 am

In the 1950’s, this theater was called Edwards San Gabriel. The name was changed to Edwards Century in the early 1960’s, when a new marquee was installed. At about that time, most of the Edwards theaters in the western San Gabriel Valley were renovated, with modern marquees replacing the older neon models, and several of the theaters were re-named. Alhambra’s Coronet became the Capri, Arcadia’s Santa Anita became Cinemaland, and I think there were other name changes among Edwards theaters in the eastern San Gabriel Valley as well.

The San Gabriel was one of several Edwards theaters in the area which had a low price policy through the mid-1950’s, charging only thirty cents for adult tickets and ten cents for children, this for double features and a cartoon, with extra cartoons added for Saturday matinees. Needless to say, the theaters were very popular, and it was not unusual to see nearly packed houses on Friday and Saturday nights. At the end of the decade, the prices were raised to fifty cents for adults and twenty cents for children, but the theaters remained popular.

I attended movies at the San Gabriel several times, from about 1952-1960, and remember it as a well-maintained house with a pleasant staff. The auditorium had two aisles, and comfortable seats, but I don’t recall anything special about the decor.

ChrisB
ChrisB on December 19, 2003 at 6:44 am

Sorry but I made a mistake in the above description – just checked my notes and the name it had while running Chinese films was the Kuo Hwa, not New Moon. Brain freeze on my part!