The Manhattan Beach Historical Society has plenty of pix of the La Mar. I’ve got several that I will try to input into this computer thing. I ran the place for a few years before its “conversion” to 3 screens. I also lived onthe roof in a tent for 11-months but that’s another (good) story. Randy Ruddy
I was the Manager of the La Mar Theatre, from Feb. of 1973 when John Klee purchased it and we refurbished it. We kept the mermaid illustrations on the walls. We “four-walled” the films “Billy Jack” and “On Any Sunday”. I met my wife there while she worked as a snack bar staffer. When Mr. Klee sold it to take over the Marina 3 Cinemas in Redondo Beach, Ca. I went with him in 1977. An incompetant named Kirkorian (not that one) took over, did a miserable tri-plexing and ran it into the ground. My name is Randy Ruddy.
My name is Randy Ruddy and I was the Manager of the Marina 3 Cinemas from July of 1976 until it closed on Sept. 30, 1987. During 30 years in the biz I also managed at The Fox West Coast Santa Ana, Fox Anaheim, Fox Fullerton, Fox Redlands, Crest San Bernadino, and the La Mar in Manhattan Beach, all in southern California. But the best memories were of the re-named Strand. Some of the notable patrons included Nancy Allen, Harris Yulin with Sarah Miles, and Chuck Norris. In the South Bay, theatre employees would trade passes and one day I got a call from an usher at the “adults-only” Pussycat Theatre in Torrance. When he came down I found him a very knowledgable chap and every time he came by we talked of films we liked and he helped me pick 2nd features (?) and we shared favorite films into the evening. After 6 months of this and after he borrowed by VHS of “The Yakuza” he stopped coming by. I found out he got a job at a video store in Manhattan Beach. I saw him a decade later when he walked into the AMC Century 14 theatre to check on the grosses of his film “Pulp Fiction” & he remembered me! Good to know Quentin maintained his love of films. The Strand was owned by the Lippert chain and after being split into 3 screens had 223, 231, and 176 seats. John Klee was the last operator/leasor. Oh yeah, and from Chistmas 1981, for a month or so, it was haunted by a deceased employee.
The Manhattan Beach Historical Society has plenty of pix of the La Mar. I’ve got several that I will try to input into this computer thing. I ran the place for a few years before its “conversion” to 3 screens. I also lived onthe roof in a tent for 11-months but that’s another (good) story. Randy Ruddy
I was the Manager of the La Mar Theatre, from Feb. of 1973 when John Klee purchased it and we refurbished it. We kept the mermaid illustrations on the walls. We “four-walled” the films “Billy Jack” and “On Any Sunday”. I met my wife there while she worked as a snack bar staffer. When Mr. Klee sold it to take over the Marina 3 Cinemas in Redondo Beach, Ca. I went with him in 1977. An incompetant named Kirkorian (not that one) took over, did a miserable tri-plexing and ran it into the ground. My name is Randy Ruddy.
My name is Randy Ruddy and I was the Manager of the Marina 3 Cinemas from July of 1976 until it closed on Sept. 30, 1987. During 30 years in the biz I also managed at The Fox West Coast Santa Ana, Fox Anaheim, Fox Fullerton, Fox Redlands, Crest San Bernadino, and the La Mar in Manhattan Beach, all in southern California. But the best memories were of the re-named Strand. Some of the notable patrons included Nancy Allen, Harris Yulin with Sarah Miles, and Chuck Norris. In the South Bay, theatre employees would trade passes and one day I got a call from an usher at the “adults-only” Pussycat Theatre in Torrance. When he came down I found him a very knowledgable chap and every time he came by we talked of films we liked and he helped me pick 2nd features (?) and we shared favorite films into the evening. After 6 months of this and after he borrowed by VHS of “The Yakuza” he stopped coming by. I found out he got a job at a video store in Manhattan Beach. I saw him a decade later when he walked into the AMC Century 14 theatre to check on the grosses of his film “Pulp Fiction” & he remembered me! Good to know Quentin maintained his love of films. The Strand was owned by the Lippert chain and after being split into 3 screens had 223, 231, and 176 seats. John Klee was the last operator/leasor. Oh yeah, and from Chistmas 1981, for a month or so, it was haunted by a deceased employee.