Behind the Screen: A Lifetime in the Cinema—The Story of the Gardena Cinema
The majesty and wonder of a single screen movie theatre can sometimes seem like a faint memory in the 21st Century. Although we are fortunate enough in L.A. to have non-profits like the American Cinematheque running both the single screen Egyptian and the Aero theaters (the latter worthy of an entire article with its genesis as a 24-hour movie house for the employees of the Douglas Aircraft Company) and a few single screens in Westwood and downtown, none are of the family-run affairs that were the norm decades ago.
Just south of L.A. proper, on a funky and busy stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard in the South Bay, we find a connection the days of yore: The Gardena Cinema.
Built in 1947 and nestled between Superior Grocers on one corner and AutoZone on the other side, is a 800-seat blast from the past. With plenty of evidence of its previous incarnations—crying rooms for young families upstairs, decidedly non-reclining seats (save for the few that are broken) and an old-fashioned concession stand, one can easily imagine a modern day take on Richard Matheson’s Somewhere in Time transpiring when entering the lobby.
The owner, manager, and doula of the Gardena Cinema is Judy Kim. She loves movies, but she is not the typical film nerd one expects at the helm of one of the last remaining family-owned movie palaces in the country. She’s sharp (the fact that she’s an attorney comes as no surprise), funny, and overwhelmed—both in terms of the day-to-day dealings of running a movie theater in the era of streaming and also by the generosity of her all-volunteer staff.
A little background on Judy. As children, many of us fantasize about living in an extraordinary setting—perhaps a candy factory, an amusement park, or even a movie theater. We've all witnessed the consequences of owning a chocolate factory on the big screen multiple times (to varying effect), and we're quite familiar with the darker tales of what goes on behind the scenes at amusement parks from horror films.
But for Judy, the fantasy of growing up in such a unique environment became her reality. This Los Angeles native literally spent her childhood in a movie theater: The Gardena Cinema.
The dream of owning a theater initially belonged to Judy's mother, Nancy. Growing up in South Korea, she was enamored by her best friend's parents who managed a local theater. She saw it as the epitome of wonder and joy.
When her parents immigrated to the United States in the early 1970s, John Kim, a former engineer, embarked on a journey from janitorial work to entrepreneurship with the goal of fulfilling his wife's dream. In 1975, they found their gem: Gardena Cinema. It was around this time that Judy entered their lives, and she would grow up to successfully manage the theatre through various challenges, from economic downturns to the recent pandemic.
Judy's upbringing was intertwined with every nook and cranny of Gardena Cinema. From the tender age of four, she spent her days in the front box office, perched on the lap of a teenage employee. Her playground was the theater itself, where she napped in the upstairs office and explored every corner, causing the mischief only a small child could muster.
Despite her cinematic upbringing, Judy initially pursued a different path. She graduated from Smith College and worked for theatrical producers at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. However, family circumstances brought her back home, where she eventually earned a law degree from Loyola.
Witnessing the struggles of local businesses against unethical practices fueled her determination to protect them. Her father's insistence on her legal degree, with the ulterior motive of facilitating the purchase of adjacent properties, proved pivotal in securing Gardena Cinema's survival, especially during the pandemic when it transformed into a drive-in theater.
The Gardena Cinema, with its nostalgic ambiance reminiscent of the 1950s, has been a labor of love for the Kim family. However, in the face of multiplexes, luxury theaters, and the streaming era, independent cinemas like theirs struggle to thrive. Judy's resourcefulness and financial savvy have kept the business afloat, hosting various events from film shoots to special screenings.
Yet the future of the Gardena Cinema hangs in the balance. Since Nancy's passing in 2022, John wishes to travel, and Judy, being the devoted daughter, aims to fulfill his desires. Nevertheless, her attachment to the theater, coupled with her commitment to the community, complicates matters.
Judy is determined to preserve its legacy while honoring her father's dreams, just as he did for her mother. With uncertainty looming, Judy remains a steadfast presence at Gardena Cinema, welcoming patrons with open arms, just as she did in her youth.
The movies that she screens run from the classic (Jaws 3-D during the July 4th holiday) to the arcane (the 80s cult classic that few people have actually seen, Liquid Sky). The schedule is by definition eclectic. One night will be a John Hughes trilogy; the next a singles night with a decidedly indie micro-budget short; a cinema potluck the following night.
The audience seems to truly love 3-D films, like the aforementioned Jaws (the classic Spielberg film, not the quite fairly maligned Jaws 3-D), Mad Max: Fury Road, Jurassic Park, as well as some classic black-and-white anaglyph features from the 1950s. Not to mention Hitchcock, foreign language classics, and modern classics such as Past Lives. They even run a “See It on 16mm” monthly festival, which is a real treat, and one I highly recommend.
On the few occasions l’ve visited the theatre, rarely more than 50 people are in attendance. To be fair, there are AMC theaters where 50 audience members would be a full house, but in a movie palace that seats 800, it can be a tad disappointing to see so few people taking advantage of this old-fashioned venue bristling with charm.
Running a movie theatre in the modern landscape can be a daunting prospect, but fear not as Judy has a plan. With her coterie of loyal volunteers (including the gregarious and cinematically obsessed Bill DeFrance, the programmer of Gardena Late Nights), she is doing her best to ensure the future of the theatre.
She is turning it into a non-profit venture and has a truly eclectic slate planned for the future to guarantee its success. A 24-Hour Horror-Exploitation-Thon in July, Movie Screeners Club Short Film Festival; a weekend of ten classic Universal Monster movies in October, and so much more. It’s almost overwhelming.
The good news is that word is starting to spread about the theatre. In addition to developing a local following (including a growing body of loyal patrons called the Friends of the Gardena Cinema), there have been several TV and media pieces focusing on the “little theatre that could.”
The buzz recently reached a fever pitch when superstar comedian Bill Burr heard about the theatre and contacted Judy, generously offering to perform a standup show with all revenue going to the Gardena Cinema. To no one’s surprise (except Judy, who seemed a bit shocked by this turn of events), the show sold out immediately.
At the risk of overusing the term, this feels like a game changer for the Gardena Cinema. One gets the feeling that the sell-out crowd will be the beginning of the resurgence of the theatre. Once the audience gets a look inside this old-school (and gloriously un-restored and funky) landmark, they will be back. Especially with the upcoming calendar—full of surprises—that Judy and her team have cooked up for the remainder of the year.
Let’s all celebrate the resilience of the Gardena Cinema and its custodian.
Whether you're drawn to classic films, cult favorites, or indie gems, a visit to Gardena Cinema promises a truly unique cinematic experience—a testament to Judy's lifelong dedication to the silver screen and her beloved community.
So, the next time you're in town, be sure to stop by and say hello to Judy, the heart and soul of Gardena Cinema. She’s a true gem as is the theatre. We’re lucky to have both.
*Feature photo The Gardena Cinema