About
Independently owned single-screen cinemas are a dying breed, increasingly scarce in this age of cineplexes and streaming services. Even in Los Angeles, they are not exactly common these days. In fact, there’s only one family-owned single-screen cinema left in the county.
Originally known as the Park Theatre, the Gardena Cinema opened on December 11, 1946, and has been owned by the Kim family, immigrants from South Korea, since they purchased it in 1976. It boasts an 800-seat single screen, the last of its kind in the South Bay region.
The Gardena has a definite vintage feel to it, a quintessential movie house of the good old days, plenty of popcorn. It usually screens a wide repertoire of popular films, from classics like Casablanca, Psycho, and Back to the Future, to more modern fan-favorites such as Shrek and Twilight. It also welcomes famous guests on occasion.
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Know Before You Go
Most showings are held on weekends, most often on Sunday afternoons and evenings. While ticket prices vary, general admission is usually between $12 and $15. Showtimes and online tickets can be found on Eventbrite.
Published
April 11, 2025
