This complex started as a single screen venue in 1964. In 1969 and 1971 two additional free-standing single-screen theatres were added nearby. Later, with the 1974 twinning of the second theatre it was General Cinema South Bay Center Cinemas I-IV. In 1986 after the triplexing of the original building it was the Galleria Cinemas 1-6. At the end of the complex's life it was down to just the original building, called the Regency Redondo Beach Cinema 3. It closed in 2010.
Building #1:
1509 Hawthorne Blvd. Redondo Beach, CA 90278 | map |
Opened: December 29, 1964 by Associated Independent Theatres, Inc. as a single screen venue called the South Bay Theatre. It was located close to Hawthorne Blvd. with the South Bay Bowl and various stores nearby. It opened with a sneak preview, title unknown. The program the following day was "Emil and the Detectives" with Walter Slezak along with "Lilies of the Field" starring Sidney Poitier.
Associated was a Long Island-based company and, at the time of this opening, had 27 locations nationwide. In California their only other venue was the the Granada Hills Theatre in the San Fernando Valley. They were planning to open another dozen in California and Arizona within two years.
Architect: George T. Kirkpatrick. He's noted in an opening
day ad. Harold G. Behriter did the interior design. Modiano and
Schneider were the general contractors. The John P. Filbert Co. was the
theatre equipment supplier. The sound equipment was by RCA.
Kirkpatrick would also design the South Bay 2 for Loew's in 1969. His other theatre projects include: the Art Theatre in Woodland Hills (1964), the Cinema Chatsworth (1966), Laemmle's Regent in Westwood (1966) and Laemmle's Plaza Theatre, also in Westwood (1967).
Seating: 900 when it opened, according to the Daily Breeze. In 1969 it was referred to as an 800 seat house when Robert Lippert, operating the Strand and Surf theatres, alleged that he was getting squeezed for bookings with the South Bay building boom underway by National General and Loew's.
The Daily Breeze opening day ad. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it. Visit his site:
Movie-Theatre.org
The articles about the theatre in the December 29, 1964 Daily Breeze issue that were located by Mike Rivest via
Newspapers.com.
The December 29, 1969 ad in the L.A. Times. Thanks to Scott Neff for locating it.
Later Fred Stein's Statewide Theatres had it.
A March 1966 ad that was located by Ken McIntyre.
Loew's acquired this theatre from Statewide on November 1, 1967 and it became Loew's South Bay. After they built a second free-standing single screen operation nearby in 1969 this became Loew's South Bay 1 and the new one was Loew's South Bay 2. A third free-standing building that opened in 1971 was called Loew's South Bay 3.
A photo from the Sean Ault Collection. At Loew's South Bay 1 it was "Dirty Harry," a December 1971 release.
A 1972 shot from Sean's collection. "The Boy Friend" was coming on March 22. The right end of that bottom line is supposed to say "LOEW'S 1."
General Cinema took over the operation of the three single screen theatres from Loew's on June 28, 1972 and they became known as the GCC South Bay Center Cinemas.
An
October 1973 General Cinema ad for the South Bay Center I, II and III.
Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Brade48 for locating it.
Building #2 was twinned in late 1974 and was then called Cinema II and III. Building #3, which had opened as the South Bay 3, became Cinema IV.
A December 20, 1974 ad with the complex then running with four screens. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Brade48 for locating the ad.
This original 1964 building ended up as a triplex in 1986 with a reopening on November 14. These were the circuit's listings in the Times on November 12 with it still called the South Bay Cinemas and three houses under renovation.
All six houses open on November 14, 1986 and rebranded. A banner atop their ad that day said "Now Open With 6 Screens - The Galleria at South Bay Cinemas." The original theatre became Cinemas 4-5-6. Building #2, twinned in 1974, remained Cinemas 2 and 3. Building #3, the newest and largest remaining, was rebranded as Cinema 1. From late 1974 until the triplexing of the original house, Building #3 had been designated as Cinema 4. Thanks to Scott Neff for the research.
The last day for the three largest auditoria of the Galleria 6 Cinemas: November 25, 1997. That day they were also running an open house in the new Galleria 16 in the mall and regular screenings would begin on the 26th. With the opening of the 16-plex the original
building became the General Cinema Redondo Cinema 3 and it was booked as a second run venue. Building #2 (Cinema 2-3) and Building #3
(since 1986 called Cinema 1) were both closed.
The listings for the triplex on November 30, 1997.
A May 2000 view of the building by Scott Neff. He shared this one as well as the photo below on
Cinema Tour.
A closer look. At the time of this May 2000 shot the nearby Cinemas 1-2-3 were gone but the signage remained unchanged. Photo: Scott Neff. Thanks to Scott for his research and photos.
After the GCC bankruptcy in late 2000 an independent operator acquired the 1-2-3. Later Regency Theatres took over and it became the Regency Redondo Beach Cinema 3.
An October 2004 shot taken in one of the auditoria by Mark Campbell. He shared it on the
Cinema Tour page about the theatre.
A 2006 photo of the triplexed 1964 vintage building. Thanks to Deanna Bayless for sharing it on
Cinema Treasures.
Looking west across Hawthorne Blvd. toward the Redondo Beach 3 in October 2008. Image:
Google Maps
Closed: March 11, 2010 with Regency Theatres as the last operator.
Status: It was demolished in the Summer of 2010.
A 2025 look toward the sites of Building #1, 1509 Hawthorne Blvd., and Building #2 at 1515 Hawthorne. On the far left Ralph's is at 1431, Total Wine is at 1505. On the far right Bank of America is at 1603. Click on this for a larger view. Image: Google Maps
Building #2:
1519 Hawthorne Blvd. Redondo Beach, CA 90278 | map |
Opened: August 20, 1969 by Loew's as a free-standing single screen venue called Loew's South Bay 2. It was across the alley from the original building, which was then branded as the South Bay 1.
Architect: George T. Kirkpatrick, who had also designed the 1964 building. Ben Mayer did the interior design for this one.
National Theatre supply was the equipment dealer. The projectors were Simplex 35/70s but they evidently never ran any 70 in this auditorium. Altec did the amps and speakers. The screen was 20' x 60'.
Seating: 1,100 according to an item in the October 13, 1969 issue of Boxoffice.
"Located in the FABULOUS SOUTH BAY SHOPPING CENTER..." It's an August 1969 ad announcing the arrival of the South Bay 2. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating this.
An article appearing in the January 12, 1970 issue of Boxoffice.
The Loew's South Bay 2 is seen as the upper left image on this
c.1970 flyer for the South Bay Center that was located by Michael
Hayashi. Thanks to David Zornig for spotting the post and sharing the
image on Cinema Treasures. See the page for a number of ads and comments. This has also appeared on several Facebook groups including Manhattan Beach Remember When and You Probably Grew Up in Hermosa/Manhattan Beach if.... In the lower left we're looking southwest with Hawthorne Blvd. on the
left and Artesia Blvd. across the bottom. The location of the original
South Bay Theatre is out of the frame to the left. If the image were
wider it would have been about a quarter of the way down from the top. The South Bay 2 is seen in the parking lot beyond the May Co. building
General Cinema acquired this theatre and the other two buildings from Loew's on June 28, 1972. It was twinned in late 1974 with a wall down the middle and called the South Bay Center Cinema II and III. The reopening was December 20. Later, as seen in the photo below, they stopped using Roman numerals and it was Cinema 2-3. In 1986 the complex also shifted from being called the South Bay Center Cinemas to being branded as the Galleria Cinemas.
Closed: November 25, 1997 by General Cinema. This was the day before they opened the Galleria Stadium 16 in the adjacent mall. Thanks to Eric Gieszl for his research.
A 2000 post-closing photo. Thanks to Scott Neff for sharing it on the
Cinema Tour page about building #2.
Status: It was demolished in 2002.
The back side of the site of Building #2 on the right. We're looking north on Kingsdale Ave. Theatre Building #3 was once over on the left at 1523 Kingsdale. Image. Google Maps - 2025
Building #3:
1523 Kingsdale Ave. Redondo Beach, CA 90278 |
map |
Opened: This was a third free-standing single screen venue for the complex, opening on December 24, 1971 as Loew's South Bay 3. Of the three buildings, this was located the farthest from Hawthorne Blvd., next to Levitz Furniture.
Architect: unknown
Seating: 750 according to an item in the March 18, 1971 issue of Independent Film Journal that noted Loew's had received Federal court approval to build the new theatre.
The top of a December 1971 Loew's directory ad in the L.A. Times announcing the arrival of the South Bay 3. Thanks to Scott Neff for sharing this on Cinema Treasures.
The attractions at the three houses including the initial films at the South Bay 3: "The Gang That couldn't Shoot Straight" and "Zig Zag." Thanks, Scott!
As with the other two buildings, General Cinema took over the operation from Loew's on September 28, 1972. By late 1974 General Cinema had twinned Building #2 and was calling that one Cinema II and III. So Building #3 was called South Bay Center Cinema IV.
After Building #1 was triplexed in 1986 and rebranded as Cinema 4-5-6 this became known as Galleria Cinema 1 as it was the largest remaining house. The twinned Building #2 continued to be identified as Cinema 2 and 3.
1986-12-25 … "The Mission" (15 weeks)
1987-07-01 … "Innerspace" (14)
1987-08-05 … "Stakeout" (13)
1988-11-23 … "Cocoon: The Return" (7)
1989-08-09 … "The Abyss" (10)
1990-06-15 … "Dick Tracy" (17)
The June 15, 1990 listings in the Times. Note "Dick Tracy" running in 70 in the big house, Cinema 1.
Closed: November 25, 1997 along with Building #2, the day before the opening of the 16 plex inside the Galleria.
A 2000 post-closing photo of Building #3. Thanks to Scott Neff for sharing it on the
Cinema Tour page about building #3.
Status: Building #3 was demolished in 2002.
Looking north on Kingsdale toward the site of Building #3 at 1523 Kingsdale. That transit station on the left is at 1521. Image: Google Maps - 2025
More information: See the Cinema Tour pages about
Building #1 (1964),
Building #2 (1969) and
Building #3 (1971). Thanks to Scott Neff and Eric Gieszl for their research.
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