We took a trip to Gardena Cinema, one of the last family-owned, independent movie theaters in Los Angeles, to try and answer a simple question: What’s it like to own and operate an indie movie theater today? Proximity’s Head of Audio Paola Mardo talks with owner Judy Kim about how her immigrant parents built their business after they bought the single-screen theater in 1976, why she had to pivot after the 2023 strikes, and the vital role her community plays in keeping the doors open. We also have a fun segment featuring our visit to a marathon of horror exploitation movies screened in 16mm film.
03:57
Inside the Horror-Exploitation-Thon at Gardena Cinema
10:49
All in the family: Gardena Cinema’s origin story
15:41
How the 2023 strikes changed Gardena Cinema’s business model
23:56
What it’s like to operate an indie theater today
