Temple City Cinemas

9021 Las Tunas Drive,
Temple City, CA 91780

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Showing 1 - 25 of 26 comments

rivest266
rivest266 on August 4, 2016 at 4:49 pm

December 17th, 1982 grand opening ad in the photo section.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 27, 2009 at 10:39 am

Here is the Edwards theater in 1984:
http://tinyurl.com/ls2lew

bkazmer
bkazmer on February 6, 2008 at 11:41 pm

I saw “Rebel Without A Cause” when it was first running back in 1955 at this theater. I was in 3rd grade…what were my parents thinking? I also saw the film “Tarantula” there! Not quite the classic that Rebel was! It was a grand old theater! I lived on Live Oak next to the dry river wash and was attending school on the San Gabriel side of the river.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 13, 2007 at 4:57 pm

Theatre info needs updated to Closed/Demolished. The original S. Charles Lee-designed Temple Theatre that James Edwards had built on this corner in 1940 lasted more than forty years, but this four screen theatre he built to replace it in the early 1980s survived only half as long. Temple City is now without a local theatre.

JoeD
JoeD on January 21, 2007 at 11:33 am

I was 15 in ‘85 too! I loved to hang there and watch movies and play Elevator Action and Sinistar in the arcade!

Droog
Droog on October 25, 2006 at 6:31 pm

I loved this place!!
I hung out here alot with friends when we were 15 (1985)
We would get our money together, get 1 person in, open the exit, put a lighter to keep the first door open, and open it for us outside, then we would rush in and find a seat, they had an alarm up front so it was usually a 50/50 chance depending how quick we were or them.
I liked this place alot, they didnt kick us out, we would watch a film, sit on the stairs, talk and smoke and make way for people going up and down the stairs to the bathroom and arcade, then see another movie, we could be there from open till close. For being bad 15 year old kids, they were always oblivious to us.
The movies that stand out here seeing was Return Of The Living Dead, The Goonies, Gremlins, Break Dancing.

TCmanny
TCmanny on May 18, 2006 at 1:14 pm

My apologies the original theater was torn down in 1982…

I’ve been taking pictures of the demolition…

It will be replaced by Piazza Las Tunas. Specific stores have not been named…

http://www.tcna.info

lakrs1
lakrs1 on May 17, 2006 at 4:57 pm

Whoops! I meant Regency

lakrs1
lakrs1 on May 17, 2006 at 4:56 pm

I saw a demoliton crew tearing down the Regeny Temple Cinema today. Anyone know what stores they are building there next?? 5/17/06

Sergio

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 1, 2006 at 1:14 am

ken mc: Your photo link of November 30th actually shows the original Temple Theatre, which was demolished to make way for this (now doomed) 1983 fourplex.

Though I went to the old Temple Theatre many times, I only saw one movie at this fourplex. It was Superman II, so it was in the one of the two larger auditoriums which had the 70mm projection. I was surprised to find that this room was not too much smaller than the old Temple Theatre had been. The old theatre had more seats, but the seats in the new house were a bit larger, and there was more leg room.

The new screen was almost wall-to-wall, so it was actually a bit bigger than the old theatre’s screen had been, even though the new room was a few feet narrower. The new lobby and restrooms were much larger, too, but the new building didn’t have anywhere near the character of the old one, which had an open loggia entrance and a high, beamed ceiling in the auditorium.

TCmanny
TCmanny on December 31, 2005 at 6:42 pm

I love the LA Library’s picture of the ol' Temple Theatre sign. Built in 1940 for the Edwards circuit, and designed by famed architect S. Charles Lee, this one-screen gem served many Temple City residents well. Unfortunately, this landmark was demolished and replaced with the NEW four-screen Edwards Temple Cinema in 1983.

Twenty-years later, the company’s bankruptcy and Alhambra’s new Edwards megaplex all but ensured the theater’s closure. Regency would later reopen the theater, now christened Regency Temple City Cinemas.

UPDATE: Regency Temple City Cinemas has been told by its property’s owner/developer to vacate. The last screening is on January 2, 2006.

A great resource to view pictures of both theaters, including the demolition picture of Temple Theatre, is the Temple City Museum, run by the Historical Society of Temple City [non-profit]. (626) 279-1784

View link

Meredith Rhule
Meredith Rhule on November 4, 2004 at 12:50 pm

Regal Theaters did in fact take over Edwards and United Artists theater circuits. A projectionist I had brought into the union in Kankakee, Il, back in 1975, went onto to become a theater service technician for RCA in Southern California. His name is Roger Evetts, and he did the projection room installation at this theater.

Macbeth
Macbeth on October 6, 2004 at 1:10 pm

Yes, as stated in another message, the Theatre is now open again, and is going by the name of “Temple City Cinemas.” Haven’t been inside yet, but will soon.

dongumaer
dongumaer on August 19, 2004 at 5:32 pm

The theater that is now located at Las Tunas Dr. and Rosemead Blvd. in Temple City was owned by Regal Theaters of Knoxville, TN. Regal Theaters took over Edwards Theaters after Edwards filed for bankruptcy a few years back. (I’m sure that James Edwards, Sr. is turning over in his grave.) Regal recently sold the Temple Theatre which has now opened as an independent theatre. My understanding is that it will be eventually torn down and the entire block around it will be some type of shopping center. Just as a side note, my father managed the OLD Temple Theater from the mid 50s through the mid 60s.

Jaden
Jaden on July 8, 2004 at 11:53 pm

In answer to an earlier question about who runs the Regency chain. I’ve been to the theatre to catch some movies and noticed the last time that signs in the parking lot refer to the property being owned by the Manhattan Acquisition Corp. Tried a cursory internet search and only came up with change of ownership record but no other info. The Regency chain also owns a theatre in La Canada. Anyway, really glad to see this theatre up and running again – it’s nice to have a local theatre in the area again; sometimes you just get tired of the megaplexes. Besides, this side of town is sorely lacking in movie theatres. Kudos to whoever/whatever bought the Temple —-great timing since that intersection is being revitalized and redeveloped with new businesses and restaurants – it’s about time!

mw2merc
mw2merc on June 29, 2004 at 12:41 am

Theater #1 is still equiped to play 70mm film. Also, the to larger screens are DTS, not Dolby Digital.

William
William on May 17, 2004 at 2:11 pm

When Edward’s opened this theatre, theatre #1 was equipped to run 70MM prints. The last time I was in the booth in the ‘96 it still was equipped for 70MM.

mw2merc
mw2merc on May 16, 2004 at 4:01 pm

Also, the theater # of seats are #1 500, #2 300, #3 300, & #4 500.

mw2merc
mw2merc on May 16, 2004 at 3:59 pm

This is no longer an Edwards, it’s a Regency. It’s the same building, not a new one. It’s on the NE corner of Rosemead and Las Tunas. They’ve upgraded, at least, the lager two theaters sound systems. Both list with Dolby Digital. They’ve done a nice job at cleaning it up as Edwards had let it degrade. They’re adding an arcade upstairs soon. Good selection of candy, decent prices, & good service. They do have some ice cream already. Frozen Lemonaides & Bon Bons. They are going to add hot pretzels soon too.

Yes, this weekend is it’s Grand Opening. Free small popcorn with ticket, small drinks & hotdogs are $1 each. Going to see Troy there today. I saw Van Helsing earlier this week & the new sound system definately sounds better.

hercules
hercules on May 10, 2004 at 5:01 pm

The Edwards is now open again. It will have its new Grand Opening this coming week-end. I started going there in my youth (early 50’s) and It made for a great time on a Saturday afternoon.

Movieexpert
Movieexpert on May 4, 2004 at 12:41 pm

It looks like they are building a Regency theater where the old Edwards used to be. I hope everyone can come out to see what the new place looks like. Can anyone tell me who runs the Regency chain?

ChrisB
ChrisB on May 3, 2004 at 11:49 pm

Drove by this afternoon and marquee reads “NOW HIRING” “OPENING SOON”; windows and doors covered with brown paper and some rolloff Dumpsters in the parking lot.

BobHolley
BobHolley on January 13, 2004 at 6:43 pm

Well, this theatre is now dark, and been that way for at least a week. We’ll see what happens.