Strand Theater
7588 Monterey Road,
Gilroy,
CA
95020
7588 Monterey Road,
Gilroy,
CA
95020
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I found this pages from an historic book referencing Gilroy and the pictures apparently taken on the gala opening night (or thereabouts). For a $15,000 organ, sure has very few toestuds.
Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/rx9d34
Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ph8nla
This is a December 2002 article about the Strand. When the Googlemobile went by, perhaps last year, the building was covered with scaffolding and tarps. No clue as to what is going on inside.
http://tinyurl.com/cz2u5n
Oh the memories , 75cent admission , sneakin to the balcony to smoke ( cause u had to be 18) Saturday night fever, Bruce Lee movies, The lords of flatbush i must have saw 15 times the week it was out. Paying a dime to squirt the perfume on from the ladies room. I wish someone would buy it and restore it to it
s original beauty and a movie theatre again, That would be wonderful!! maybe an arcade even . these kids have nothing to do in this town. Doesnt anyone have a photo of the Strand?brenda of Gilroy
One and the same Strand. Another above comment mentions a lot of “restoration” having taken place. Not true, as there was nothing left inside to restore, the theatre having been totally gutted to the bare concrete when turned to retail use. What has been done is to furnish the space with a plain and simple, but pleasing contemporary multipurpose interior. The original concrete structural rectangle of the proscenium frames a new stage, but nothing at all decorative remains from the old interior. The facade has been given a very nice paint job, highlighting the original moldings, pilasters, window sashes, and balustrades.
The Strand Theatre seated 900 people.
The Strand was reopened sometime in 2003 for use as a theater. I believe that a lot of restoration took place. Many community events are now held there, including live musical acts on the weekends.
The 1921 Strand Theatre contained a 2 manual 5 rank Robert Morton pipe organ played by a Harry Banister.
What a crime that this theatre was converted to retail uses. The store that made the conversion/gutting failed and the building sat closed for many years.