Color cathode ray tube with tensioned shadow mask

The color cathode ray tube according to the present invention can improve the brightness without compromising strength by making the bridge width in one-dimensional tension type shadow mask narrower to a certain degree. The color cathode ray tube has a color selection electrode, the color selection electrode including a pair of supports facing each other; a shadow mask provided with a plurality of slot apertures, the shadow mask being stretched and fixed by the pair of supports; and elastic members arranged between the supports, and holding the supports. Bridges between vertically adjacent slot apertures are formed on the shadow mask. Defining the bridge width W as the largest vertical width of a bridge, the narrowest bridge width Wmin is in a range of 3-10% of a vertical pitch of the slot apertures. With this configuration, the necessary strength can be ensured, and the brightness can be improved without compromising strength, because the bridge widths W can be made narrower.