RKO Keith's Theatre

135-35 Northern Boulevard,
Flushing, NY 11354

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judithblumenthal
judithblumenthal on January 5, 2006 at 7:08 am

Warren: I don’t agree with Meenakshi Srinivasan or the rest of the Board Of Standards and Appeals (an ironic name in itself)—but if her name was John Smith would you complain as much about her credentials? You’d be surprised how some people react to my name.
By the way, who is George Bush and what were his credentials to run for President of the U.S.A? FB

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on January 4, 2006 at 10:55 pm

I don’t believe that it’s too late. I proceed my preservation efforts with optimism. You’re doing a superb job, Tom! And Jeffrey, a very well composed letter to the editor indeed! I urge all to sign the RKO Keith petition.

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on January 4, 2006 at 8:34 pm

Beautifully written, Jeffrey1955… I signed Tom’s petitiion, but I fear the site’s fate is sealed. But man, that letter frm Chuck Apelian is revolting. The Chair for the NYC BSA couldn’t have written it better herself (in fact, it was probably precisely as she dictated it to Mr. Apelian in exchange for some backroom deal we’ll never know about).

Jeffrey1955
Jeffrey1955 on January 4, 2006 at 7:43 pm

I’m not sure if Queens Gazette or their associated papers accept e-mailed letters, or if you have to send them by snail mail — that’s not completely clear on their site — but I e-mailed them one anyway:
[quote]To The Editor:
Rarely have I read a bigger self-serving pile of dog droppings than the letter from Chuck Apelian of Community Board 7 praising Chairperson Meenakshi Srinivasan and the Board of Standards and Appeals for the “shining example” of the RKO Keith’s Theater fiasco.

The RKO Keith’s, a magnificent example of theater architecture and interior design, is being completely destroyed under this plan, save for a small lobby area that will be totally useless, “preserved” behind glass. Compare this with other genuine examples of theater preservation and restoration, such as the recent triumphant re-emergence of Loew’s Paradise in the Bronx, and it is difficult to understand how anyone can sing the praises of the Keith’s disaster. Why was no effort made to restore and utilize the auditorium and build above it?

In truth, far from being an example of “the enormous benefit a community receives when all parties work together for the common good,” this is an illustration of the worst that happens when politicians continue to divvy up the public good to the machinations of private developers. If it is to be the “cornerstone” of the community for generations to come, I hope they drive very deep pilings, for it seems destined to sink into the quagmire of political payoffs.

I was raised in Queens; my Intermediate School graduation was held at RKO Keith’s. I’m glad I had the opportunity to see it in all its splendor. It pains me to see what has become of both the theater and community leadership. I urge everyone who truly cares about the future to work at preserving the past. Visit View link and sign a petition to save the RKO Keith’s.[/quote]
Their e-mail address is

TomStathes
TomStathes on January 4, 2006 at 7:02 pm

I have started an online petition located here: View link
PLEASE Sign, and forward it to everyone you can think of!
Also, this would be great as a news topic on the main page of this site.

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on January 4, 2006 at 4:35 pm

As many Cinema Treasures members as possible should write letters to our locally “elected” politicians and Community Board 7 regarding the proposed Boymelgreen heritage trasher. Let your voice be heard!!! Also, voice your opinion and write letters to the editor of various newspapers. Every bit helps! Did anyone think of starting an online/offline petition? Why doesn’t Mr. Boymelgreen AT LEAST build above the cherished RKO Keith? A lobby is a head without brains! Please share your thoughts. Thank you!

judithblumenthal
judithblumenthal on January 3, 2006 at 3:00 pm

I must agree with Jeffrey about not blaming “foreigners”. That is a dangerous attitude. Although when I lived in Flushing I found I was not welcome in some stores, and part of that non-welcome was that no signs indicated what they sold were in English.

But America was built mostly on the influx of foreigners—and especially in New York. That is what gives this city it’s special flavor and excitement. Each nationality tends to cling together at first, but sooner or later their particular contributions enriches us all. I think in this case it is a matter not of nationality, but of certain businessmen and politicians going after money. Which happens anywhere by both foreigners and Americans. Francesca

Jeffrey1955
Jeffrey1955 on January 3, 2006 at 2:14 pm

RobertR, please don’t fall into the trap of blaming “the trouble” on “foreigners.” “The trouble” is, and always has been, the capitalist imperative to make a quick buck. The corrupt politicians and profiteers have been around forever, and they come in every language and culture. Unless you’re prepared to explain the destruction of all the other theaters documented on this site as because of “foreign business dollars” I’d watch the generalizations.

RobertR
RobertR on January 3, 2006 at 11:57 am

This whole place has been bathed in payoffs and scandal for so long. It would not surprise me if most of the Keith’s is still there inside. The trouble is the neighborhood has turned into a nightmare of new construction and you can walk blocks without seeing a sign in English, they don’t want the Keith’s even restored, culture means nothing to foreign business dollars.

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on January 3, 2006 at 11:55 am

I meant “The” in my first sentence above. I am sorry that I do not have any current or semi-current photos of the RKO Keith. Perhaps the Theater Historical Society could be of help. Good luck!

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on January 3, 2006 at 11:52 am

To KenRaniere & fellow members:

This Preservation League of NY has an extremely useful legislative action center. This might be integral in assisting anyone willing to salvage architectural elements/molds of plaster, or acquire permission to go inside & take photos. Please follow this link:

http://capwiz.com/plnys/home/

Bway
Bway on January 3, 2006 at 11:25 am

The real problem is that everything here is hearsay, as no current (or even semi-current photos) of the interior have ever been posted. There are conflicting reports. My “information” is based on what others have said here, or elsewhere about the condition of the interior of the theater. Some reports are that the interior has been widely damaged and destroyed, both through demolition, and through ravages of neglect for two decades.
So which is it – I don’t know, but most of the reports say that the interior is damaged almost beyond recognitioin. Again, this is only based on what others have said…not visual proof.
So really though – does anyone know of ANY current or even semi current (10 years or more ago) photos of the interior available, either personal or online?

Jeffrey1955
Jeffrey1955 on January 3, 2006 at 11:19 am

The question remains, what actually still exists of the auditorium? We had contradictory posts; on Oct. 11, Bway said:

The problem here is that the damage is already done. The theater is all but gone inside from what I've heard. The former owner destroyed it, and whatever he didn't was probably destroyed through the ravages of time over the following 20 years. It's over, whether we like it or not. Nothing can bring the theater back, as much of what was the theater is already gone.


But on Oct. 23, mike69 said:

I'm getting so sick of people here saying "the damage is already done" and "the former owner destroyed it". Thats all bull$#!% ! I've had the chance on numerous occasions to slip inside, the plywood wall out fron hasnt always been the most secure and there is no secuity. Yeah, the guy who owned it has done some damage to it but it HAS NOT been destroyed. Its dusty and has leaks but for the most part ITS WHOLE. ...Someone had psted why cant they build the new building above the old one so the auditorium can be saved ?? The theater is pretty much intact and no worse for wear than the little trylon theater they are all trying to save on queens blvd. I mean the keiths even has its original stage curtains still hanging and i guess thats all gonna get ripped down as long as we get our little lobby.


So which is it?

KenRaniere
KenRaniere on January 3, 2006 at 11:08 am

I stumbled onto this website in search of the Loew’s Victory Theater on Third Ave. in the Bronx and spent an hour reading the many comments about RKO Keith. Both movie houses figured prominently in my life at the ages of 6 through 20.
Unfortunately I was to learn that The Keith, like so many places in my past life in New York have been wiped away with no proof they ever existed: the apartment house, church and school in East Harlem; the apartment building, school and church in the south Bronx, and now the RKO Keith in Flushing.
I wonder what other civilization in the world is so anxious to obliterate structures of their past like New York. Imagine Paris dismantling the Eiffel Tower because its too tall, or Rome bulldozing the Coliseum, because, after all, its juat a hulking ruin taking up valuable real estate. That’s just what happened to Penn Station until someone woke up in defense of saving Grand Central.
Fortunately, there are safeguards to protect such landmarks here and there, but it takes clout, money and a buy-in from the local community and government. I no longer live in New York but grieve over the loss of these architectural treasures which were built with purpose and style with the hope of enduring time. I’m sure the architects and builders who created details like the lobby and interior of the Keith ever considered developer’s greed would destroy their creation.
Since moving to NE Pennsylvania in 1968, I guess I learned a lesson before leaving New York: that attention must be paid to the deeds and merits of those before us. I joined several historical organizations in past years with the idea of educating the public on preservation and giving structures of historic importance a second use.
I wish I had the checkbook or the political clout to make a difference in Flushing, to save a bit of my own childhood and the Keith to pass on to others. There are ways of preventing unscrupulous developers and politicans from destroying the heritage of our neighborhoods.
It would be in the best interest of those in Flushing’s community and those of us who fondly remember such structures as the Keith to create an historical organization, amass a board with some clout and recognition to let those like the Board of Standards and Appeals in NYC, the importance of all structures in the community. Once an abandoned property like the Keith is saved, the next step is to assign a use to justify having saved it.
If the Keith was in a more pristine condition, its easy to see it revived as a movie house, showing certain or special films once again, but also allowing its use to go beyond, as a learning and performing arts center for the community and even a museum.
It takes planning by members of local organizations to attend meetings and fight, fight, fight. It can be done. As for the fate of Flushing’s RKO Keith? Without proper attention to what it was initially designed for, yes, get permission and photograph it thoroughly for the record. Let it be the inspiration to create an organization to prevent other structures in the community from suffering the same fate.
For me, like with other structures I grew up with and have now found gone, I can only recall 50 years ago as a fifth grader, that magical lobby in The Keith which made me feel I was in a courtyard at dusk, the buildings surrounding me in a warm Naples yellow as that acquamarine sky held constellations of tiny white lights above my head. That’s what we’re losing. That’s what is lost.
Does anyone know the cell number of Donald Trump or Bill Gates?

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on January 3, 2006 at 9:12 am

That’s my point, Bway. As painful as it is to see a great old theater like the Keith’s in its death throws, I think we would live to regret not making an effort to document whatever vestiges of its former glory remain before the wrecking ball pounds it to dust.

Bway
Bway on January 3, 2006 at 8:32 am

I probably agree with Warren, however, demolition photos can be very interesting. I am still kicking myself from the mid-90’s, when they were demolishing the old abandoned Loews Broadway Theater at the Myrtle and Broadway elevated station. The entire interior was opened up and visible from the station platform. Even the chandeliers were still hanging inside. The procenium arch was still intact, as were it’s corintian columns on either side. I missed about 3 trains while peaking in the building as the forth wall was removed.
If only I took some photos. It was a sad day that day, but now I only wish I could look at the photos.

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on January 3, 2006 at 7:14 am

Tom S. I am in complete agreement. Do you have any idea how to obtain such permission? I wonder if Patrick would be interested in getting involved or at least sanctioning such an expedition under the auspices of the Cinema Treasures web site. I imagine the greatest challenge will be safety concerns. I would love a chance to get inside the Keith’s one last time.

TomStathes
TomStathes on January 2, 2006 at 7:12 am

Those of us who are interested in exploring the Keith’s before demolition should really try to organize together and find some way to get in, preferably with permission. It’s important that ALL parts of the building safe to explore are photographed, and anything lying around not in the landmarked areas be saved. It would even be awesome if some of us could save the plaster decor and other architectural odds and ends which will only be destroyed.
Once Boymelgreen starts demolition, a great part of history will be lost forever and we can at least try to do something beforehand!

beardbear31
beardbear31 on December 26, 2005 at 2:53 am

Kind of looks like something Darren Stevens from Bewitched designed…

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on December 25, 2005 at 9:48 pm

THE NEW RENDERING IS NOWHERE NEAR A REVIVAL. SHAME ON ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE BELOVED RKO KEITH’S THEATRE’S DEMISE. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!

judithblumenthal
judithblumenthal on December 25, 2005 at 1:25 pm

I agree with Jeffrey1955 that the artist’s rendering of what is supposed to be a “revival” looks funereal. I liken it to a plastic coffin. Is there any chance that the Queens Museum or some other museum could find a billionaire film fanatic and a more respectful, congenial place to re-create that RKO Keith lobby? A number of years ago the Queens Museum did an entire exhibit about movie palaces, with objects left over from other murdered theatres. They played my song “Movie Palaces” during the exhibit, which is how I learned about it. But maybe there is a bigger more appropriate venue where that lobby could actually live and make people happy. Not on Northern Boulevard. Francesca

Denpiano
Denpiano on December 25, 2005 at 12:57 pm

Warren-
What a depressing photo! I went to this theatre many times during the late 60’s and early 70’s, what a beautiful theatre. The first time I went after the multiplexing, I was in the upper room? and thought to myself,“I gotta get out of here!, its making me sick"
My friends could not understand what my problem was, they only go there for "the movie” You’ll think I’m crazy, but they really should put it out of its misery! Do it NOW!!!!

Jeffrey1955
Jeffrey1955 on December 25, 2005 at 12:52 pm

WHAT the heck is that? I haven’t seen an artist’s rendering that looked like that since around 1961. And, considering what’s actually happening to the place, I suppose it’s appropriate that it appears to be a mausoleum!

Jeffrey1955
Jeffrey1955 on December 20, 2005 at 9:15 pm

Don’t sweat it. It’s dumb and inappropriateness were not at all diminished by the misspelling! ;–)

Ed Baxter
Ed Baxter on December 20, 2005 at 8:55 pm

“No wrecking ball can take that from me. Unless of course I am stuck in the head by it. (Sorry couldn’t resist).”

I meant “struck” in the head.

Damn it. I made a really dumb and inappropriate joke and blew it with a misspelling. What a jackass!