Elmwood Theatre

Interesting story, Ed! Thank you for sharing it!!! It will be great to find out what they unearth while attempting to restore the Elmwood to its original Queensboro design. I will try to assist them in the near future, after my Committee To Save The Trylon Theater’s endeavors. The Elmwood is a local landmark, but technically speaking, every building is especially endangered in Queens, without official landmark status. My committee will encourage it to be designated!!!

I remember there was a karate school in the offices above the lobby. As I stated way back in 2003 at the top of this entry, my Junior High School graduation ceremonies were held here in June of 1979. Odd, since my school was all the way in Fresh Meadows (but the Century Meadows was already a twin by then). The movie that was playing at the time of the graduation was the rather poor nature-gone-wrong horror flick “The Prophecy” (which I actually saw at the Meadows).

I remember seeing several of the “Star Trek” movies here, including the first one (my second time seeing it, since I had seen it opening day of the Sunrise Cinemas multiplex in Valley Stream). The very last movie I ever saw here was also a “Star Trek” movie – “First Contact” in ‘96. It was after a holiday party for the office that a bunch of us decided to head to the Elmwood and see if we could catch a flick. We settled on “First Contact” (which I had seen already). There was a showing starting up in a few minutes, but we were hungry and needed to eat first. So, we decided to buy tickets for the next showing about 45 minutes later (it was playing in two separate auditoriums) which was the last scheduled screening at like 11:30 or something. So, we chowed down at the pizza place (or small diner, I forget) located next to the lobby and then headed back in for the movie.

When we got inside, the ticket taker told us that the movie had already started and was about 35 to 40 minutes in already… We looked at him puzzled and said that we had tickets for the 11:30 show… But it turns out they decided not to cancel the 11:30 show because the theater was completely empty and it was a Thursday night and they were closing up early! The manager was very nice and apologetic and explained we had the only 3 tickets to any of the 3 movies that were scheduled to start after 11 pm that night. So, he gave us a refund and offered to let us into the theater anyway to catch the end of the movie. We were still sort of intoxicated and up for the movie, so we took him up on his offer and settled in for the last hour or so of the flick!

That was my last time inside the theater. I look forward to visiting again soon as the renovations progress. I’m dying to see what they’ve recovered and what they’re able to restore of the original Queensboro design! I hope they plan on keeping the huge rooftop sign in place. It’s a local landmark.

For my collection, it would mean a lot to me if someone can please send me some scans showing the Elmwood Theatre as a work in progress. My e-mail is The Rock Community Church is doing a superb job in preserving & restoring the Elmwood, but does anyone have an idea as to when work will be completed? Wooden boards surround the front for a while now. I hope to see the base restored as well, & the graffiti on top eliminated. Thank you, RCC for reusing the old theater space, & embellishing its ornate character & Queensboro Theatre day’s glory!!! Any chance of designating it a landmark?

The Elmwood was a magnificent theater. I lived in Forest Hills and we had The Midway, Forest Hills, Inwood (later; Cinemart) and Continental so ot had to be a good movie to be worth a subway ride.

I recall the stars on the ceiling and castle on the walls from my earliest visits to The Elnwood. Later on, the theater was much more plain after it had become what I think was a triple.

Better a church than torn down.

Ahhh! Yes, I dimly recall the original name. One of my aunts and her family lived in the neighborhood on 61 Road near Woodhaven Blvd. At some early point in my annals of visiting her, I remember the theater took on a new identity, but I was never quite sure why. You’ve solved the mystery for me! And, yes, it’s a miracle that the theater still stands and its decor is intact.

Did many other theaters undergo a change of name as the Elmwood did?

What’s yours?

Marisabel, sorry. I she saw me mistake her name with another ex of mine, she’d hurt me.

Hola Rockeros. Anyone out there?

C.P. Pastor Lydia Withrow is in charge of the Queens RCC church. There are still a lot of people in the church that have been around since the “basement” days. I am interested in your story with RCC. They have been renovating the Elmwood. For those interested in the renovation of the Elmwood, they are suppose to open the whole floor back up on December 5, 2004.

If anyone else has more information, without me having to actually go there, let me know.

I’m glad to see they’re moving up in the world. I remember when they were located at that dinky little basement spot on Roosevelt Ave., although the Crazy chicken people next door used to love them being there. It was so good for business. I guess the Crazy chicken people got fried! in terms of business. Bad joke. I know. Thanks for the feedback. I’m wondering who the pastor is now and which of the old-school members are still there? Would you happen to know this?

Is this where the RCC is now located? Interesting. It has been a while since I last heard that name. The Rock Community Church. Do they have a website? If so, I’d be interested in knowing what it is. They are the ones who brought me into the Christian faith and also made me leave; but I’m curious to see how they are doing five years later. If anyone has any information on their website, please post it up. Thanks.