Trylon Theater
98-81 Queens Boulevard,
Rego Park,
NY
11374
98-81 Queens Boulevard,
Rego Park,
NY
11374
18 people
favorited this theater
Showing 176 - 200 of 207 comments
There was an article in the Times, Robert, some months ago discussing the poor condition of the NY State Pavilion at Flushing Meadows and, if memory serves (and I KNOW this will come as a total shock :–), the inaction of the city on restoring it. If only we, the people, truly had a say in what goes on at City Hall…
Native
As a FH resident also I grew up going to this gem. Sadly in New York it seems nobody cares anymore about our past. Have you seen the NY State Pavilion at Flushing Meadows? This classic was designed by Phillip Johnson and has been allowed to rot. What about the other unused art deco gem in Forest Hills, the tennis stadium? It’s hard now to believe that not only was the US Open held there but sold out concerts all summer long. To think Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles and Barbra Streisand played there and they let it sit and rot.
A member on our site, m_acevedo, posted a very interesting point on another theater strand regarding the Trylon on Feb 12, 2004. It is as follows: “Another local “ghost†theater I have kept my eye on is the beautiful little deco palace the Trylon. One would think that Queensborough Hall would go out of its way to salavage a relic of the era of the fabled 1939 World’s Fair, especially they are so keen these days to promote the legacy of the old Fairgrounds as the possible site of the 2012 Olympics.”
A useful link providing Trylon history & its architectural importance to the Forest Hills/Rego Park landscape, as well as support options can be found at – http://www.hdc.org/trylon.htm Show you care! Thanks!!! ^._.^
P.S. Perhaps we can start an online petition for the Trylon Theatre? Any ideas?
Hi fellow theater history enthusiasts!!!
I’m a new member on this board. It’s great that we have such a site to spread the awareness of the current status of theaters worldwide. So many theaters are endangered worldwide by carelessness, and the greed of landlords & developers. Hopefully, more people will see our postings, & realize the need for preservation!!! Remember that our path to the future is marked by a strong foundation of the past. It’s a shame to see the 1939 Art Deco Trylon Theater sitting there in a state of disarray. I believe the Trylon Theatre on Qns Blvd is not a landmark at this point. It baffles me as to why Melinda Katz won’t give her approval to the NY Landmarks Preservation Commission (http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/about/), which is creating a major burden towards landmark designation. Selfish, isn’t it?? Is Joseph Nocerino an option? If you feel that any site is worthy of landmark designation, e-mail .org No one posted on this forum since March 2005. Has anyone heard any news lately regarding the Trylon? Wouldn’t it be great if we can organize a fund-raiser to at least restore the exterior, if not parts of the interior? Anyone interested? Let’s get a group together. Please write back. E-mail It’s a shame how history is being wiped away right before our eyes like an eraser applied to a blackboard. Let’s show that the “little people” can make a BIG difference!!!
The Trylon was a lovely little art deco gem. Like The Elmwood, it had to be playing smething good to lure me into the subway from Forest Hills.
My grandmother was in charge of all “light music” at the 1939 Worlds Fair and I have an interest in all the artifacts of that exhibition. This includes the Trylon and I’m heartbroken to see its slow, sad demise.
They painted the side and back of the bricks that were covered in graffiti. A friend saw them taking out the seats the other day. I wish I knew for sure what was going on here.
Here are some of the Trylon Bookings for 89-90
5/5/89 Scandal
6/9 Dead Poets Society
8/25 Uncle Buck (moveover)
9/15 Shirley Valentine
10/27 Sex Lies & Videotape (moveover)
11/3 Crimes & Misdeamenors
12/15 Blaze
1/5 My Left Foot
2/2 Stanley & Iris
2/23 Where the Heart Is
3/9 Madhouse
3/23 Pretty Woman
6/15 Dick Tracy
There is alot of activity here in the last few days. Does anyone know exactly what they are doing with the interior? What a sin destroying this art deco little treasure.
I really don’t believe there is any connection between the
Russian communities in Rego Park and Brighton Beach. It's
possible, but I don’t think there is any connection.
Arnold G.
Arnold, is there any connection between the Russian Jewish communities of Rego Park, and Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, including the Gastronom Moscow boardwalk outdoor cafe there ? Or am I not up to date ?
The latest update on the status of the Trylon Theater is that it is
currently being renovated and will be turned into an Educational
Center for the Russian Jewish community in Rego Park.This rebuilding
is expected to be completed by the end of 2004. The site will cater to the learning needs of children, teenagers and also senior
citizens in the neighborhood. I first reported this in a page-one story in the Forest Hills Ledger on May 6.
Arnold Goldstein (Aug. 12, 2004.)
Sadly the exterior is getting worse by the day. I dont know if vandals have gotten inside or not.
Thanks for posting that, stukgh. I have a similar memory of the spring 1968 engagement of “Bonnie and Clyde” at the RKO Madison (q.v. on this site) Theater in Ridgewood, Queens.
My most vivid Trylon memory is the Spring 1968 engagement of “Bonnie and Clyde”. The house was packed and the audience seemed seemed unusually synched, riding the emotional roller coaster of that film like an enormous family, with gales of laughter at the comic scenes, colective gasps at the violent and suspenseful scenes that suddenly intruded, and stunned silence, with some open weeping, after the film ended. The greatest home theater set-up will never produce that sort of experience.
does anyone know the name of the architect who designed the Trylon Theater? I know it was built in 1939
please email me if you have the name
The first time I can remember visiting the Trylon was in early 1940, for “Goodbye, Mr. Chips.” This was one of the first theaters in New York to have “hard-of-hearing aids”, and we sat in the loge with my hearing-impaired aunt who used the special headsets provided at no charge.
The Trylon always used the scalloped Austrian drapes until they started showing those tacky intermission slides. Then they only closed it at the end of the final movie. The Trylon showed mostly upscale product but not really independant or art films. Those were usually run by The Cinemart. The Trylon did best with things like Indecent Proposal which played for months.
I only had seen one movie in the Trylon, “A Stranger Among Us” much of which was actually filmed in Ridgewood, at the Forest Ave M station. I remember it usually playing “unusual” films.
I remember it being a really nice “old fashioned” theater that if I’m not mistaken, even opened and closed curtains in front of the screen still.
Great facade but looks like it is slowly falling apart. Seems like it is unique enough to save. It’s historical link to the World’s Fair and the Trylon symbol is a great marketing tool in itself. Wonder if the last operator removed the projection equipment?
Sad, sad, sad. I first attended this theater by seeing “Firstborn” there on Saturday November 3rd 1984 and left it having seen “Stargate” there Friday November 11 1994, one marriage, one pregnancy, 10 years and 8 days later. Many happy times in between, among them, “Witness” in 1985 and “Out Of Africa” in 1986. I remember “Bobrick” on the hot air hand dryers, and the “Main Road” sign out on Queens Blvd. visible from the inner lobby/
also does anyone know the name of the community group that has plans to alter and use this building? Who owns it?
arnold feel free to contact me about efforst to save the trylon theater my number is 718-782-2007. My apologies to anyone who has called so far, could you please recall as I have lost all the info on my voice mail.
also If people could start writing Chair Bob Tierney of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission as well as writing City Council Member Melinda Katz , asking them to landmark at least the exterior of the trylon.
thanks
john juray
I have attended this theatre all my life, and fortunately the place was well maintained to the end. I dont know how well it is now, hopefully better then the outside looks. In an affluent area like Forest Hills couldent we support a 600 seat combination live and film venue. Stratons used to get alot of live name acts that could be presented here. A full time revival theatre would never cut it, but occasional festivals or classic nights would have a fighting chance. Arnold feel free to contact me at I used to manage another Forest Hills theatre and have lived in the area my whole life.