RKO Keith's Richmond Hill Theatre
117-09 Hillside Avenue,
Richmond Hill,
NY
11418
117-09 Hillside Avenue,
Richmond Hill,
NY
11418
25 people
favorited this theater
Showing 176 - 200 of 427 comments
You’re welcome, LuisV. Ironically, you got the “its” before “title” correct !
I’ll look forward to a possible response from the Richmond Hill Historical Society.
Thanks for the grammatical correction! I actally minored in English so I usually don’t get that wrong. If I had majored, I’m sure I’d never get it wrong. Anyway, point taken.
In the meantime, when (if) I get a response from the historical society I will post it on this page.
Thanks, Panzer65, for your marvelous photographs. I’m reminded of my last visit there Saturday July 8 2006. Thank you Lost Memory and LuisV for your posts. Yes, Luis, your message is very well-written. My sentiments exactly. To your list of losses I can only add : the closing of the Richmond Hill LIRR station in March 2008, and the loss of the Landmark Restaurant at Jamaica Avenue and 116th Street.
Small correction : “it’s” before “neighborhoods” should be “its” (no apostrophe).
I look forward to there being an on-line petition to sign to save the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill as there is for the Ridgewood Theatre.
Thank you Lost Memory! I went to their web site and sent the following e-mail to their webmaster in the hope that it would reach the appropriate people at the Society. Thanks again for prodding me to act!
I am curious as to whether anyone at the historical association is doing anything to save the RKO Keith’s Theater which (in my opinion) is the most important historical building still standing in Richmond Hill and has the potential of being a beautifully restored movie palace as it once was. The theater was recently sold and there is a lot of concern that the new owner might have plans that involve gutting the theater for retail or other use. This would be a travesty for Richmond Hill and the city as a whole. The beautiful marquee has already been marred by the new owner and we think it is the first step in the destruction of this diamond in the rough.
There is a website called Cinema Treasures (cinematreasures.org) which maintains a page dedicated to the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill. Please reference the postings to see what the concerns are.
If there is any organization that should spearhead a campaign to save the RKO Keith’s it is the Richmond Hill Historical Society.
Though I now live in Manhattan, I grew up in South Ozone Park and lived for many years in Kew Gardens, just 3 blocks from this historic structure. I’ve seen the Triangle Hofbrau disappear, the Republican Club gutted, The Simonson Funeral Home destroyed, Jahn’s Ice Cream Parlor Gone! Please help save the one structure remaining in Richmond Hill that can truly become spectacular once again; The movie palace that carries it’s neighborhood’s name proudly in its title: The RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill!
Thanks in advance for your attention to this matter!
Luis
Why isn’t the Richmond Hill Historical Association (I think that’s what they’re called) mounting a big campaign to save this theater? If any organization should take the lead it is this one.
Panzer65, thank you so much for those photos. The Corinthian Columns are beautiful and you are absolutely correct. If any theater could be described as a diamond in the rough it is this one.
George Tobor,
Your welcome .No sir, the floor is still at a gradual slope, which does make it some what difficult to place round objects on the sellers tables!
I am all for preserving this wonderful theater.
Panzer65, thank you for sharing your marvelous photographs. Had you noticed if the floor has been leveled? Your photographs should leave no doubt in anyones mind that this building must be saved and not gutted for retail use. A petition should be forth coming.
George
If any theater that was built during the Vaudeville era that survives today, can be described accurately, than this theater must be called a “Diamond in the Rough” to its full extent. Everything about the interior is exactly the way it was from when the last film played, with the exception of the chandelier missing and the seats removed, it was a sight to behold.Even the light beige paint, which is a bit worn and flaking, resembles a trip back in classic movie house history.As you walk in the lobby, there’s a long corridor that retains the poster for ads for upcoming films.The floor is a beautiful marble like type, with exquisite designs.As you proceed to the foyer, there are columns that resemble gold which support the double staircase leading to the balcony,which I was not allowed to enter.As you proceed to the outer lobby, the concession stands are there, but modernized. The ceiling has beautiful etched plaster that adds to the charm, which also is replicated throughout the theater.The orchestra area is amazing.It is still sloped, but I was very interested in the side boxes which overlook the still curtained proscenium and stage area. The ceiling was very high and had the familiar dome, with no chandelier,but above the boxes there were light fixtures on chains that were non functional.The original exit lights were there too, made of brass or copper.I urge all CT members to visit this unique building, as soon as you walk in its a real treat you will enjoy!
I visited this grand beauty this past Sunday, and brought home gifts to share with fellow Cinema Treasures members:
View link
Requiring a permit to remove the marquee is a step in the right direction. Your comment is much appreciated Bway. Please keep us informed of any changes that you may notice in the building structure. Perhaps a petition should be initiated to landmark the exterior of this building. That could prevent this building from being razed.
George
Thanks, Bway and Lost Memory, for posting this information.
According to the tax records, there was a complaint about the marquee in August. That must have been given when the letters were removed. Sdomeone must have reported it. The city sent an inspector, and It was dismissed, as the what they did wasn’t illegal, even if unfortunate. They would have to apply for a permit to remove the marquee.
George, I agree with you, it’s horrible to think this theater has survived so well intact all this time, only to lose it now…but again, anything that preserves the interior would be better than going at it with jackhammers like they did to so many other theaters.
We can only wait and see, but this is yet another theater at an important and critical crossroads we can lose it now in the final hours…
Luis, your position is much clearer to me now. Forgive me if I misunderstood you. I do agree with you that a CVS would be preferable to demolition. The RKO Keith’s is close to major transportation including bus and train service. I do believe that some sort of theatrical venue could exist at this location. I fear that the marquee will be removed next and it will be too late to save this magnificent building from further desecration.
George
George, nobody WANTS to have this theater turned into a drug store! What we’re saying is we would rather that than have it be gutted or torn down altogether.
This site doesn’t work as a concert hall or performance space. It is a residential neighborhood (lower middle/middle class) with a low end retail strip on Jamaica Avenue; mediocre mass transit (J Train) and no real parking. To add insult to injury, 100 year old Jahn’s Ice Cream Parlour next door was closed and then gutted just a few months ago.
No one in their right mind would invest millions into the Keiths to turn it into a concert hall/performance space.
Hence our desire to at least save the architecture in whatever use it ultimately is used for. We don’t want it torn down.
How can anyone believe the notion that a CVS conversion would be acceptable for this former theatre. Have you seen the interior of this building. The decor is very much intact. Use of this building as a theatre would not be a major task. A concert venue could be an alternative to retail use.
George
Luis V
Thank you for your reply regarding the conversion of the Keith’s to another use.
I think you said it all in a previous post,better to have the exterior saved, or portions of the interior gutted and/or altered, than to destroy the building completely.
The conversion of the Brooklyn Paramount into an athletic facility was inelegant at best. The orchestra and stage were removed and the lower side walls stripped (I beieve) leaving the top of the theater relatively intact. The balconies, I believe were converted into class/office space. This kind of renovation will make its conversion back into an actual theater much easier. It’s just unlikely that this would become an athletic facility especially when not attached to a school and there are no colleges nearby.
In terms of a school conversion, the latest example of this is the RKO Bushwick where the beautiful exterior was restored, but the interior was totally gutted. A school for the Keiths would, at best, meet a similar fate and, unlike the Bushwick, the Keiths doesn’t have a spectacuar facade, just a handsome marquee.
Another option is conversion to apartments which was the fate of Loews Pitkin, a stunning palace that was left to decay in Brooklyn. Again, the beautiful facade is supposed to be preserved but the interior totally gutted.
If it worked financially, the best kind of conversion could be to a health club where the equipment is installed and the architecture is essentially left alone. I know this has been done in other theaters. I just don’t know if the market is there for a higher end gym, but it’s a thought.
Much emphasis today is the need for more schools, that being said, perhaps the Keith’s could be turned into a school, or even like they did to the Brooklyn Paramount,conversion into an athletic facility, or basketball arena. Many existing schools that were built with outdoor gym space, has been utilized as building extensions.
A church would have to buy this building from the new owner. No church is going to lease this building and make renovations on rented property. Also, a church is no guarantee of preservation. While many palaces have been beautifully preserved and/or restored by religious institutions (wonderful examples include Loews Valencia, Loews 175th Street, The Stanley and The Elmwood) some have been destroyed. One of the worst “renovations” was the Prospect Theater in the Bronx (also known as Olympic Theater Concert Hall). In my opinion, the church destoyed this handsome theater. We’ll just have to cross our fingers.
Another good idea, Lost Memory. I appreciate your humor.
I think that’s more realistic than asking that it be made into a theater again.
Maybe that’s what any petition should say. The owner should make every effort to preserve the interior and exterior integrity of any resuse of the property.
Agreed, Bway. Let’s hope it isn’t sledghammered away, like the Eagle / Luxor Theatre is, right now.
You have to look at it realistically. Chances are slim to none that this would ever be a theater again in this location. But at the same time, there is no reason to “destroy” the building either. It could be converted tastefully into a new use, while preserving it’s integrity and interior and exterior architecture. There’s no reason to sledghammer it away.