RKO Keith's Richmond Hill Theatre

Perhaps how the drug store was put in the Meserole Theater. That buiding suits it’s new use fine, yet preserved the integrity of the building.

If impending fate does happen, perhaps the new owner will do renovations, but respect the theater’s architectural integrity, thereby having a historic building we can visit and enjoy for generations.

I don’t mean to be gloomy, but I honestly don’t see how a petition helps this theater. If I’m the new owner, I’m going to say “Keep your signatures! How am I going to get a return on my $2MM investment while still keeping this structure as a theater?”

Unless he has an answer to that question then this theater doesn’t have much hope of surviving. The best we can hope for is that a subsequent use preserves most of the interior.

As I’ve expressed before, this theater is not landmarked, there is NO interest in any organization to utilize this theater as a performing arts space and no City or Corporate entity has offered any grants or subsidies to restore and operate this theater. What is a petition going to do?

At Loew’s Kings, the city is the owner (thank goodness) and the city has offered substantial grants to potential developers. Today, I saw that the Brooklyn Paramount, which has been out of commission as a theater for 42 years is being brought back into service as a theater by its current owner, Long Island Universtity. LIU is a substantial owner with potential big pockets. Sadly, we couldn’t be further from that situation with the Keiths. It seems to me that this Keiths will meet the same sad fate as it’s sister Keiths in Flushing. I just don’t see how this will have a happy ending and I am an optomist.

I wholeheartedly agree. This former theatre is in eminent danger. Bingo alone will not suffice. A new owner will want a larger income for their investment. Perhaps this building will be gutted for use as a drugstore. A petition is an excellent idea. A petition should be implemented soon.
George

I hope you are wrong Luis, but I am sure you are not wrong. This marquee thing is only the beginning. The writing is on the wall for this theater. It has been preserved for so long, even if a diamond in the rough, but either the original chandeliers still hang inside. The former owner has been very “kind” to the building.
But I am sure that the new owner, who just spent almost $2 million dollars for the building, probably has a different idea for the buidling than just using it as a flea market and BINGO hall. Unfortunately, I think we may be in the final hours of this theater. Until now, it was virtually intact inside. Unfortunately, the removal of the letters are probably a sign of what is to come.

Much like theaters of the past, the sign “Closed for Renovations"or "Space for Lease” could appear at any time, just like the one that appeared on Ridgewood’s marquee.

The 54X111 sized lot probably only is the front part of the building, the lobby. The RKO Keith’s, just like The Madison in Ridgewood, the Ridgewood Theater, the Meserole, etc, etc only occupy the space of about a store along their facades, but the theater auditorium itself spreads out behind the facade and other stores on the block. that is also the case with the Keiths.

Bway, I totally agree with you that the removal of the lettering is very disturbing especially since we do not yet know why! The reporter didn’t ask and no one else has provided a credible explanation.

The fact is that the current owner has maintained this theater more or less in its current state of benign neglect for the last few decades. It is unlikely that a new owner would be as kind. I don’t see much hope for this theater if it is sold, but unfortunately, I don’t see much hope for it under the current owner either. How much can a flea market/bingo hall possibly bring in. Certainly not enough for any kind of a restoration and he would only do it if it increased his business which leads us to the issue that renovations (unless materially covered by government grants or subsidies) have to be financially viable and pay for themselves in new business income. Sadly, I don’t see that for this theater.

I don’t know, Bway. Let’s continue to keep an eye on this theatre.

Yes, that’s exactly what we need to save the Keiths! A boycott that will force the current owner to either abandon the theater or sell to someone else who will very likely gut it for other uses.

Regardless of how you feel, the reality is that the current owner has kept the theater more or less intact for decades as he operated a bingo hall/flea market. It’s highly unlikely that another operator would be as kind to this structure.

This theater is not landmarked and is not in an area that would work well as a performing arts center and certainly not as a movie theater again. No one has come forward with any alternate use for this space that would retain its architecture and enable it to sustain itself going forward.

Knowing all of this, I would hope George would change his mind about any boycott of the current owner unless he’s willing to step in and buy the theater himself. Then he could show us how easy this problem is to solve.

Thanks, Bway. What can we do about it ?

Thanks, Panzer65. Never went there, but looks like an interesting place !