After re-reading the reference above to an Ed(die),
was that the same Eddie who also worked nearby at Bohack (which became
Scaturros (the Bohack B automagic door opening mats were
in service long after Bohacks demise)) and possibly
King Kullen, Shea & ½ the stores in the neighborhood?
Happy, blonde crew cut guy resembling frank fontaine a little?
Agreed, parking in that area was always a problem. I remember some limited
parking behind the theater but when i patronized it I was too young to drive
I lived across the street in 1986-87 in the recently renovated Woodside Green (Woodside Village) apartment complex. This was part of the Trans-Lux chain and had red velvet-cushioned chairs. I saw many films there, including FULL METAL JACKET.
A great theatre, seem to remember a lot of glass and vinyl benches
in the lobby. Saw MOVIE MOVIE there and others. Similiar cachet to
seeing movies at the BEEKMAN or (new) ZIEGFELD in Manhattan.
Went to BU in late 70s and remember this being shuttered, and
possibly associated w/ the Embassy studio/theatre chain. Believe this became the BU /Barnes & Noble Bookstore which would place this at 660 Beacon Street.
There was a building to the immmediate W with a facade that was shaped in the letter D – it was for the Deborah foundation (a group founded to fight TB). They ran Bingo and Adult Dances, presumably to raise funds. I thought there was a clinic there too but it wasnt a hospital per se. The closest hospital was Parsons Hospital.
60s-went to the movies & Bonds as a child. Early 80s Bond International Casino was a massive club, Criterion was still functioning as a private club/theatre till the end? Know
down the block (43rd) Toffanetti’s (which my Mom & Dad patronized
in the 40s) became a Nathan’s, now a Building with the huge NASDAQ
ticker (famous news wire neon Next block over)
My neighborhood movie house for a time c. 1985. Seemed to play a lot
of comedies, low budget and otherwise (HAMBURGER U. etc.) Known
as a 1st run house earlier.
In 1982 I saw a performance by a British rock group of some note,
XTC at this site. Notable because the leader developed a paranoia towards live performing and was one of their few Stateside jaunts. I was not appreciative of the history of this movie house at the time but I can say that I remember 1) it was a pain to park in the area but 2) the theatre was well kept and the bathroom was (to my delight) very clean.
It was the biggest & best theatre in downtown Flushing. I saw many
1st run films of every genre and the size just amplified the
laughs/screams of the patrons. Remeber seeing LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR, THE FRONT, WILLIE WONKA to name a few. Also Mel Brooks' SILENT MOVIE in the right hand side orchestra section, to this day was the only comedy I have ever seen jaded, too-cool NYers go bananas laughing over. Chester37a is correct, RUNNING SCARED was the last flick shown there (which I also saw, there)-I used to drive my Mom to Bingo at the hospital next door and for years the posters hung in the displays.The story of the Keith’s is the story of Flushing, change happened but not necessarily for the better.
A good theatre, surrounded by a lot of great little shops known
in old Flushing-Blue Star Market, Gloria Pizza, Shelley’s Bakery.
Seem to remember this in the Skouras theatre chain, also. Saw JAWS there. Unfortunately, this is where the tragic Wendy’s robbery-murder case recently took place.
This was pretty much my neighborhood movie house along with the Main St Flushing theaters and Loews Bay Terrace As a child I
was taken to many a Disney film here, CINDERELLA, SON OF FLUBBER,
MERLIN JONES, etc. My parochial school was 2 blocks away I saw my first film with grade school chums as a 7 year old, BATMAN-we were allowed to attend by ourselves! (think this would have been at most a G, or “GP” rated film even then) The Roosevelt was in steep decline then (brackish water in the fountains, moldy candy in art deco dispensers) and by the time I saw OLIVER! seeing a movie there became an adventure, not knowing if the sound would cut out or print would be burned through. 2nd run, Godzilla, and AIP horror became the order of the day. Influenced by what Redstone was doing with multiplexing, UA Theatres remade this into a snappy, happening place well loved by the locals. I saw 50-100 films through 1977 after the remodeling, it took me 3 tries to get into JAWS 2! By the mid-80s the
neighborhood and theatre were both starting to decline and the
aura was more than a little spooky-which definitely affected the mood
you sought when seeing LICENSE TO DRIVE, BACHELOR PARTY, etc.
Alan V. Karr,
After re-reading the reference above to an Ed(die),
was that the same Eddie who also worked nearby at Bohack (which became
Scaturros (the Bohack B automagic door opening mats were
in service long after Bohacks demise)) and possibly
King Kullen, Shea & ½ the stores in the neighborhood?
Happy, blonde crew cut guy resembling frank fontaine a little?
Agreed, parking in that area was always a problem. I remember some limited
parking behind the theater but when i patronized it I was too young to drive
This home / theatre was recently featured on an episode of
HGTV’s “What’s With That House?”
View link
I lived across the street in 1986-87 in the recently renovated Woodside Green (Woodside Village) apartment complex. This was part of the Trans-Lux chain and had red velvet-cushioned chairs. I saw many films there, including FULL METAL JACKET.
A great theatre, seem to remember a lot of glass and vinyl benches
in the lobby. Saw MOVIE MOVIE there and others. Similiar cachet to
seeing movies at the BEEKMAN or (new) ZIEGFELD in Manhattan.
Went to BU in late 70s and remember this being shuttered, and
possibly associated w/ the Embassy studio/theatre chain. Believe this became the BU /Barnes & Noble Bookstore which would place this at 660 Beacon Street.
There was a building to the immmediate W with a facade that was shaped in the letter D – it was for the Deborah foundation (a group founded to fight TB). They ran Bingo and Adult Dances, presumably to raise funds. I thought there was a clinic there too but it wasnt a hospital per se. The closest hospital was Parsons Hospital.
ROCKY HORROR played weekly here-certainly enough room for the
usual audience participation characters and flying “props"
to roam
60s-went to the movies & Bonds as a child. Early 80s Bond International Casino was a massive club, Criterion was still functioning as a private club/theatre till the end? Know
down the block (43rd) Toffanetti’s (which my Mom & Dad patronized
in the 40s) became a Nathan’s, now a Building with the huge NASDAQ
ticker (famous news wire neon Next block over)
My neighborhood movie house for a time c. 1985. Seemed to play a lot
of comedies, low budget and otherwise (HAMBURGER U. etc.) Known
as a 1st run house earlier.
In 1982 I saw a performance by a British rock group of some note,
XTC at this site. Notable because the leader developed a paranoia towards live performing and was one of their few Stateside jaunts. I was not appreciative of the history of this movie house at the time but I can say that I remember 1) it was a pain to park in the area but 2) the theatre was well kept and the bathroom was (to my delight) very clean.
Friendly Frost (an appliance chain) was on the corner. Another wonderful RKO theatre that Cineplex discarded as a white elephant
It was the biggest & best theatre in downtown Flushing. I saw many
1st run films of every genre and the size just amplified the
laughs/screams of the patrons. Remeber seeing LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR, THE FRONT, WILLIE WONKA to name a few. Also Mel Brooks' SILENT MOVIE in the right hand side orchestra section, to this day was the only comedy I have ever seen jaded, too-cool NYers go bananas laughing over. Chester37a is correct, RUNNING SCARED was the last flick shown there (which I also saw, there)-I used to drive my Mom to Bingo at the hospital next door and for years the posters hung in the displays.The story of the Keith’s is the story of Flushing, change happened but not necessarily for the better.
A good theatre, surrounded by a lot of great little shops known
in old Flushing-Blue Star Market, Gloria Pizza, Shelley’s Bakery.
Seem to remember this in the Skouras theatre chain, also. Saw JAWS there. Unfortunately, this is where the tragic Wendy’s robbery-murder case recently took place.
Always enjoyed the way the red curtains opened before the previews and films began and the runway lights were a classy touch.
This was pretty much my neighborhood movie house along with the Main St Flushing theaters and Loews Bay Terrace As a child I
was taken to many a Disney film here, CINDERELLA, SON OF FLUBBER,
MERLIN JONES, etc. My parochial school was 2 blocks away I saw my first film with grade school chums as a 7 year old, BATMAN-we were allowed to attend by ourselves! (think this would have been at most a G, or “GP” rated film even then) The Roosevelt was in steep decline then (brackish water in the fountains, moldy candy in art deco dispensers) and by the time I saw OLIVER! seeing a movie there became an adventure, not knowing if the sound would cut out or print would be burned through. 2nd run, Godzilla, and AIP horror became the order of the day. Influenced by what Redstone was doing with multiplexing, UA Theatres remade this into a snappy, happening place well loved by the locals. I saw 50-100 films through 1977 after the remodeling, it took me 3 tries to get into JAWS 2! By the mid-80s the
neighborhood and theatre were both starting to decline and the
aura was more than a little spooky-which definitely affected the mood
you sought when seeing LICENSE TO DRIVE, BACHELOR PARTY, etc.
Alan V. Karr,