I enjoy reading about the Beach Theatre, which as I previously wrote was my teenage
Palace long ago. I think they changed the
program about twice a week because we
were always there. And would trek to the Francis Sweet Shop on Main Street for
banana splits afterward. I’m so glad you’re still around. Francesca
I also savored Ken Raniere’s description of his first impression of the RKO Keith. I grew up in Brooklyn where we had two movie palaces nearby, plus several smaller gems. Not one of them remains today.
I do remember that special thrill entering each time—great expectations and awe. And that special movie smell which I thought was FILM! A curtain would part and there was the screen and the music!
I just saw a TV interview with Robert Redford on “In The Actor’s Studio”, when he described that feeling and the experience of
seeing not only TWO feature films, but also shorts and cartoons and previews and newsreels. Now he says, the theatres are broken up into small segments, people pay a lot to see one film (plus many commercials) and then are rushed out so the others can come in. He felt it was a pity that the younger generation didnt have that experience of that whole day or night at the movies. When there were still fantastic movie palaces that began that immersion in fantasy for hours.
Francesca
Thank you again, Al Alvarez for the posting about the spy Rudolf Abel and how he was finally captured. . You should be with the FBI!
I quote from that website you gave above, which mentions that historic meeting
—note, the words in parentheses are my comments:
“In keeping with instructions contained in a message he received from Soviet officials,, HAYHANEN WAS MET BY "MARK” (Rudolf Abel) AT A MOVIE THEATRE IN FLUSHING, (the RKO KEITH) during the late summer of 1954. As identification symbols, Hayhanen wore a blue and red striped tie and smoked a pipe. "
Anyone who is interested in the whole story can click on the AlAlvarez post of Sep 10, above.
I just found the spy at the RKO Keith: He was Rudolf Abel. The web info said he came to NY, posed as an artist-photographer. I do remember he had a studio in Greenwich Village.and became a part of the art community there, while he directed the Soviet spy network in the U.S. for 10 years during the Cold War. Abel was caught at last and was sentenced to 30 years in prison but was exchanged in 1962 for American spy Francis Gary Powers. I don’t know who it was he met in the RKO Keith men’s room, but it wasn’t Alger Hiss.
Wow, Ed Solero—that is interesting about Alger Hiss and the Paradise and the Prospect! I guess
spies were into cinema treasures, too. As rendevous!
I’ll have to read more about him and try to find the other guy I’m thinking of. Francesca
Thank you Al Alvarez, for your suggestion. This was a European and it definitely was not Alger Hiss he was meeting. They were two people setting up a long term spy system. They were also dropping off information taped inside trash cans and on street lamps or something of the kind. I wish I still had that book, because it was fascinating. Any other ideas? After all, we’d seen all those
spy movies at the RKO Keith and this was a REAL one! Francesca
Ed Solero’s mention of the men’s room on the right of the lobby reminded me of a true spy memoir, which described two secret agents for the Soviets making contact to exchange identity info for the first time— in the Men’s Room of the RKO Keith in Flushing!
Every time I passed that door I remembered those dramatic and to me, rather amusing circumstances. But I cannot remember the names of the spies. One lived in Greenwich Village in a walkup where he became friends with many artists and was well-liked.
Does anyone remember the name of that spy or the book? It was a big news story at the time.
Francesca
I used to live a few blocks away from the RKO Keith. When it was first slated for destruction I wrote the song “Movie Palaces” which is somewhere above on this page.
Even then I never foresaw that horrid boring ugly project they plan to put there.
So I’m glad I moved out of Flushing to an old-fashioned little street in Manhattan, which I hope Boymelgreen will never get their money on. Francesca
Re 11/22/63—My friend Ricky and I were wheeling our baby boys along Northern Boulevard on a nice day and decided to stop in the luncheonette near the RKO Keith for refreshments.
As we walked in, the people behind the counter had the radio on. They said Kennedy had just been shot. At that point no-one knew if he was alive or not. But we immediately headed back to our nearby apartments. School had just let out from Flushing High and the kids were happy and lively and unknowing about what had just occurred. We told a few of them as they approached: “Kennedy has been shot!” They laughed as if we had told them a joke. I guess they thought it was impossible.
I remember spending more days at home mourning at the TV than I’ve ever done since for any dear family members. It was not just for Kennedy. It was for the country. And the world. More insanity had arrived. And remains. Francesca
I didn’t mean to deny that the photos weren’t the Avalon Theatre BUILDING. I just meant that it no longer was a theatre as far as I could tell. Not Kenroe’s fault—it had been destroyed as a movie house and made into a mini-mall. I must be sentimental, but I remember a nice Avalon marquee and side displays of scenes from the current films. When I went to the Avalon as a child, it was always jam-packed but that was before everyone had TV and I guess people stopped going. Ironically, much later I lived in Flushing and went to the Century’s Prospect there. I think that closed down, too. As did the RKO Keith which set me on this trail. I must be bad luck for movie theatres. Francesca
Thank you Kenroe for posting those photos but none of them show the actual Avalon Theatre., although there is one photo of the Pearl Theatre in Manhattan where I have a subscription.
I have an old postcard of Kings Highway at 15th Street in the 40’s which shows the Kings Highway Savings Bank and the stores and in the distance the real Avalon Theatre. I even made a color collage of that terrific street. But I have no idea how to post a photo on the internet.. I am on a Mac.
Francesca
Thank you, Warren for your photo of the Vogue. I passed it on to my childhood friend Rose who is now living in Oregon, who, I’m sure will remember our teenage stabs at sophistication —watching fabulous foreign movies at this lovely theatre. Francesca
TO MelR re RKOKeith Memorabilia. As you may see on this site August 2005, I wrote a song called “Movie Palaces” which was inspired the first day the DEMOLITION sign was posted on that theatre. I lived in Flushing a few blocks away and was on the bus on my way to work and saw that sign. On the way to Manhattan I wrote the song starting: “They’re tearing down the RKO Keith on Northern Boulevard—and I’m taking it hard!”
The song has been performed in three of my cabaret revues, and by other singers as well. If you want a cassette with the song I’ll send a copy, but I was not able to access your e-mail address for some reason. Francesca
If you grew up in Brooklyn as I did, even if you didn’t know much about baseball, you were born a Dodgers worshipper and Ebbets Field was their cathedral.
Francesca
Well, we’ve just been warned by Warren that Anniegirl and I are causing CHAOS by mentioning QUEENS theatres on the Loew’s Metropolitan listing. I did think this was a place where Cinema Treasures everywhere were treasured.
So I’ll shut up. Francesca
Anniegirl—thanks for your reply. I am a writer and songwriter and I appreciate the details that bring out our feelings about these places, as you did. I also spent time at A&S: for several years my husband was a buyer there. He also came from Williamsburg so I will ask him about his memories of the movie houses there. I got involved with Cinema Treasures many years later when our local movie palace, RKO Keiths in Flushing was semi-destroyed and may be entirely destroyed. It was a fabulous place with a history that included live performances by Mae West and Bob Hope. It wasn’t part of my childhood, but I had always noticed and admired the glamourous decor. Which was partially destroyed when it had been partitioned into two theatres, and has since mostly been demolished. Francesca
I enjoy reading about the Beach Theatre, which as I previously wrote was my teenage
Palace long ago. I think they changed the
program about twice a week because we
were always there. And would trek to the Francis Sweet Shop on Main Street for
banana splits afterward. I’m so glad you’re still around. Francesca
I also savored Ken Raniere’s description of his first impression of the RKO Keith. I grew up in Brooklyn where we had two movie palaces nearby, plus several smaller gems. Not one of them remains today.
I do remember that special thrill entering each time—great expectations and awe. And that special movie smell which I thought was FILM! A curtain would part and there was the screen and the music!
I just saw a TV interview with Robert Redford on “In The Actor’s Studio”, when he described that feeling and the experience of
seeing not only TWO feature films, but also shorts and cartoons and previews and newsreels. Now he says, the theatres are broken up into small segments, people pay a lot to see one film (plus many commercials) and then are rushed out so the others can come in. He felt it was a pity that the younger generation didnt have that experience of that whole day or night at the movies. When there were still fantastic movie palaces that began that immersion in fantasy for hours.
Francesca
Sounds dire.
Thank you again, Al Alvarez for the posting about the spy Rudolf Abel and how he was finally captured. . You should be with the FBI!
I quote from that website you gave above, which mentions that historic meeting
—note, the words in parentheses are my comments:
“In keeping with instructions contained in a message he received from Soviet officials,, HAYHANEN WAS MET BY "MARK” (Rudolf Abel) AT A MOVIE THEATRE IN FLUSHING, (the RKO KEITH) during the late summer of 1954. As identification symbols, Hayhanen wore a blue and red striped tie and smoked a pipe. "
Anyone who is interested in the whole story can click on the AlAlvarez post of Sep 10, above.
I just found the spy at the RKO Keith: He was Rudolf Abel. The web info said he came to NY, posed as an artist-photographer. I do remember he had a studio in Greenwich Village.and became a part of the art community there, while he directed the Soviet spy network in the U.S. for 10 years during the Cold War. Abel was caught at last and was sentenced to 30 years in prison but was exchanged in 1962 for American spy Francis Gary Powers. I don’t know who it was he met in the RKO Keith men’s room, but it wasn’t Alger Hiss.
Wow, Ed Solero—that is interesting about Alger Hiss and the Paradise and the Prospect! I guess
spies were into cinema treasures, too. As rendevous!
I’ll have to read more about him and try to find the other guy I’m thinking of. Francesca
Thank you Al Alvarez, for your suggestion. This was a European and it definitely was not Alger Hiss he was meeting. They were two people setting up a long term spy system. They were also dropping off information taped inside trash cans and on street lamps or something of the kind. I wish I still had that book, because it was fascinating. Any other ideas? After all, we’d seen all those
spy movies at the RKO Keith and this was a REAL one! Francesca
Ed Solero’s mention of the men’s room on the right of the lobby reminded me of a true spy memoir, which described two secret agents for the Soviets making contact to exchange identity info for the first time— in the Men’s Room of the RKO Keith in Flushing!
Every time I passed that door I remembered those dramatic and to me, rather amusing circumstances. But I cannot remember the names of the spies. One lived in Greenwich Village in a walkup where he became friends with many artists and was well-liked.
Does anyone remember the name of that spy or the book? It was a big news story at the time.
Francesca
Thank you davebazoo….oops!—I mean Mr Anonymous, for that beautiful photo. I’ve illegally copied it for my memory book and my son and my songsheet.
I used to live a few blocks away from the RKO Keith. When it was first slated for destruction I wrote the song “Movie Palaces” which is somewhere above on this page.
Even then I never foresaw that horrid boring ugly project they plan to put there.
So I’m glad I moved out of Flushing to an old-fashioned little street in Manhattan, which I hope Boymelgreen will never get their money on. Francesca
What about Mae West? I remember reading she appeared at the Keith.
What is this all about Hebrew lettering on the van? Are the Jews now going to be blamed for the
destruction of the RKO Keith?
Re 11/22/63—My friend Ricky and I were wheeling our baby boys along Northern Boulevard on a nice day and decided to stop in the luncheonette near the RKO Keith for refreshments.
As we walked in, the people behind the counter had the radio on. They said Kennedy had just been shot. At that point no-one knew if he was alive or not. But we immediately headed back to our nearby apartments. School had just let out from Flushing High and the kids were happy and lively and unknowing about what had just occurred. We told a few of them as they approached: “Kennedy has been shot!” They laughed as if we had told them a joke. I guess they thought it was impossible.
I remember spending more days at home mourning at the TV than I’ve ever done since for any dear family members. It was not just for Kennedy. It was for the country. And the world. More insanity had arrived. And remains. Francesca
That’s why there is this Cinema Treasures place. Francesca
I didn’t mean to deny that the photos weren’t the Avalon Theatre BUILDING. I just meant that it no longer was a theatre as far as I could tell. Not Kenroe’s fault—it had been destroyed as a movie house and made into a mini-mall. I must be sentimental, but I remember a nice Avalon marquee and side displays of scenes from the current films. When I went to the Avalon as a child, it was always jam-packed but that was before everyone had TV and I guess people stopped going. Ironically, much later I lived in Flushing and went to the Century’s Prospect there. I think that closed down, too. As did the RKO Keith which set me on this trail. I must be bad luck for movie theatres. Francesca
Thank you Kenroe for posting those photos but none of them show the actual Avalon Theatre., although there is one photo of the Pearl Theatre in Manhattan where I have a subscription.
I have an old postcard of Kings Highway at 15th Street in the 40’s which shows the Kings Highway Savings Bank and the stores and in the distance the real Avalon Theatre. I even made a color collage of that terrific street. But I have no idea how to post a photo on the internet.. I am on a Mac.
Francesca
Thank you, Warren for your photo of the Vogue. I passed it on to my childhood friend Rose who is now living in Oregon, who, I’m sure will remember our teenage stabs at sophistication —watching fabulous foreign movies at this lovely theatre. Francesca
Melissa—every time I try to e-mail you, I’m asked for a keychain password I don’t have. Francesca
TO MelR re RKOKeith Memorabilia. As you may see on this site August 2005, I wrote a song called “Movie Palaces” which was inspired the first day the DEMOLITION sign was posted on that theatre. I lived in Flushing a few blocks away and was on the bus on my way to work and saw that sign. On the way to Manhattan I wrote the song starting: “They’re tearing down the RKO Keith on Northern Boulevard—and I’m taking it hard!”
The song has been performed in three of my cabaret revues, and by other singers as well. If you want a cassette with the song I’ll send a copy, but I was not able to access your e-mail address for some reason. Francesca
We lived in Flushing from the middle of the ‘60’s and it was known to us and our neighbors as the RKO Keith Flushing. Or the Flushing Keith!
If you grew up in Brooklyn as I did, even if you didn’t know much about baseball, you were born a Dodgers worshipper and Ebbets Field was their cathedral.
Francesca
Well, we’ve just been warned by Warren that Anniegirl and I are causing CHAOS by mentioning QUEENS theatres on the Loew’s Metropolitan listing. I did think this was a place where Cinema Treasures everywhere were treasured.
So I’ll shut up. Francesca
Anniegirl—thanks for your reply. I am a writer and songwriter and I appreciate the details that bring out our feelings about these places, as you did. I also spent time at A&S: for several years my husband was a buyer there. He also came from Williamsburg so I will ask him about his memories of the movie houses there. I got involved with Cinema Treasures many years later when our local movie palace, RKO Keiths in Flushing was semi-destroyed and may be entirely destroyed. It was a fabulous place with a history that included live performances by Mae West and Bob Hope. It wasn’t part of my childhood, but I had always noticed and admired the glamourous decor. Which was partially destroyed when it had been partitioned into two theatres, and has since mostly been demolished. Francesca
OK.
OK.