Trylon Theater

98-81 Queens Boulevard,
Rego Park, NY 11374

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Trylon Theater's Art Deco mosaic floor with chevrons in 1999

Located in the Rego Park section of Queens. The Trylon Theater was opened in 1939 by United L.I. Theatres. It was named after the famous centerpiece of the 1939 World’s Fair which was held in nearby Flushing. Seating was provided in orchestra and balcony levels. It was later taken over by Interboro Circuit Inc.

This once popular Art Deco style movie house closed on December 31, 1999 after its lease expired. It was purchased by the Bucharians, an orthodox Jewish group, for use as a cultural center. However, preservationists tried lobbying to retain the features of the building and obtain Landmark building status, but it stood empty for several years, until the new owners finally got their way and destroyed most of its historical features.

Recent comments (view all 207 comments)

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on August 23, 2013 at 7:01 pm

Thank you, Bway.

Hi everyone, I just uploaded numerous Trylon Theater photos under the photo thread. Please feel free to post your comments. The views range from the theater’s opening in 1939 to its closure in December 1999, and also include some views of the insensitive alterations in summer 2005.

Bway
Bway on August 25, 2013 at 11:16 am

Tinseltoes, the instructions were for adding them to the theater’s photo page, which is what he did.

Thanks Native Foresthiller for adding these wonderful photos. Now when people click on this theater they will see the beauty that this insensitive group destroyed! The mosaics were absolutely stunning, and still in such wonderful shape. I remember seeing a movie at the trylon around 1995 or so, and the theater was like a time capsule. Time had been so kind to it till that point. And then the senseless deliberate destruction.

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on August 25, 2013 at 3:25 pm

Thanks for your comments. The mosaics were intact and in good condition until their destruction in 2005. The mosaic ticket booth bearing the Trylon Monument was jackhammered in July 2005, and the mosaic and terrazzo floor which also depicted the monument and Art Deco chevrons was cemented over for a front that began disintegrating upon installment.

RobertR
RobertR on August 2, 2018 at 8:12 am

Queens is the absolute WORST borough for preservation. The Trylon was almost 100% original and was purposely destroyed

Comfortably Cool
Comfortably Cool on November 12, 2021 at 7:46 am

Community residents are opposing plans to demolish the former cinema and other buildings on the block for a 15-story mixed-use tower. News report can be found here

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on December 26, 2021 at 12:42 pm

December 26, 1939: This day in our community’s history is marked by the opening of the 1939 World’s Fair-inspired Art Deco Trylon Theater, where the earliest films were “The Wizard of Oz” & “Gone With The Wind” - http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/27050355/article-The-Trylon–The-Theater-of-Tomorrow We will continue to advocate for the preservation & restoration of this landmark in the eyes of the majority. Let’s save the Trylon/Ohr Natan Synagogue & Community Center & the Tower Diner clock tower bank building. Take a stand for religious values, architecture, culture, history, art, historic preservation, morals, & small businesses. Power to the people who understand & value our communities most!

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on December 26, 2021 at 3:04 pm

Please sign our petition & post a comment, as well as share it with as many friends as possible. Power to the people who respect history, architecture, culture, religious values, preservation, art, & small businesses:

https://www.change.org/p/rj-capital-holdings-save-historic-trylon-theater-ohr-natan-tower-diner-small-businesses-from-demolition

NativeForestHiller
NativeForestHiller on December 26, 2021 at 3:23 pm

Interview on CBS News: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/11/04/rego-park-queens-demolition-building-ohr-natan-synagogue-rj-capital-holdings/

Interview on WPIX 11: https://pix11.com/news/local-news/queens/neighbors-rally-to-save-historic-diner-and-building-in-queens/

Petition & comment drive: https://www.change.org/p/rj-capital-holdings-save-historic-trylon-theater-ohr-natan-tower-diner-small-businesses-from-demolition

https://nypost.com/2021/11/03/nyc-neighbors-fighting-to-save-historic-ohr-natan-synagogue/

http://foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/27827733/article-Push-to-save-Trylon-Theater—Tower-Diner

http://foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/27830127/article-CB6-considers-demo-of-Trylon–Tower-Diner

https://qns.com/2021/11/forest-hills-and-rego-park-residents-reject-developers-plan-to-demolish-tower-diner-and-ohr-natan-synagogue/

thesteveb
thesteveb on May 18, 2022 at 7:47 am

There’s now a GoFundMe to raise $80,000 to save the facade: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-a-ny-art-deco-treasure-the-trylon-theater

Trepverter
Trepverter on October 17, 2022 at 8:17 pm

This theater is demoished. The entire block is gone

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