RKO Columbia Theatre
1014 Beach 20th Street,
Far Rockaway,
NY
11691
1014 Beach 20th Street,
Far Rockaway,
NY
11691
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: B.S. Moss Enterprises, RKO
Architects: Edgar T. Hovell
Previous Names: Columbia Theatre, Town Theatre
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This was a vaudeville house, and opened as the Columbia Theatre in 1913 as part of the B.S. Moss chain. Movies were screened as part of the program. It had turned to a movies only policy by 1926. It was equipped with a Smith 2 manual 8 ranks organ. It had an Airdome which screened movies only. By 1941, it was part of the RKO circuit.
Last operated by an independent operator as the Town Theatre for a short while from 1970. When the Mott Street area declined, so did the movie attendance here, and this theatre shut its doors. The theatre has been demolished.
Contributed by
philipgoldberg
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The RKO Columbia Theatre seated 1350 people.
According to “The Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ” by David L. Junchen, pg. 630, the “Columbia Th.” in Far Rockaway, New York had a two-manual, 8-rank Smith theatre pipe organ installed at some point.
No other details, like installation date, blower info, or nameplate (Smith, Seeburg-Smith etc) were available when the book was published.
Does anybody know more about this organ, and where it (or its parts) is/are today?
Does anybody know more about this theatre?
Thanks a lot!
Listed in a September 1920 ad in Paramount Week as a participant in a special exhibiting event.