Drake Theatre

Gone, gone, gone…and they don’t even bother mentioning it anymore. Queens Chronicle

Its last hurrah was a distant shot used in the Howard Stern movie “ Private Parts” where he had to attend a movie screening

The property changed hands; demolition permit still in effect but nothing has happened. From an article in Queens Chronicle, Sept. 1, 2016, by Christopher Barca:

But while one block begins to blossom, the one that houses the former Abbracciamento’s Restaurant a short walk up Woodhaven Boulevard still sits dormant. Shortly after eatery owner John Abbracciamento closed the restaurant and sold the building — which included a handful of small businesses — for $9 million more than two years ago, plans to demolish the block and build a new apartment building in its place were filed. However, the site was sold again for $10.85 million in February 2015, just a few months before a permit allowing for the teardown was approved by the city. The only noticeable action taken since has been the removal of the building’s marquee, which remained after the site’s conversion from a movie theater into a restaurant. Graffiti has continued to accumulate on the sides of the structure and on the permanently closed window gates. However, city records show the demolition permit was issued to the owner, 62-98 Realty LLC, on Aug. 23. A Department of Buildings spokesman said it isn’t unusual for such a long time to elapse between permit approval and demolition beginning. “Most permits last about a year once they are pulled,” the spokesperson said. “Some developers wait until they are ready to do the work before they actually pull the permit.”

Demolished yet? Status is still closed. Uploaded a photo during it’s post theater life.

Ironic, and sad back to back comments – one with the text of an article announcing the construction of the Drake, the other a link to an article about it’s demolition.

Very interesting news Jeff. I guess the now “old” catering places are being supplanted by more trendy establishments. The same has apparently occurred with the Polonaise Terrace in Greenpoint, which also replaced a location previously occupied by a movie theater.

By the way, the map at the top of this page sites the Drake at a location far to the south where it actually was. The correct location is situated a few blocks north of St. Johns Cemetary while the map locates it at the cemetary’s south point, at Cooper Avenue. This is wrong and schould be corrected.

I was born and raised in Forest Hills. My memory of the Drake, besides passing it on the way to the “M” train right next to Christ the King High School, was going to see The Deadly Spawn, a “B” horror film produced by a friend of mine. I actually worked on the movie and had one of the little creatures with me. During one of the bloodier scenes, I put it on the shoulder of a girl who was sitting in front of me. Man, did she SCREAM!
BTW, RobertR, I used to sneak into the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium to watch the concerts, too. I did get to see the Helicopter with The Beatles, but didn’t have tickets so I went home (69th Avenue between Olcott Street and Metropolitan Avenue) and could hear the girls screaming while I sat on my stoop!
I WAS there for the Monkees when Jimi Hendrics played and the crowd chanted “We want Davey…” and he stormed off the stage in his neon orange boots.
corlando52

That’s too bad. Although I don’t remember it being anything special inside even when it was a theater.

It’s great seeing the old photos of the Drake! Just like I remember it….I remember seeing a couple movies there in the 1980’s.
What if anything of the interior remains on the inside of the now Catering hall?

This is the Drake Theatre photoset, courtesy of Rego-Forest Preservation Council:

View link

Please feel free to contact and send vintage photos and ads, which may merit inclusion. Thank you!

I will soon post photos (wide angles and close-ups) in my flickr photoset for the Drake Theatre. If anyone would be interested in contributing some vintage photos or ads, or images from the “recent past,” please contact me at I will give you credit. We need to preserve the spirit of this former theater, which is a humble yet elegant example of Art Deco. It was the second most popular theater in Rego Park, besides the Trylon Theater, which can also be referred to as Forest Hills.

Since it was converted into the catering hall soon thereafter, it seems pretty easy to assume that the movie house was closed by 1987.

By the way, some time last year, I noted that many years ago – no later than the late 1950’s – a bowling alley was situated in the basement of what I believe was the Drake. My parents bowled there as part of a league. The place closed rather suddenly, probably right after the Woodhaven Lanes opened. Does anyone remember the old bowling alley, and was it siuated in the Drake building or somewhere else? It would seem that only a building as large as the Drake could accommodate a bowling alley, but maybe not.

I wss never in the Drake but was impressed to read one time that the owners would close the theatre for a week or two each year and give it a really thorough cleaning. Must have been a mom and pop shop.