RKO Keith's Richmond Hill
117-09 Hillside Avenue,
Richmond Hill,
NY
11418
117-09 Hillside Avenue,
Richmond Hill,
NY
11418
20 people
favorited this theater
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Recent research compels me to correct an error that I made in a posting above on March 23, 2004. The B.F. Keith’s Theatre, Richmond Hill, first opened on March 22nd, 1929, nearly three months AFTER the 12/25/28 unveiling of the Keith-Albee Theatre in Flushing. The inaugural program at Keith’s Richmond Hill included the all-talking feature, “Strange Cargo,” and Radio-Keith-Orpheum vaudeville.
Does anyone know of any interior photos of the Keiths from when it was still a movie theater?
Thanks, Warren, that’s good to know.
In the autumn of 1948, Columbia’s first “Superman” serial proved so popular with kids that RKO nabes showed the latest episode not only at Saturday matinees, but also “after school” from Wednesday through Friday: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/super48.jpg
The article included a couple of informative remarks about the Keith’s as follows:
{{Richmond Hill, not to be outdone by the nearby Valencia in Jamaica, preserves its very own classic movie palace of yore… and this one has a marquee that has been returned to its look in its halcyon days, with red neon-lit nameplates and a gold border! The theatre opened as the Keith’s Richmond Hill about 1928 at 117-09 Hillside Avenue. The old marquee, which had been hidden under aluminum siding for some years, was restored in 2001 during production for a feature film, The Guru, featuring Marisa Tomei.}}
Thanks for the lead, Warren
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior
A contemporary view of the theatre and adjacent Jahn’s ice cream parlor is on display in the new feature article about Richmond Hill at www.forgotten-ny.com
WENT BY SATURDAY…STILL A BINGO HALL…
AT LEAST IT’S STILL THERE!
I would be willing to bet that the “Arlo” who played organ at RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill and at a Hillside Avenue roller rink were the same person. I don’t think that “Arlo” worked for RKO or any other theatres past the early 1940’s. That tradition had pretty much ended by that time. “Arlo” probably took whatever jobs were offered him, many of which could have been in organ-equipped places like skating rinks, bowling alleys, restaurants, department stores, nightclubs, etcetera. He could have easily worked them into a schedule that also included radio and (eventually) TV broadcasts.
Fair enough. I wouldn’t think the RKO circuit’s organist would have much time to pick up neighborhood gigs at the roller rink.
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior
I found some background on an organist name “Arlo”. I’m not sure if it is the same person that is mentioned above.
“Joseph "Arlo” Hults was born June 26, 1906, in Lawrence, Kansas. He died in February of 1991.
Mr. Hults, who graduated from KU’s School of Fine Arts, was a professional organist and pianist. He began his career at age 20 at Loew’s Lexington in New York. “Arlo at the Organ” was a key attraction during the mid-‘20s and 30’s at major New York vaudveville theaters. He was the organist throughout the RKO circuit.
With the advent of sound pictures, Mr. Hults made the transition to radio and television. He became the staff organist and pianist at NBC and CBS in New York. In 1961, he moved to Los Angeles, where he continued an active career in television. He worked for Heater-Quigley Production Company, which produced television shows for NBC and CBS, until he retired in 1968".
Joseph “Arlo” Hults had a son named Arlo Richard Hults but no information is given about him.
I wonder if Arlo was the organist at the roller skating rink on Hillside Avenue in the early 50s?
Used to take the Myrtle Ave bus from Glendale to the end of the line at the Keiths and then a long walk to the rink. Always pigged out at Jahn’s on the return.
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior
An article in the November 9, 2006 issue of Queens Chronicle says that bingo games are still being held here, and that it’s the only venue in Queens operating daily. The bingo starts at 7:30 PM on week nigts and 7:00 PM on the weekends. The QC reports says: “The facility shows its age. The stage curtain is covered over and wires dangle everywhere. Long tables have replaced the theater seats and the candy stand now sells hamburgers, hot dogs, beverages and Danishes. On a recent Monday night, about 100 regular diehards came prepared to win with their bags of ink markers, plastic chips, scotch and masking tape, and magnetic wands. Some even brought good luck tokens. One woman created a little village with a ceramic turtle, palm tree, baby doll and Hawaiian figurine.” A B&W photo with the article shows a winner holding up his card, with a bit of the theatre’s side wall decor in the background.
I’m well aware that Arlo is a first name. But in this case, it could have been just a pseudonym that the organist used. An article in the Long Island Star-Journal once described him as the “Forest Hills Man of Mystery.”
Arlo could be a real name fella. Have you not heard of Arlo Guthrie? It appears that you suffer from nomatophobia.
Here’s a 1939 ad from a local newspaper. “Arlo” was a Forest Hills resident who also played the organ at the New York World’s Fair and other Queens venues, but always refused to reveal his correct name or identity (reminds of some of our CT members!). “Arlo” was only in his early 20s at the time, so he still could be living:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/richorgan.jpg
sorry i have been away so i didn’t respond to bway jim- regarding the Highland Park" battlfield" comment- no , I was referring to the gang violence that took over in the 60’s..robbie
A lot of nice images on this site of a number of theaters, as Lost is posting on the various CT pages. You really do need some sort of wide-angle fisheye lens to capture the scale of some of these spaces and I’m glad to see this photographer make use of such equipment. I’m not a fan of the distortion you get with the widest possible angles, but its interesting to see. I wonder what is being shown in that last photo… is this the backstage area?
Interesting photos. They moved the refreshment stand for the flea market since I was last in there, it used to be right in front of the balcony stairs in the back of the orchestra level.
BTW, did they even out the floor in there on the orchestra level? For some reason. the photo taken from up in the balcony, looking down at the procenium arch looks as if the stage is now level with the orchetra level, which appears level. It could just be an illusion though. Last time I was in there, it still had a sloped floor, and the stage was still high up like a stage should, but again, I really can’t tell from the photo.
The building had a lot more interest before they painted the ceiling beige too. Until the 90’s, while the walls were already painted beige, the ceiling was original all different colors with gold leaf.
This website has some photos of the Bingo Hall/RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill including interior views. Keep clicking Next to see all 20 photos.
No, especially if they freely post their expertise and memories.
I’ve got Bob in age by a year or so, but no, don’t know either one personally. Just hoping for more “experts” on the site. You can never have too many, I guess.
I mentioned you to Bob as “BrooklynJim”, saying you were about his age.
Unfortunately, no, but I mentioned the Cinema Treasures site to Bob.
It reads like you know Bob and Danny Gallagher.
OK, Peter, Question of the Day:
Did you give Bob the CT URL for himself and Danny Gallagher?
I walked around inside the RKO Keith’s in Richmond Hill this past Saturday, July 8, 2006, at about 6 p.m. while it was in use as a flea market. I did not go up the side stairs into the balcony, but saw the inner and outer lobbies, orchestra, balcony, side boxes, side exits, proscenium arch, and balcony and ceiling from a distance, with much of the ornate, baroque, elliptical ornamentation still present. There was a man on duty there named Bob, age 59, whom I discussed old theaters with. He pointed to where the children’s section of the theater had been about fifty years ago, when he had sat there as a patron. He mentioned a man named Danny Gallagher who was even more of an expert on old theaters than he was.
It was strange, but interesting, seeing what had once been the orchestra, once only lit by the movie screen, exit signs, and dim aisle and ceiling lights, now a brightly lit open space with the seats removed, daylight entering through the propped-open side exit doors.