Comments from TomStathes

Showing 1 - 25 of 56 comments

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Jan 19, 2007 at 5:41 am

Right, it had to be a planned removal. Based on the postcard images, it looks as if the pool basin is marble or some such material lowered into the floor as you suggest.
The drinking fountain pictured above was the only one I spotted inside. Where were the others?

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Jan 18, 2007 at 7:49 am

My uncle remembers that exactly as you describe it (the fountain being replaced by the refreshment stand.)

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Jan 17, 2007 at 10:46 am

I think I’ll just have to make a photobucket album of my pictures :-D
I’m getting a little anxious keeping them hidden!

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Jan 16, 2007 at 1:38 pm

True- but the door to that office is usually closed.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Jan 16, 2007 at 10:29 am

asphoto: I’d love to hear about your visit, if not publicly want to email me? My contact info is on my profile page.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Jan 16, 2007 at 10:25 am

I’m sure we’ve all had unsavory imaginations of what Mr. Huang should have suffered (for shame, Tom!)
An eye for an eye, or in this case a bulldozing for a bulldozing?
Honestly though, I came into the world after the theater closed. Nonetheless touring the remains could make the sentimental choke back tears.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Jan 16, 2007 at 10:00 am

Absolutely, the stuff was hacked away at. It all looked unharmed by water.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Jan 16, 2007 at 9:47 am

I can answer some questions based on my recent visit with Mike.
asphoto: as far as i could tell, no holes in the floor
>This is not correct. Unless it has been filled in, there was a huge square cut into the auditorium floor descending into the basement. Rubble was partially pushed through this space.
mikemovies:Is there a hole in the roof
>No. Mike69 tells me a new roof was put on fairly recently before the closing, so the roof is pretty stable. However half of the whole plaster ceiling is missing, as are the two ornate plaster fixtures depicted in the blueprints. Apparently the ceiling is a “Drop” down from steel framework so it’s not a huge problem.

On a sidenote, the eastern and western walls are not in horrible shape. If anyone would like to see the pictures I took, please email me privately.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Jan 2, 2007 at 10:18 am

I’ve wondered about that myself all these years. I assume it’s Fireman terminology like the square spray-painted in one of the boxes of the marquis. A box with and X inside means “Roof Open” (unstable roof) since this one has a solid square, I’m assuming the roof is safe. Mike69 tells me a new roof was put on fairly recently so that’s a good thing.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 28, 2006 at 4:57 pm

Jessica- if you’re out there, do consider the Keith’s!

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 28, 2006 at 4:48 pm

Wouldn’t it be something if the city took the property and handed it over to a group of preservationists (ahem, ahem) to figure out how to restore it? 0:–)

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 27, 2006 at 12:02 pm

Friday looks good for me and davebazooka!
We’ll all be in touch :–)

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 26, 2006 at 8:55 pm

Jeff, you make a point though. The person (or people) to save a theater like this CANNOT be a developer. It has to be a visionary, a young at heart people or group. Development, gentrification, etc is all about MONEY.
If I was independently wealthy and could afford the theatre, I don’t care if it was closed half of the time…I would preserve it just for the hell of it.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 24, 2006 at 11:03 am

All good ideas, Ken. In a perfect world, a good number of us would co-own a Jersey Loew’s type of group and slowly restore the theater on the basis of donated construction work. LJ has accomplished this and has spread their limited funding very far. Never mind full restoration, functionality could be achieved with partial preservation and restoration to start out with. Financial quotes and figures are based on what construction companies cost. The fact of the matter is that materials are not always expensive, and volunteer work is FREE. Again, the warning of countless millions needed can serve as a catalyst to make us forget about saving this theater. First and foremost, the issue is purchasing it- worry about the rest later.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about Kings Theatre on Dec 23, 2006 at 10:34 pm

Re. Bway’s last comment, when were you last in the Keith’s? :-p

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 23, 2006 at 5:04 pm

I know I won’t! Though I was born in the multiplex era, so there is a tiny place in my heart for them. College Point’s is a novelty if anything to me.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 22, 2006 at 7:23 pm

In short, I can now comment on the interior…yes, much of that area is terribly obliterated. It would need major reconstruction. There are sections, especially on the balcony level, where hardly any walls are left and there are just steel beams. What a crime!

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 21, 2006 at 6:22 pm

I’ve got $50 in quarters and $40 in pennies :-P

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 21, 2006 at 2:45 pm

Mike- I’ll be available tomorrow at around 2 and can be down at Main St. I’d love to go in! email me!

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 8, 2006 at 11:19 am

Nice postcard!
I passed by the other day and I didn’t see any black tarp or wall behind the leftmost storefront. I’m remaining optomistic.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 4, 2006 at 1:34 pm

Darn right. If anyone has any [remotely legal…hehe] ideas, drop me a line.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 4, 2006 at 11:55 am

We can still meet up to take pics whether they are outside or inside (remaining hopeful!)

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 2, 2006 at 9:54 pm

Ed- when entering the left-most storefront, right behind the back wall (which is missing) did you notice a door on the left wall with an arched frame and lightbulb protruding from the wall? It looks as if it leads into the next building…or was this not a door and maybe a mirror? I didn’t step into the storefront at all so it was hard to tell.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 1, 2006 at 11:22 am

Possibly on Saturday, though I’m rarely downtown on the weekends.

TomStathes
TomStathes commented about RKO Keith's Theatre on Dec 1, 2006 at 9:58 am

I notice the left-most storefront open nearly every weekday. Sometimes I venture over to Northern after the school commute to see what’s up. It definitely sounds like stuff is being ripped out, so I wonder if some of us can arrange to…take a gander of the inside somehow.