The story of the Keiths is an ongoing saga, now approaching its 21st year since shutting its doors. I havent heard much news about the theater since late last year. My gut tells me that with the real estate market slowing down, he is probably going to unload the property at some point. There is just alot less money to be made now than when he purchased it a few years ago. Lets face it folks this is downtown Flushing, its not Manhattan, where real estate is defying every trend. In terms of the renderings, take them with a grain of salt. Buildings often dont even remotely resemble the original renderings when their finished. Those renderings havent been updated in a long time and dont account for the considerable downsizing he had to provide to satisfy the community board and get approval. The lobby will be preserved and open to the public as a general lobby. This was worked out a long time ago. The hopes of Rko Keiths becoming a fully functioning theater again are slim to none. Unless you have a friend who has an extra 10-30 million lying around for restoration. Most people dont. I often dreamed, if I ever hit the 300 million dollar lottery, my first act would be to pay my bills and my second act would be to set aside 30 million for the Keiths. A nice dream, but just a dream.
Michael-
Its a long and sorted story, but in a nutshell
I suggest you read this article: View link
and look at the section called demolition by neglect.Thomas Huang, who purchased the Keiths in 1986, was a very big contributor to politicial campaigns.He contributed to the crooked Donald Manes and subsequently received many favors.Manes successfully brokered a deal
which allowed the lobby to be landmarked and the rest of the theater to be converted into retail space.Thus satisfying those lobbying for preservation and any developer that wanted to purchase the theater for future conversion to retail space.I dont know what year the deal was brokered.Manes obviously knew that the developers wanted to get their hands on the theater sooner or later and he wanted to satisfy them.Huang purchased the theater in 1986 and closed it very quickly.His horrendous neglect as well as deliberate acts have led to the demise of this gem.Yes, it is too late to save the rest of the building.All of the auditorium space is a wasteland.Its water logged and falling apart.Huang removed a portion of a backwall, partially exposing the interior to the elements.It would take many tens of millions to restore the building with out any real hope for recouping that investment and making a profit.No developer is going to take that on.
Haven’t been to the Fresh Meadows in ages.The last time I was
there I saw Beverly Hills Cop 1 and Peggy Sue Got Married.I believe it was late 1984.It had only two theaters at that time.The Fresh Meadows always had a very fresh clean elegant feeling.I would imagine it doesnt even resemble the 1984 theater that I remember.
The main street theater was a delightful little local movie house.
I remember seeing dozens of movies hear throughout the 70’s.
Im amazed that they were able to sixplex.The theaters must belike
shoeboxes!
The Keiths continues to stand tall and proud at the juncture
of Main and Northern.However,
its in absolute shambles at this point.The theater
portion of the building is in total disrepair and is
going to be torn down by Boymelgreen Developers to make
way for residential building and some retail.The lobby
is in bad shape but restoreable.It has landmark status
and will be restored to its original glory.It will be
incorporated into the new structure.It is a very slow process
as Boymelgreen is working with community officials to
come up with the best possible plan for the site.The last plan
was rejected due to its size and scale.Here is good story on the
condition of the lobby.Although its been bruised and battered
by years of neglect and deliberate actions by the former owner of the property,it is in suprisingly good shape.Here’s the article: View link
The story of the Keiths is an ongoing saga, now approaching its 21st year since shutting its doors. I havent heard much news about the theater since late last year. My gut tells me that with the real estate market slowing down, he is probably going to unload the property at some point. There is just alot less money to be made now than when he purchased it a few years ago. Lets face it folks this is downtown Flushing, its not Manhattan, where real estate is defying every trend. In terms of the renderings, take them with a grain of salt. Buildings often dont even remotely resemble the original renderings when their finished. Those renderings havent been updated in a long time and dont account for the considerable downsizing he had to provide to satisfy the community board and get approval. The lobby will be preserved and open to the public as a general lobby. This was worked out a long time ago. The hopes of Rko Keiths becoming a fully functioning theater again are slim to none. Unless you have a friend who has an extra 10-30 million lying around for restoration. Most people dont. I often dreamed, if I ever hit the 300 million dollar lottery, my first act would be to pay my bills and my second act would be to set aside 30 million for the Keiths. A nice dream, but just a dream.
The building is completely abandoned.They were supposed
to clean up an environmental problem, dont know if they ever did.
Michael-
Its a long and sorted story, but in a nutshell
I suggest you read this article:
View link
and look at the section called demolition by neglect.Thomas Huang, who purchased the Keiths in 1986, was a very big contributor to politicial campaigns.He contributed to the crooked Donald Manes and subsequently received many favors.Manes successfully brokered a deal
which allowed the lobby to be landmarked and the rest of the theater to be converted into retail space.Thus satisfying those lobbying for preservation and any developer that wanted to purchase the theater for future conversion to retail space.I dont know what year the deal was brokered.Manes obviously knew that the developers wanted to get their hands on the theater sooner or later and he wanted to satisfy them.Huang purchased the theater in 1986 and closed it very quickly.His horrendous neglect as well as deliberate acts have led to the demise of this gem.Yes, it is too late to save the rest of the building.All of the auditorium space is a wasteland.Its water logged and falling apart.Huang removed a portion of a backwall, partially exposing the interior to the elements.It would take many tens of millions to restore the building with out any real hope for recouping that investment and making a profit.No developer is going to take that on.
Haven’t been to the Fresh Meadows in ages.The last time I was
there I saw Beverly Hills Cop 1 and Peggy Sue Got Married.I believe it was late 1984.It had only two theaters at that time.The Fresh Meadows always had a very fresh clean elegant feeling.I would imagine it doesnt even resemble the 1984 theater that I remember.
I remember seeing the movies CHUD and All Of Me here in 1984.
A very run of the mill theater with little ambiance.
The main street theater was a delightful little local movie house.
I remember seeing dozens of movies hear throughout the 70’s.
Im amazed that they were able to sixplex.The theaters must belike
shoeboxes!
The Keiths continues to stand tall and proud at the juncture
of Main and Northern.However,
its in absolute shambles at this point.The theater
portion of the building is in total disrepair and is
going to be torn down by Boymelgreen Developers to make
way for residential building and some retail.The lobby
is in bad shape but restoreable.It has landmark status
and will be restored to its original glory.It will be
incorporated into the new structure.It is a very slow process
as Boymelgreen is working with community officials to
come up with the best possible plan for the site.The last plan
was rejected due to its size and scale.Here is good story on the
condition of the lobby.Although its been bruised and battered
by years of neglect and deliberate actions by the former owner of the property,it is in suprisingly good shape.Here’s the article:
View link
This theater still stands.It is probably a total
wreck inside.Check it out here:
View link