Elmwood Theatre
57-02 Hoffman Drive,
Elmhurst,
NY
11373
57-02 Hoffman Drive,
Elmhurst,
NY
11373
22 people
favorited this theater
Built in 1928, this once proud vaudeville and movie house along Queens Boulevard in the Elmhurst section of Queens closed in early 2002. It is now home to a church in the shadows of the Queens Mall and the Long Island Expressway.
A plan to demolish the theater after the creation of an 18-screen megaplex nearby stalled. Meanwhile, the Elmwood Theatre has recently been reconverted into a single auditorium space after years as a four-screen theater. Other areas of the theater are also in the midst of renovation and restoration as well.
Contributed by
Cinema Treasures, David Kingham
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Recent comments (view all 242 comments)
Thanks Tinseltoes.
The new “style” of CT removed the original name of Queensboro Theatre, used from 1928 until 1946 re-naming as the Elmwood. Site-wise, are previous names no longer listed in smaller type above the latest?
The previous names are listed on the side.
Sixty-three years ago today, Interboro’s Elmwood advanced to first-run status for neighborhoods including Elmhurst, Maspeth, Rego Park, Jackson Heights, Forest Hills, and Kew Gardens. Bookings were simultaneous with the third tier of Loew’s theatres in Queens: the Hillside, Prospect, Plaza, Willard, and Woodside. Though the Elmwood would now get its movies about three weeks earlier than as a sub-run, it would be limited to the product “split” between the dominant Loew’s and RKO circuits. Loew’s got all MGM and Paramount releases, most Columbia and UA, and half Universal. The opening first-run program at the Elmwood was Paramount’s “The Accused,” with Loretta Young and Robert Cummings, and Universal’s Sonja Henie musical, “Countess of Monte Cristo.” This change came just in the nick of time for the Elmwood. It had been doing discouraging business since opening in 1946, and probably would have closed in the wake of the “home TV revolution,” which had yet to reach full force.
Here’s a 1980s tax photo of the entire building from the Municipal Archives: lunaimaging
I remember that Wonderama The vIrconic children program on WNEW in the 70-80’s did a road show at this theater.I took part in the snake cans game which I lost.
It looks like it was a twin at the time that photo was taken.
What does “virconic” mean? I’ve never encountered it before. I may also be too old to know what the “snake cans game” is. Can anyone explain?
I ment iconic The snake cans game is therere a row of cans ,one with a bouquet of flow to denote the winne the rest have snake that pops up when the can is open. withethe flowers you win the grand prize
And the grand prize was usually a cool bike. Sorry you didn’t win Fred, but it must have been fun to be on.