Jackson Heights Cinema
40-31 82nd Street,
Jackson Heights,
NY
11373
40-31 82nd Street,
Jackson Heights,
NY
11373
11 people
favorited this theater
Located in the Jackson Heights section of Queens. The Jackson Theatre opened December 26, 1924 as a single screen movie theatre with a total seating capacity of 1,500. The theatre was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 manual, 7 rank theatre organ. It was built and operated by the small Grob & Knobel chain, who sold it to William Fox in 1928. He lost it in bankruptcy in 1930 and the Jackson Theatre, together with the Boulevard Theatre were taken over by Skouras Theaters Corp. chain.
The stadium style raised seating area at the rear was later halved to allow for two small theatres, each seating 228. However, the main floor auditorium, with 601 seats, its original stylings intact, and Dolby digital stereo, was arguably the best “Cinema Treasure” theatre still operating in Queens until it closed on October 20, 2009. The operators were evicted by the Sheriff for non-payment (presumably of rent). The Jackson Heights Food & Film Festival, due to take place on October 24, was cancelled due to the closure.
In recent years as a triplex, re-named Jackson Triplex Cinema, it had been showing first run Hollywood releases with Spanish subtitles to cater for the area’s large Latin American population. It was closed in October 2009 and a ‘For Rent’ sign was the only message on the marquee.
It was reopened on May 22, 2010 as the Jackson Heights Cinema, and closed in late-2013. It was demolished around March 2017.
Contributed by
SteveSmith
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Recent comments (view all 135 comments)
Was the theater running again since the last Indian owner?
The upstairs theatre at the Plaza is still there too
It seems the last movies played in this theater were Disney’s Frozen and Hunger Games, as the names are still on the marquee.
It is said that the theater has closed down. It was the last remaining theater in all five boroughs built in 1924 to still be operating. The middle theater has 600 seats in it a large screen and a beautiful arch around the screen.The two other theaters to the left and the right of the middle theater or once the wings of the balcony. They have 230 seats each. Sadly I don’t know if the theater will ever open again. It needs to be converted to digital projection which is costly probably close to 150Thousand dollars. As well as the air conditioning and heating systems needing work. Because when I went to the theater in the winter it was kind of lukewarm and in the summer the main central air-conditioning did not work and they had to try to use a few window units to cool the theaters.
Sun Equity Partners and the Heskel Group have purchased the property including the Jackson Theatre for $27 million and re-development still in the planning stages. No permits for demolition have yet been filed. Details here: http://www.qchron.com/editions/western/mixed-use-building-coming-to-nd-st/article_113a1749-6048-5f9b-b65e-68707daa5598.html?mode=story
Articles in 1925 issues of Exhibitor’s Trade Review and Architectural Forum cite Charles A. Sandblom as architect of the Jackson Theatre.
Went there yesterday hoping to salvage something, anything.
The Jackson Heights Theatre is gone…
rest in peace, another part of my childhood gone.
Jackson Heights Cinema site to become Target.
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170501/jackson-heights/target-jackson-heights-82nd-street-the-shoppes?utm_source=Jackson+Heights+%26+Elmhurst&utm_campaign=9ed087d8d5-Mailchimp-NYC&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_58f22e4455-9ed087d8d5-132051509
I will never forget seeing 2001 as an eight year old in 1976, and then walking outside and going to the paperback store on Baxter and buying The Making of Kubrick’s 2001. That changed my life. To the projectionists: thanks for making this gateway such a magical experience.