RKO Alden Theatre
165-16 Jamaica Avenue,
Jamaica,
NY
11432
165-16 Jamaica Avenue,
Jamaica,
NY
11432
8 people
favorited this theater
Located on Jamaica Avenue at 165th Street in the Jamaica section of Queens. The RKO Alden Theatre was opened on December 31, 1928. It was last operated as a quad many years ago.
Contributed by
SteveSmith
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Recent comments (view all 153 comments)
But these ads have errors so they are not 100% reliable. Case in point on the ad Ed posted. It shows that one of the theatres which was showing Bigtime was the Rialto in Riverhead. Never was a Rialto in Riverhead. There was (and is) the Suffolk and the former Riverhead (which started out life as the Capitol)
No doubt that typos abound in movie ads. But I’m sure the RKO Alden is correctly listed. I rode the Q5 bus up and down Merrick Boulevard on a daily basis from 1977 through 1982 to get to and from both my junior high school and my high school. And I was one of those kids who loved just looking out the windows at the passing scene, day in and day out. I used to pay particular attention to the progress of dismantling the old elevated tracks and took pleasure in seeing the two movie theater facades being revealed as the structure came down. My memory might not be as sharp as rafaelstorm – as I don’t remember the Alden’s closure – but I’m sure that the Alden was in operation (even if briefly interrupted) during the entire time I rode that bus back and forth for school. I think the newspaper ads help to support that as fact. And please understand, I do not mean to be argumentative, just trying to arrive at the true history of the theater and reconcile our collective memories here. I hope my efforts are taken in that spirit!
Ed (my name is also Ed), I have no intention of being argumentative either, especially not with people who share my passion for the old movie palaces. People on this website are extraordinarily knowledgeable, as well as civilized, and how often do you see that, in this day and age? Ed, your documentation is superb, and I will defer to you. That said, lol, I’m certain that there was a period in the 70s when the Alden was shuttered, and you’ve come up with a perfectly plausible explanation. Here we are, the two Eds, both of whom used to ride the Q5! I actually grew up in Valley Stream, just over the county line, and the Q5 stop that I used on Hook Creek Boulevard was just two blocks from my home. I took the bus to and from Jamaica to catch the E and F trains at 169th Street.
Changing gears a bit [although related to old movies]: has anyone seen the info on or signed up for Turner Classic Movies first cruise, out of Florida?
Hey Ed! Great name! I grew up in Laurelton and went to many a movie in Valley Stream, Lynbrook, Lawrence, Rockville Centre, etc.
DLC… did not hear about the Florida cruise. I’m hoping that, one of these days, TCM brings its film festival out east to NYC!
So do I !The Florida one is the first, so perhaps there’s hope.
Hello. Who posted this picture? and is it possible to use it for a story I am working on about the theater for Ny1news? Thank you
Hi vyurkevich… If you mean the ad for the movie “Bigtime” that is at the top of the page, I posted it. It’s just a photo I took of a page from an old Daily News paper that I have. My grandfather saved it for some reason – not sure what it was in that particular edition that held significance for him, but when he passed, I got possession of it. I hold no ownership, since it’s a newspaper ad, so you are free to use it. If you like, I will send you a copy of the original photo file, which you’ll be able to open up much larger than is currently allowed here on Cinema Treasures. Just let me know your email address and I’ll forward it.
I saw “The Warriors” at the Alden and that came out in 79….i believe.
I also saw Blacula, Dr. Phibes, Enter The Dragon, etc there. I also frequented the Valencia (across street from alden as well as Rochdale Movie Theater when i was a teen…..great times
So is this place still intact? The retail seems to be just in the lobby.