Merrick Theater
163-06 Jamaica Avenue,
Jamaica,
NY
11432
163-06 Jamaica Avenue,
Jamaica,
NY
11432
5 people
favorited this theater
The Merrick Theater opened in 1920, at 163rd Street and Jamaica Avenue in the Jamaica section of Queens. A recent drive-by indicates that the facade of the former Merrick Theater appears to be well intact.
With a 2,500 seating capacity, the Merrick Theater would have historically been the third largest theater in the neighborhood, after the Loew’s Valencia Theatre and Loew’s Hillside Theatre.
Contributed by
SteveSmith
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Recent comments (view all 71 comments)
The Merrick and Alden were in a “pool” jointly owned by RKO, Skouras, and Century (which leased the Merrick to Skouras). Double bills which originated on the RKO circuit (chief rival to Loew’s in the Greater NYC area) were divided between the Alden and Merrick, which explains why programs at those two theatres usually ran two weeks and sometimes longer. Since Skouras was affiliated with 20th-Fox, the Merrick got all the Fox releases, whle the Alden had first pick of the WB and RKO films. Other studios on the RKO “track” were similarly divided between the Alden and Merrick.
The name and address ribbon at the very top of the page needs to be corrected. Why is “Woodhaven-Richmond Hill” mentioned? Similar nonsense can be noted in the listing for Loew’s Valencia, where “Jamaica” is repeated after “Jamaica.” In neither listing does “Queens” appear. Perhaps the Merrick should be changed to Jamaica, Queens" instad of “Jamaica Woodhaven-Richmond Hill,” and the Valencia to “Jamaica, Queens.”
No, No No. When you put the Queens in it just confuses the situation. Previously, half of the Queens theatres on CT had the Queens disignation, with or without the actual village. A special purge was done so that only the Queens Village theatres, the Queens and Community, would access when you input Queens. Rather than posting this problem here you have to contact CT directly. They don’t monitor the comments for fixes. Go to “about” and follow the prompts.
According to this article much of this theater will soon be occupied by a gym.
A photo of the building from 2011.
The Google Street Maps view is still miles away from the Merrick Theatre. Won’t it ever be corrected?
“Woodhaven-Richmond Hill” should be deleted from the address ribbon at the top of the listing. It should read “New York>Jamaica>Merrick Theatre.” The Merrick is in the heart of the Jamaica shopping district, and was considered one of the “top three,” competing against Loew’s Valencia and the RKO Alden.
The Merrick Theatre is also shown incorrectly on the Google Streets Map. Isn’t anyone monitoring this website familiar with Queens geography?
The “Nearby theaters” list is also wacky due to the false assumption that the Merrick is in Woodhaven-Richmond Hill. The nearbys should include Loew’s Valencia, RKO Alden, Skouras Jamaica, Savoy, Loew’s Hillside, Carlton.
And, in that radius, the Plaza in South Jamaica. Don’t sweat the nearby theatres. Many times it says none in 15 miles and there is one down the street. This is something they’ve never fixed.