Loew's Valencia Theatre
165-11 Jamaica Avenue,
Jamaica,
NY
11432
165-11 Jamaica Avenue,
Jamaica,
NY
11432
31 people
favorited this theater
Located in the Jamaica section of Queens. Opened on January 12, 1929 with Monte Blue in “White Shadows in the South Seas” plus vaudeville on stage. The Loew’s Valencia Theatre was the first of the five Loew’s ‘Wonder’ Theatre’s to open. It was equipped with a Robert Morton ‘Wonder’ organ of 4 Manuals / 23 Ranks.
The auditorium is in Atmospheric style, decorated in a mix of Spanish Colonial and pre-Columbian styles. Seating was provided for 3,554 in orchestra and balcony levels.
Early in 1935, stage shows were dropped and replaced by double features. Until the 1960’s, the Loew’s Valencia Theatre was the most successful movie theatre in Queens, due partly to its location in Jamaica, then the shopping hub of Queens and Long Island, and because programms were shown at least a week ahead of all other theatres in the borough. It closed as a movie theatre in May 1977 with the movie “The Greatest”, and has since served as the Tabernacle of Prayer for All People church.
The Robert Morton ‘Wonder’ organ has found a new home in the Balbao Theatre, San Diego, California, where in 2008 it was installed and refurbished at a cost of $1 million. It debuted at the Balbao Theatre in February 2009.
The Loew’s Valencia Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Contributed by
Jason R, Bryan Krefft, Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 678 comments)
Click here for an exterior view of the Loew’s Valencia Theatre in 1930.
The address ribbon across the top of the listing has one Jamaica too many. It should read “New York>Jamaica>Loew’s Valencia Theatre.” Also, the list of nearby theatres should include the Merrick Theatre. The Main Street Cinemas could be deleted because it’s in Flushing, not Jamaica.
Loew’s Valencia was among theatres mentioned in this 1935 trade ad for “Screeno,” an audience-participation game designed to boost attendance during the Depression era: boxofficemagazine
I heard that this theater’s patronage suffered with the closing of the Jamaica elevated in the mid 1970’s.
That is partially true. The last film I saw there was ‘MAHOGANY’ with Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams in 1976.
Hollywood bombshell Barbara Nichols, a onetime Queens resident who was one of the winners of the annual “Miss Loew’s Valencia” beauty contest, is fondly remembered here: qchron
I saw her appear in Let it Ride on Broadway. Also it’s interesting to note that she is buried in Farmingdale, as are a number of other celebrities.
The Queens Movie Theater You Will Not Believe – http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=6288
Those lurid colors and gaudy chandelier in the auditorium will bring tears to the eyes of anyone who visited while the Valencia was still a cinema. If you look at the recent photos in Black & White, you will get a better impression of what it was really like.
I just came across this on a site called Scouting New York:
Just a quick note on the incredible Valencia Movie Palace in Queens. For those who would like to see this work of art in person, the Tabernacle of Prayer Church has generously set-up visiting time every Sunday from 11:00-11:45am, when services will not be in session. Just walk right in the lobby – they’ll be expecting you! Please try to come during these times, as the church will otherwise be conducting services and programs in the theater throughout the day.
The address is 165-11 Jamaica Ave, with F, E, J, and Z service just a few blocks away. Needless to say, I highly recommend the trip.