Elmwood Theatre

I joined this group because i though this was a “mature and Smart” group of people but, please!!! guys stop with the name calling and criticizing a group of people you know nothing about or perhaps…. you think your LIFE’S TOO SHORT and you wanna spend it trash talking others!! + we take very seriously OUR CHURCH we dont JOKE about it, im sorry you dont like the renovations but i dont know if u have any idea how expensive it is, just so you know all that dreadful renovation (as you call it) was made possible by the donations that we all happilly and joyfully give in many ways and not just by giving money!! Hey! i wonder if maybe some of you would’ve ACTUALLY helped us not just by talking and emailing unsincere offers!! but with something concrete!! we could’ve renovate and preserve it the way it was, and Michael how could you call us lazy and greedy" when we work 7 days a week non stop not even in holidays because everyday after a hard day at our jobs and schools we go to OUR CHURCH to work some more because we are not afraid of rolling up our sleeves, get dirty and sweat a little more, while others take time to make silly sarcastic remarks like:

(“"The Rock "Community” Church has made a great case for their LAZINESS and GREED on behalf of the Elmwood, especially when they committed to restoring it in 2003-2004 with “volunteers.” Sad!“”)

(“"These church jokers”“)

Yes!! all the work is being done by VOLUNTEERS ‘cause we all are VOLUNTEERS, not even the pastors get paid, just keep in mind that all the work is being done while we have Service and congregate 7 days a week + having many community services, events and outreach programs that are completely FREE of charge open to anyone and you know what?; we need more VOLUNTEERS (know anyone?); I understand that maybe is hard for some of you to empathize or sympathize with us and our beliefs but as they say “If you have nothing nice to say, (PLEASE!!) don’t say anything at all” , it would be nice to receive an apology for your comments to show the person of good character that im sure you are. i apologyze if i’ve offended anyone it was not my intention at all but, as you may have noticed by now im a little insulted so A SINCERE SORRY… to all.

+++ Warren: thanx for your concern, comments and constructive criticism is very well receive and appreciated and all i can say for now is that nothing is definite yet!; perhaps you would like to visit our website which was also made possible by volunteers +++ www.therockchurches.com

J.F. Lundy… I think the photo depicts the Fox Kew Gardens Theatre. The location definitely matches what we know about the Fox.

What an ufortunate story.

I remember photographing this building in the 90’s when it looked to be a pretty bustling and well-maintained four screen complex.

These church jokers really messed up bad.

Well, at least someday that stucco can be blasted off to reveal the terra cotta elements beneath. Unfortunately, I believe the original window lintels and decorative scroll and wreath motif just below the cornice were all stripped from the facade and thoughtlessly discarded. I haven’t been there in a while… does the stucco stop at the dentil molding at the base of the cornice? That seemed to be the direction the work was heading when I photographed the building back in October of last year. And then I believe the entire cornice was to be “whitewashed” to match the color of the stucco.

As unfortunate as the choices were for the exterior renovations, has anyone been inside to check up on the interior restoration?

Hi guys i am a member of THE ROCK CHURCH for quite a while and i dont know if anyone of you are interested in visiting our website www.therockchurches.com or you just want more info regarding the future of our church “building” email me @ please write “cinema treasures info” as the subject and I ll be more than glad to answer all your inquiries.

PS. our services are Sundays @ 11:00 am, Saturdays @ 7:00pm and fridays @ 7:30pm + we many other activities for the community open to everybody free of any charge.

Wow. Just look at Queens Blvd in the distance!

Here is a photo of the theater taken sometime between 1939 and 1941, though the photo was most likely taken in 1941. The theater at that time was known as the “Queensboro.” The marquee and lobby displays are empty, so apparently the theater was closed at the time. Perhaps around now the theater was renamed the “Elmwood.”

This photo is from the NYC Municipal Archives collection. Between 1939 and 1941 from 700,000 photos were taken by the City of New York for tax purposes.

Please check my comments to see more photos from this collection.

View link

I passed by on Friday and saw the intact detail on the very top being stuccoed over. More exterior elements are being concealed, and it’s just getting worse. Sorry to share this bad news. has anyone tried contacting the Rock Church? Please let me know.

Are you kidding? The building has been stuccoed over. The terra-cotta that was not removed is now ruined under a layer of concrete. The only original ornamentation is at the top, which yes, does look to be cleaned, but the rest of the building is destroyed.

How can the Rock Church take advantage of tax credits? They’re a church — they don’t pay any taxes.

Here are some photos from the recent Forgotten NY tour of Elmhurst:

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/tour27/27.html

Scroll down ¼ & see current photos & a description documenting the desecration of the Elmwood Theatre’s facade. They promised to restore the facade in 2003. This development is an appalling, particularly coming from a religious institution. They might call themsleves Rock Church of “Faith Ministries,” but I have no faith in them! They turned their back on the community & now they deserve the same!!!! The previous contractor walked off the job since they never paid him for his work. He agrees that it looked better before, and felt bad they made him do it. The Rock Church is a pack of lies & filled with controversy! SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

Thanks for posting those links, Michael. I meant to do so myself, but I’ve been so busy (in fact, I thought I already had posted them)! I took those shots a couple of weeks ago as workers were slopping on the stucco material around the old stage housing area. I approached a group of them to inquire as to the nature of the exterior restoration – particularly with respect to the decorative lintels that had been removed. I was told to speak with someone inside the church.

I entered via the current temporary entrance (the former rear orchestra fire exit on 57th Drive) and found a young gentleman seated at a folding table against the side wall just inside the inner door. There was some sort of classroom activity going on just behind the gentleman at the rear of the orchestra where similar folding tables were set up. Since there were children in attendance, I was understandably asked by the gentleman to hold our conversation in the small exit vestibule through which I had just entered. I was only able to take a brief glimpse at the work being done to the auditorium. The room is brightly lit and painted in white. My view was limited to the rear orchestra, with the balcony overhang obscuring the cieling and proscenium work. The most notable feature that caught my eye would be the wrought iron balustrades at the rear of the mezzanine level, overlooking the rear orchestra.

Once in the vestibule, I explained that I was a resident of Elmhurst in my youth and had attended many a movie at the old theater and would be interested in taking a quick tour of the theater and discussing restoration plans with someone in authority, whenever it was convenient for the church. He suggested I call the number posted on the marquee and try to make for arrangements. He didn’t give me any particular names to ask for, but suggested I call around 6pm or so. My schedule has not allowed me to follow through on that suggestion yet, but when I do, I’ll be sure to post about it right here.

From the looks of things, I’m not encouraged about the prospects of a true exterior restoration. The stuff they are applying to the exterior reminds me of the old “Garden State Brick Face” material that used to be advertised all over local TV for quick and cheap exterior home remodeling back in the ‘70’s and '80’s. It’s a substance that is applied to any facade in a thick layer and then sculpted and painted to give the appearance of whatever style the customer wants. In the case of the Elmwood/Rock Church, seems to me like it is being carved into the look of faux limestone. And then with those new colonial looking window frames… Sigh. A real disappointment.

Oy.