UA Forest Hills Twin Theatre
107-16 Continental Avenue,
Forest Hills,
NY
11375
107-16 Continental Avenue,
Forest Hills,
NY
11375
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Small-Strausberg Circuit, United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Architects: John J. McNamara, Kenneth M. Murchison
Functions: Drugstore
Previous Names: Forest Hills Theatre
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Sep 18, 2008 — Endangered: UA Brandon Cinema
Opened on February 5, 1922, the large Forest Hills Theatre is located around the corner from the more famous (and still operating) Midway Theatre in the Queens, New York neighborhood of Forest Hills. It was designed by architect Kenneth M. Murchison. It was equipped with a Smith 4 manual 17 ranks organ (the largest instrument manufactured by Smith Organ company). The Forest Hills Theatre was remodeled in 1937. It was renovated in 1961 to the plans of architect John J. McNamara. It was twinned on December 18, 1981.
After seven decades of showing movies, the theatre was closed on November 18, 1998 and was sold, along with the Midway Theatre, by United Artists to a local developer.
On August 28, 1999, the Duane Reade opened, with the theatre’s façade restored. The original building beyond the façade was demolished for construction of the Duane Reade drugstore. In July 2015 a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant opened in the upper section of the front of the building. That closed down on October 31, 2020.
The project was given a local design award – ostensibly for the meticulously preserved exterior. The interior, however, is now part of Forest Hills' history.
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Recent comments (view all 58 comments)
DNAInfo.com is reporting …
Buffalo Wild Wings, the popular barbecue chain, is slated to open a massive location at the former Forest Hills Theatre soon.
The new location, at 107-16 71st Ave. — between Austin Street and Queens Boulevard — will measure around 10,000 square feet, which is about 40 percent larger than a typical Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, said James Bitzonis, president of Four M Capital, LLC, the group launching the restaurant.
The restaurant will not interfere with the building’s classic features, Bitzonis said, and it “will pay homage to the theater and Forest Hills” by displaying memorabilia, including photos and jerseys representing local sports teams.
The company is in the process of receiving a number of historical photos showing the building and the neighborhood. “We are enlarging them and framing them,” he said.
Overall, there will be about 100 pieces of memorabilia displayed at the restaurant.
The scheduled opening is July 15.
I think only the facade remains? Wasn’t the entire theater destroyed and the building rebuilt?
Was even the lobby retained?
The Forest Hills had a prior modernization in 1937, when it was closed for the entire summer. Photo of gala re-opening ceremonies and new marquee can be viewed here
I was in the Buffalo Wild Wings. They are ceasing operations at that location this week. They cancelled their lease.
Please correct, it was a twin theatre. The balcony was theatre 2 and the orchestra was theatre 1 with Dolby. Don’t know when UA twin the theatre, it was probaly in the 1970’s When closed it was the UA Forest Hills Twin
The theater closed in the latter part of 1998.
Ridethectrain: One of the last movies was “Dance With Me” featuring Vanessa Williams & Maria Torres, which was released in August 1998. The theater closed shortly after. I attended and have proof.
Please update, the theatre became a twin on December 18, 1981 with Taps and Pennies From Heaven, no grand opening ad and theatre closed on November 19, 1998. Last pictures Meet Joe Black and The Wizard of Oz. Location closed the day before the Midway reopen. United Artists did not advertise this theatre and the Continental Twin and 3 in the UA Display ad in the New York Newsday Editions. Final films posted in photos section. Sorry NativeForestHiller, was looking at UA Display ads, didn’t think UA didn’t want to advertise their locations.
In the Forest Hills Theatre description, please include its original architect, Kenneth M. Murchison, who was a foremost public buildings architect. He also designed Forest Hills Stadium (first tennis stadium countrywide as of 1923), Baltimore’s Penn Station, Jamaica Station, Hoboken Terminal, and the Beaux-Arts Apartments. I would also like to mention that the theater opened on December 5, 1922. Architect John J. McNamara performed renovations later on.
Theatre capacity: Screen 1 484 Dolby Stereo Screen 2 285 MONO