RKO Keith's Richmond Hill Theatre
117-09 Hillside Avenue,
Richmond Hill,
NY
11418
117-09 Hillside Avenue,
Richmond Hill,
NY
11418
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Another update on current use has been posted at the “Forgotten New York Website.” Click here
Several color photos of the exterior can be viewed midway through this article at the “Forgotten New York” website here
What a difference when you look at photos of this theatre inside compared to the Keiths in Flushing.
Given the possible consequences that a sale of this building would have, its conversion into a house of worship would be a pretty good one. In fact, some of the best reuses have involved exactly that.
Rumors are circulating about a possible sale of the property, including one of conversion into a church. More here
Picture added to gallery.
Unfortunately, the 1940’s tax photo of the Keiths is missing, but here is the adjoining building showing the marquee.
http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/detail/NYCMA~9~9~706647~1085842?sort=borough%2Cblock%2Clot%2Czip_code
Photo of the marquee in the day.
On Saturday 3 February 1951, Bela “Dracula” Lugosi presented his in person Horror and Magic Stage show at RKO Richmond Hill. Currently I am conducting research on all things Lugosi; if anyone out there actually saw this show and/or has memorabilia (poster, handbill, photos) related to this show, please contact Bill at Thanks in advance for any assistance!
I visited this theater in late August as I was in the area. Sad to say, it was incredibly depressing. The theater was hosting one of their Bingo sessions and the foyer leading from the front door to the auditorium reeked of cigarette smoke. The people were frightening. It literally looked like an SRO resident convention. None of these people looked like they should have any money to gamble on Bingo and yet here they were. Yes, the theater is still basically intact but I can’t imagine any situation where this ever gets restored. It simply is a rotten location for any performing arts use. I’m not even sure where these people came from since the area is basically a middle class neighborhood. Even more upsetting is that Salernos looks like its been long gone. The space is empty. Jahn’s Ice Cream Parlor (on the other side of the theater entrance) has been gutted and turned into some king of “club” but I couldn’t tell if even that hadn’t already gone out of business. The old Triangle Hoffbrau restaurant is also gone and gutted into medical offices. The beautiful Simonson Funeral Home was torn down and a strip mall is taking its place. Will likely be hideous. Next door to that, The Republican Club reflects its party. It has been completely hollowed out and is a shadow of its former stately self. Have no idea what’s happening there.
On a good note, the Olympic Diner on Myrtle is STILL there. Rubies Costume Shop is still on Jamaica Avenue. The Queens Public Library has been restored and it beautiful with loverly landscaping.
I have now sold my nearby investment apartment and will likely never be back to this area. I wish it all the best but I fear for the RKO Keiths. What a shame.
I have been reading all the wonderful things you all have been saying about RH Keith’s and the surrounding neighborhood where I went to HS, 59-63. Unless I missed it I haven’t hear anyone mention the DELIGHT DINER on Jamaica Ave and Lefferts Blvd and Glenn’s Bar, directly across from the Keith’s and Salerno’s. I spent many a night in both!
Has someone already mentioned the old days when stars came in support of their films? I remember seeing Judy Garland plugging “Gay Purree.” Jahn’s ice cream parlor next door was an added aatraction.
So it has been over a year since the last posting on this theater. It appears nothing has changed, which I guess is good as that means it is still there and maintaining itself as a flea market. The RKO Keiths, along with the Loew’s Canal in Manhattan have got to be the largest and most promising of the unrenovated theaters in Manhattan. Unfortunately, the location of the Keiths makes it unlikely that the money will be spent to properly restore it. Ironically, it is the location that has allowed it to last this long relatively undisturbed.
What a shame the new owners of the building decided to take the historic RKO Keiths name off the marquee that was restored about 10 years ago.
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Roseland was once a ice skating rink and later converted to a roller skating rink.
Was Roseland in Manhattan a theater at one time? I have been in there a few times for concerts, and it seems like it may have been a theater at one time.
And of course there’s the Hammerstein Ballroom, still used for concerts, with the seats ripped out, but still has a lot of it’s theater features. I think it was the Manhattan Opera House.
I also have to add, that I never saw any of these theaters while they were actually showing films. But I was able to enjoy and admire them many times during my “disco” years. I couldn’t even pick a favorite as each was spectacular in its own way; particularly The Palladium, Club USA and of course, The Saint!
Other big church conversions: Loews Metropolitan in Brooklyn,Loews Elmwood in Queens, The Hollywood in Manhattan, and The Stanley in Jersey City! All are restored and, I believe, intact.
While I know others would disagree, I found conversions to discos highly succesful in many high profile efforts. Who can forget the amazing Studio 54 (Gallo Opera House), The Saint (Loews Commodore), Club USA (The Forum), Palladium (Academy of Music), Xenon (Henry Miller), Bond’s International Casino (International Casino). These clubs stand out as among the most illustrious in New York’s history. There was something incredibly special about dancing under the amazing archtecture that these theaters provided. In most cases, these theaters were saved for many years after they would have been torn down as a result of their successful turns as discoteques. Unfortunately, only one, Studio 54, is still around for us to enjoy today as it has been successfully returned to live theater. All of the others, sadly, have been demolished.
I forgot about perhaps one of the best church conversions…. the 175th St in Manhattan….now the United Palace.
There are many theater conversions to churches that went well. They are perhaps the “best” conversion a theater can have in regard to the integrity of the building. I don’t really even consider church converstions, “conversions”, as they usually remain completely intact, right down to the seats! They are basically still “theaters”. The list probably goes on forever, but here’s a few theater to church conversions, just off the top of my head:
Loews Valencia in Jamaica – completely intact
Colonial Theater in Bushwick – completely intact
Loews Gates in Bushwick – completely intact and renovated
Rivoli i in Bushwick – intact
….the list goes on.
Thank you, John, I read the CT page on the Woodside, and it is on my must visit list.
Well, here is the Woodside’s CT page. Enjoy!
/theaters/6406/
Panzer, I would also include the old Woodside Theater, which was marvelously converted into a Catholic Church in the early 1950’s. Its CT page has a number of terrific pictures that clearly indicate how such conversions should be made. Unfortunately, no pictures of its terrific exterior, which has been equipped with a very imposing Romanesque front, have been added to this site.
But please take a look of this unjustly neglected site and enjoy.
The Meserole Theater actually is a great coversion. The entire interior of the theater is intact. The floor has been leveled, but that was perhaps the most severe thing done, otherwise much remains right in view in the store. They even project slides of sales onto the old screen area!