RKO Alden Theatre
165-16 Jamaica Avenue,
Jamaica,
NY
11432
165-16 Jamaica Avenue,
Jamaica,
NY
11432
13 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: RKO, Shubert Brothers Theater Company
Architects: Eugene DeRosa
Functions: Retail
Styles: Spanish Renaissance
Previous Names: Shubert Jamaica Theatre, Mutual Theatre, Alden Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Located on Jamaica Avenue at 165th Street in the Jamaica section of Queens, it had a secondary entrance on 165th Street. The Shubert Jamaica Theatre was opened on December 31, 1928, as a live theatre for the Shubert Brothers. It was not a great success, and after a short period as a burlesque theatre named Mutual Theatre, was soon renamed Alden Theatre, operating as a movie theatre. It was taken over by the RKO Theatres chain in the mid-1930’s.
It was closed around 1985, last operated as a quad.
Contributed by
SteveSmith
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Recent comments (view all 126 comments)
I doubt the interior is still intact. I remember going to a DMV office located in what probably was the auditorium. As I recall the lobby was located on Jamaica and the theatre on the side street. Does anyone know what the interior was like?
What’s wrong with that? We need more photos and less of some of the comments.
I think TT’s point that visitors to this site can easily overlook the picture sections and just go straight to the comment section is well taken and that it makes sense to remind us of this resourse. (I know that I was quite slow in appreciating the value of the photo section when CT was upgraded.) So let’s both encourage the posting of new pictures as well as good comments in going forward.
On Monday 1 January 1951, Bela “Dracula” Lugosi presented his in person Horror and Magic Stage show at RKO Alden. 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!
LugosiResearch,
I believe that Bela Lugosi did the same show at the RKO Keith’s in Richmond Hill.
“Willburg145 on October 5, 2012 at 4:11 pm I doubt the interior is still intact. I remember going to a DMV office located in what probably was the auditorium. As I recall the lobby was located on Jamaica and the theatre on the side street. Does anyone know what the interior was like?”
I had the MISFORTUNE of working as a projectionist at the Alden for a few years after it was “quaded”. The motor vehicle office was NOT in the theatre building, it was a separate NEW building.
Ad from February 24, 1929 uploaded to photos. The, at that time, Shubert. Ad for nearby neighbor Valencia, too.
Uploaded Ed Doyle’s vintage street level photo. These links are getting very tenuous. Also uploaded two American Classic images: street view by night and the marquee on the 165th Street entrance after the theater closed.
In May of 1929 this one was advertising as the Mutual Theatre, formerly the Shubert Theatre.
Closed quickly as the Mutual due to protests from local churches against the risque content of the burlesque shows. Remained closed until leased by an indie and re-named the Alden with vaudeville and films. Closed and re-opened several times until eventually taken over by RKO, which had no outlet in Queens closer to Jamaica than the Richmond Hill.