2. Queens
  3. Landmarks Preservation

Flushing RKO Keith's Theatre

This gallery was created to focus attention on preservation efforts for the landmarked Flushing RKO Keith's theatre. Many cities have restored these vaudeville show palaces, where they have gone on to become centerpiece preforming arts event centers, while the RKO Keith's has languished for 25 years. The RKO Keith's still stands and is one of the last remaining theatres, in the 3,000 seat class built in an atmospheric style, where the interior was designed to give the illusion of being outdoors in a Mediterranean villa. It represents a crowning achievement by the world renowned theatre architect Thomas White Lamb that made the larger Loews Paradise theatre in the Bronx (restored in 2005) gaudy in comparison.
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    There were 2,971 seats in the RKO Keith-Albee Theatre, today only one remains, snagged on plaster backing structure after being tossed from the balcony where it hung on for 25 years.
    Original vaudeville cast iron end of row seat frame with light fixture and wooden arm rest, from balcony. Most seats were later replaced with a sheet metal tilt back version.
    The legendary stage that once hosted appearances by Mae West, Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, The Three Stooges, The Marx Brothers, Milton Berle, Roy Rogers, Jack Benny, Rock and Roll acts from Dion to the Dave Clark 5 and countless graduations and dance classes 2011.