1. Queens
  2. 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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    Of the 2,971 seats installed in the RKO Keith-Albee Theatre only one remains today, snagged on plaster backing structure after being tossed from the balcony where it has hung on for 25 years. The seats in this theatre were replaced with a tilt back sheet metal version in 1951 except for a few in the balcony. This is one of those original seats with its 1928 cast iron hardware part markings seen here.
    Men's Smoking Room 116 corner visage pattern from coffered ceiling
    MOD-DSC_0029-detail1.jpg