History of the Keith's
As legend has it, in 1986 after almost fifty years of
showing movies, the theater was closed and sold. Soon after, its
owner attempted to demolish it before a hearing could be held to
decide its fate.
At the time of its closing (1986) it was one of the most
profitable operating movie theaters in the RKO chain.
Having already removed its famous facade and with part of the
theater already gutted, the demolition was halted by the city.
The owner soon forfeited the property and the damaged and
stripped RKO Keith's has sat and waited for its final demolition
for over 20 years.
No one has ever decided what to do with the building and it sits
to this day. Originally opened in 1928, the RKO Keith's is a
2900 seat theater that has been through some turbulent times ,
various owners and has sat empty and boarded up for years. Ideas
for redevelopment and any ideas on who to contact to save the
RKO Keith's can be noted here.
Friends and supporters of the Grand Lady, the famous RKO Keith's Theater in Flushing NY. Once one of the most celebrated palaces of New York City, the RKO Keith's in Flushing, Queens is only a ghost of its former self.