RKO Keith's Theater, Movie theater in Richmond Hill, Queens, United States.
RKO Keith's Theater is a movie palace located on Hillside Avenue in Richmond Hill, featuring a two-story facade with three bays and ornamental terra cotta trim. The interior provides substantial seating across an orchestra level and balcony sections arranged on multiple tiers.
The theater opened in 1929 and initially presented vaudeville performances alongside motion pictures until its closure in 1968. The building was later repurposed and eventually recognized as a historic landmark.
The building displays Neo-Classical Revival design elements that remain visible today, including decorative terra cotta details across its facade. The interior layout with its balconies and tiered seating arrangements reflects the refined aesthetic that defined movie palaces of this era.
The building is easily recognizable by its prominent marquee and sits directly on a main avenue in the neighborhood. Visitors should note that the space no longer operates as an active cinema, so checking ahead about access or special events is wise.
After closing as a movie house, the building was converted into a bingo hall and flea market, showing how the space found new life serving the community. Recognition as a historic landmark in 2003 helped preserve the importance of this distinctive structure for future generations.
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