Loew's Valencia Theatre, Movie theater in Jamaica, Queens, US
Loew's Valencia Theatre is a former cinema on Jamaica Avenue designed with Spanish Colonial architecture and ornate terra-cotta decorations across its facade. The building features elaborate pilasters, brick surfaces, and a grand interior that originally held over 3,500 seats for moviegoers.
The theater opened on January 12, 1929, as the first of five Loew's Wonder Theatres in Queens. During its early years, it hosted both film screenings and vaudeville performances until around the mid-1930s.
The theater's auditorium incorporated atmospheric design elements that merged Spanish Colonial and pre-Columbian styles, creating a distinct architectural statement in Queens.
The location sits on a busy street in Jamaica and is easily accessible by public transportation. The building functions as a church today and can typically only be visited during special events or by prior arrangement.
The building originally housed an impressive Robert Morton Wonder organ with four manuals and 23 ranks of pipes. This rare instrument was relocated to the Balboa Theatre in San Diego following a major restoration project.
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