RKO Columbia Theatre

1014 Beach 20th Street,
Far Rockaway, NY 11691

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: B.S. Moss Enterprises, RKO

Architects: Edgar T. Hovell

Previous Names: Columbia Theatre, Town Theatre

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RKO Columbia Theatre

This was a vaudeville house, and opened as the Columbia Theatre in 1913 as part of the B.S. Moss chain. Movies were screened as part of the program. It had turned to a movies only policy by 1926. It was equipped with a Smith 2 manual 8 ranks organ. It had an Airdome which screened movies only. By 1941, it was part of the RKO circuit.

Last operated by an independent operator as the Town Theatre for a short while from 1970. When the Mott Street area declined, so did the movie attendance here, and this theatre shut its doors. The theatre has been demolished.

Contributed by philipgoldberg

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

William
William on November 14, 2003 at 5:11 pm

The RKO Columbia Theatre seated 1350 people.

AndrewBarrett
AndrewBarrett on December 27, 2014 at 11:12 pm

According to “The Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ” by David L. Junchen, pg. 630, the “Columbia Th.” in Far Rockaway, New York had a two-manual, 8-rank Smith theatre pipe organ installed at some point.

No other details, like installation date, blower info, or nameplate (Smith, Seeburg-Smith etc) were available when the book was published.

Does anybody know more about this organ, and where it (or its parts) is/are today?

Does anybody know more about this theatre?

Thanks a lot!

robboehm
robboehm on October 24, 2020 at 1:30 pm

Listed in a September 1920 ad in Paramount Week as a participant in a special exhibiting event.

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