Sometime during the late 1970s, an application had been submitted to the proper authorities to have the "R.K.O. Columbia Theater" - located on Central Avenue -- included on the list of "Historic Landmarks."  The building housing the theater had originally been built as a "B.F. Keith Vaudeville" house and the original exterior markings still announced that as fact.  During the decade of the 70s, attendance at all the local movie houses in the area had "fallen off" significantly and the "Columbia" had undergone a name change (to "Town") and it no longer showed first-run legitimate movies; but at that time, began projecting movies of lesser value.  At the end of the decade, the building suffered a minor fire (a Far Rockaway tradition!) and then, along with several adjoining stores, the building was torn down - unfortunately never having achieved "historical" status.

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