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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