RKO MIDWAY THEATRE 108-22 Queens Boulevard S. Charles Lee for Thomas W. Lamb Associates, 1942 Named for the World War II Battle of Midway, this theater boasts 2,000 seats. Thomas W. Lamb was a prolific theater designer, having been responsible for roughly 300 theaters across the country. This theater bears the distinction of being his last project and one of only a few designed in the Art Moderne style. Its undulating limestone façade features a large vertical beacon with letters spelling out “MIDWAY.” The structure currently houses a United Artists cinema along with a variety of shops and restaurants.

The theater is named for the Battle of Midway, which took place in 1942, the same year it opened its door. It was designed by the prolific theater architect S. Charles Lee for Thomas W. Lamb Associates. Lee was an early adopter of more modern styles including the Midway’s main style, Moderne. The streamlined facade with strong vertical elements exemplifies this and is also a nice counterpoint to the Deco designs of the earlier Ridgewood Savings Bank nearby.