The Surfside Twin was the last operating commercial cinema in Rockaway which closed September 3rd, 1996 . Originally operating as part of the Jerry Lewis theatre chain, it was taken over by a new operator in 1973 and renamed to the Surfside Cinema, building a second-screen in the 1980s. 

Opened in 1927, the Park Theatre was located on Beach 116th Street near the boardwalk, and was a hotspot for those looking to catch a film on a hot and rainy summer night. Known for its screenings of controversial films, the local churches often picketed outside the theatre in protest of what it deemed to be unsuitable content. The theatre shut down in 1972.

An ornate building of terracotta and brick with a large glass hood, the New Theatre opened in 1913 on 80-08 Rockaway Beach Boulevard and was a hub to screen  the most popular silent films of the day. Going through a variety of owners, the theatre was opened through the first half of the 20th century until its eventual demolition in the early 1960s. 

A 1000-seat theatre that dates back to at least 1914, the Arverne was located on Beach 61st Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard. A seasonal theatre that eventually included sound and was also known to feature performances of Yiddish theatre, it went through a number of different operators before finally shutting down in 1952. 

Situated right on the Boardwalk at 68th street, the Arverne Pier seated, depending on the source, anywhere from 1200-1800 seats, and extended right over the beach. In use since 1904, the theatre was screening motion pictures from as early as 1907. It was destroyed by a storm in January of 1914, the theatre torn from its structures and scattered down the beach. 

Opened in the 1920s, the Rivoli Theatre was on Beach 91st Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard. A 557-seat, one screen, seasonal theatre only open in the summer, it was a signature spot for Rockaway residents to view late-night films. The theatre came to an abrupt end after the Second World War, with the building boarded up and left vacant. The building was eventually demolished and replaced by a post office which stands there to this day. 

Morrison’s Theatre, known as the Old Morrison Theatre, ran from 1880 to 1921, at Beach 102nd Street, and boasted a 1,500 seat capacity and a 100-foot-long lobby with rich red velvet carpeting and theater seats covered with red velour. The biggest stars who came to Rockaway at the time were “The Queen of Vaudeville,” Eva Tanguay, Charlie Chaplin, who made his professional debut with the Fred Karno players in the early 1900s, “God Bless America” singer Kate Smith, and Amos and Andy.

On October 23, 1919, The Strand opened its doors on 714 Beach 20th and Cornaga as a vaudeville place before transitioning to motion pictures in 1927. When vaudeville was no longer ‘in,’ double features, newsreels, and cartoon shorts became the next big thing. The Strand housed 1,730 seats, making it the largest theater in the Rockaways. The theater closed its doors on September 11, 1967 as it could not survive the tide shift. The last movie featured there was “Hotel” starring Rod Taylor and Karl Malden.

Opened in 1913 on 1014 Beach 20th Street as a 1350-seater for vaudeville, movies were screened as part of the shows, before fully transitioning in 1926 to exclusively screening films. It featured an Airdome which also screened the more popular films. Operating originally as the Columbia Theatre before becoming part of the RKO circuit in 1941, the theatre eventually shut down in the 1970s after the neighborhood declined and a fire in 1978 led to the whole building being demolished.