Behind The Lens with Preservationist & Author Michael Perlman

Michael Perlman is a fifth generation Forest Hills resident and Chair of Rego-Forest Preservation Council, who takes pride in commemorating architectural and cultural history, as well as proposing sites for Individual Landmark and sections for Historic District status to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. He is completing RFE nomination forms for Forest Hills (founded 1906) and Rego Park (1923), where the latter community was selected as a Historic Districts Council “Six To Celebrate” 2020 community in advance of turning 100 in 2023. 

Michael Perlman honored at Local Heroes reception by Queens Community House, Forest Hills Stadium stage, May 2023

Perlman is a Class of 2000 vocal major graduate of LaGuardia HS of Music & Art and the Performing Arts, and achieved a BA in Communications and Writing from Marymount Manhattan College in 2004. 

 

Perlman is the recipient of a 2014 Historic Districts Council Grassroots Preservation Award for NYC, and was appointed Grand Marshal of the 2017 Forest Hills Memorial Day Parade. In May 2023, he received a crystal “Local Champions” trophy by the Queens Community House on the Forest Hills Stadium stage.

 

“Legendary Locals of Forest Hills and Rego Park,” a book by Michael H. Perlman (foreword by Jerry Springer) features local history, landmarks, and the stories of 210+ notables ranging from celebrities to unsung heroes.

Perlman, a Forest Hills Times columnist since 2012, spotlights historic preservation, human interest stories, humanitarian initiatives, and the arts. He is an admin of Facebook groups Rego-Forest Preservation Council and Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens – “Our Communities.”

Forest Hills Stadium, Michael Perlman in center with James Dylan Burris, great-great-grandson & Lynne DeWardener-Burris, great-granddaughter of Stadium architect Kenneth Murchison

Perlman is a member of the West Side Tennis Club’s Tennis History & Archives Council. He played a significant role in rescuing the iconic Forest Hills Stadium from demolition after founding a committee and spearheading a PR and preservation campaign, salvaged the Art Deco neon Jay Dee Bakery sign among other features, secured State & National Register of Historic Places status for Rego Park Jewish Center and First Presbyterian Church of Newtown, acquired landmark status for the Ridgewood Theatre, and prevented Cinemart Cinemas from shuttering.

Historic Rego Park Jewish Center, Photo by Michael Perlman

Perlman earned the nickname “Diner Man” as a result of preserving NYC’s Moondance Diner and Cheyenne Diner via transport to WY and AL in 2007 and 2009, respectively. In recent times, he brokered a deal to reopen the T-Bone Diner (1934) as T-Bone Diner & Delicatessen. 

 

Forest Hills Tree Giveaway Event in MacDonald Park, Photo by coordinator Michael Perlman, May 2014

In partnership with New York Restoration Project, Perlman founded the Forest Hills Tree Giveaway event in MacDonald Park. In 2011 to 2015, he recruited local volunteers, and with the help of sponsors, donated 1,225 trees to property owners and board members.

 

In November 2019, Perlman’s architectural photography and restored vintage prints exhibit, “Reflections of Historic Forest Hills” opened at Jade Eatery’s gallery. He decorated various lobbies with his prints. He also formed the Tea Garden Restoration Committee, which seeks to restore what feels like a magical tea garden from 1912. He spearheaded the replication of a detailed 11-foot ring for tea stand through a partnership with Jade Eatery, Flushing Iron Weld, and Noble Signs.

Replicated Ring For Tea stand in front of Tea Garden's ornate gate upon delivery

In 2020, Perlman co-founded the Forest Hills & Rego Park Graffiti Cleanup Initiative, which restores storefronts and street furniture. In 2021, he founded the Forest Hills & Rego Park Historic Plaque Initiative. As of 2023, the Tudor style Sutton Hall and the Mid-Century Modern style Park Briar have “Forest Hills Historic Site” bronze plaques, which he co-designed with Frank DiBella of Academy Engraving. 

 

In partnership with the New York Sign Museum since 2022, Perlman arranged several deals to salvage historic signs in Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.

 

Along the LIRR Ascan Avenue underpass, Perlman developed two murals, “A Tribute To Ascan Avenue & The Forest Hills Gardens” (2017) and the “Helen Keller Forest Hills Tribute” (2019), painted by Crisp and Praxis, with a Helen Keller pictorial plaque in collaboration with Continental Photo. 

 

Forest Hills & Rego Park architectural mural, "Wish You Were Here... Forest Hills & Rego Park Historic Buildings" by Gigi Chen & accompanying sign by Michael Perlman

Since June 2025, The Bagel Spot at 101-01 Queens Boulevard, features his mural project with national artist Gigi Chen, which bears homage to local architectural treasures, where some have been demolished, such as the Trylon Theatre, Tower Diner bank building, Howard Johnson’s, and the Gulf Station building. Forest Hills Stadium is among the represented preserved properties.

 

Last September, Perlman traveled 500 miles to rescue famed muralist Andre Durenceau’s circa 1939 40-foot mural from Hugh Kelly of MA, who first salvaged it in 1974 from Rego Park’s once iconic Howard Johnson’s. Restoring the mural and resurrecting it in Queens is a goal.

One of three sections of the Howard Johnson's mural by André Durenceau, which Michael Perlman rescued last September in its entirety, 1940 photo in Fortune

Another goal is to erect a “Little Free Library” in Federoff Triangle, which will be modeled after a demolished historic building, as well as co-name streets after historic architects and builders.

 

His interests also include singing, dancing, deltiology, photography, botany, public relations, long exploratory walks, and travel. He performed solo shows at Carnegie Hall, NYC clubs, and aboard cruise ships.  

 

It is always timely to fulfill mitzvahs. To volunteer, email Michael Perlman at mperlman@queensledger.com and join www.facebook.com/groups/SaveRegoParkForestHillsQueens 

 

Author Michael J. Weinstein Honors 180 Orthodox Synagogues

By Michael Perlman

Author Michael J. Weinstein presenting "Ten Times Chai" at Rego Park Jewish Center, Photo by Michael Perlman

“This book is dedicated to the memory of the more than six million victims of the Holocaust, as well as the survivors – particularly the special few whom I had the honor and privilege of meeting on my journey,” states 54-year-old Syosset resident and author Michael J. Weinstein in the opening of his recently published book, “Ten Times Chai – 180 Orthodox Synagogues of New York City.” On June 10, guests including Holocaust survivors at his book talk and signing at Rego Park Jewish Center felt very inspired and grateful, and engaged with questions, and now he hopes to continue spreading the light by hosting more events. Weinstein, who has 25 years of experience as a stockbroker, has proven that “emunah” (faith), spirit, and passion enabled him to become an author. 

The number 613 signifies the quantity of “mitzvot,” commandments in the Torah presented to Moses and the Jewish people by Hashem. “Chai” represents life, which is assigned a numerical value of 18. Weinstein stated, “These very special places deserve the merit of ‘ten times chai.’”

Weinstein’s work features 613 large and insightful original photos capturing wide-angle views of existing classical to modern sanctuaries with close-ups of the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark), Judaica, stained glass windows, and decorative architectural details. Captions offer a vision of their sense of place, with facts including their address, founding, a site’s naming, country of origin, and designation as a NYC Landmark or placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Weinstein explained, “I wanted to do a book that would give people a window into Orthodox Judaism. What does it look like from the balcony? Why is there a separation between men and women?”

His goal was also to “see each synagogue up close and personal, rather than read about its history or see photos of the past.” Although there are many more Orthodox synagogues, five chapters offer a glimpse of 5 synagogues in the Bronx, 100 synagogues in Brooklyn, 35 synagogues in Manhattan, 35 synagogues in Queens, and 5 synagogues in Staten Island.

Locally, some featured sites are Queens Jewish Center, Jewish Community Center of Queens, Havurat Yisrael, Machane Chodosh, Sephardic Jewish Congregation, and the landmarked Congregation Tifereth Israel of Corona (1911). Weinstein pinpointed changing demographics. He explained, “One of the oldest synagogues in Queens is in Corona, a community which now has lots of people from countries including Peru, Columbia, Mexico, and Ecuador. The synagogue is run by a Bukharian rabbi. Estée Lauder (Josephine Esther Mentzer) and her family were Hungarian, and around the turn of the last century, there were Jewish people from Hungary that lived here. She davened at this synagogue.” Additionally, he pointed out that the Bronx and Harlem once offered many synagogues. 

Holocaust survivors among congregants with Author Michael J Weinstein, Photo by Michael Perlman

Weinstein’s parents were from Brooklyn, his grandparents lived on the Lower East Side, and his great-grandparents descended from Russia. Years later, his parents relocated to Briarwood, where he was born. As for a connection to Rego Park, his father worked for The LeFrak Organization for over 25 years. He was raised attending the Jericho Jewish Center, a Conservative synagogue, and over time, decided to grow religiously. “I went to Israel in 2010 for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, and then wanted to be kosher, increase my level of understanding, and see where I am from and where my great-grandparents were from. I traced my roots to a town called Pinsk in Russia.”

A parallel exists between his family’s history and many others. He said, “People left areas like Russia because of religious persecution in the 1880s and 1890s, where people were getting killed, beat up, and were not allowed to practice. They immigrated to the Lower East Side, where in the early 1900s, there were hundreds of thousands of Jewish people. Over the years, it also changed, and they began to move to different boroughs.” Weinstein bears homage to religious freedom in America, where Jewish people immigrated since 1654 from over thirty countries.

Upon learning more about his past, Weinstein’s goal was to “give back.” He consulted with what he humorously called “Rabbi Google,” and searched the terms “mitzvah” (good deed) and “Brooklyn,” with his lineage in mind, and came across the popular figure, “Mitzvah Man.” “He too knew there’s more to life than just studying and writing checks, and he physically wanted to help people,” said Weinstein.

Unique finds often came about. “Many synagogues in Brooklyn, particularly in the Hassidic areas of Borough Park and Williamsburg, are named after the towns that people came from.” He added, “I went to all of these synagogues and thought, ‘I wonder if anybody ever did a book?’” He discovered books on synagogues that became churches, as well as synagogues in communities where the Jewish population greatly declined. In turn, Weinstein would have the makings of the first book of its kind citywide.

Ruth Loewenstein, a Holocaust survivor & Rego Park Jewish Center Chair with Author Michael J Weinstein, Photo by Michael Perlman

Recalling his moving experiences, he said, “I met Holocaust survivors who lost their entire family. For example, they may have been one of nine.” He spoke with 24 survivors in Brooklyn. “Some shared stories that I’ll never forget. On my fifth visit with Frances Irwin of Midwood, Brooklyn, she told me ‘blueberries saved my life.’ She hid in the forest for over two years and survived on blueberries. She was caught and sent to Auschwitz and ultimately survived.” He continued, “Many synagogues in Rego Park and Forest Hills were founded during or after the Holocaust (serving as a beacon of hope and perseverance), whereas in Brooklyn, many were founded before, during, or after the Holocaust.”

For example, Congregation Machane Chodosh, which means “new camp or new beginning,” was founded in 1939 on 108th Street. Queens Jewish Center, also on 108th Street, was founded in 1943, and erected by The LeFrak Organization in 1955. The groundbreaking in 1953 was attended by Harry LeFrak, founder of the organization.

Weinstein said, “I am proud to be a New Yorker and proud of these synagogues. If you look at these photos, you will see that some rival any synagogue in the world and it’s something to be proud of, even in Queens. They are beautiful places.”

Weinstein’s book is available on Amazon or at a discounted price for 3 or more copies, with free delivery anywhere in Queens. For more information, email tentimeschai@gmail.com 

An alternate version of this feature has been published in the Forest Hills Times:
www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/27584577/article-Book-takes-close-look-at-city-s-Orthodox-synagogues

Touring Mid-Century Gems in Forest Hills & Rego Park

By Michael Perlman 

Attendees admire Forest Hills Jewish Center's architecture, Photo courtesy of Michael Perlman 

On Sunday, May 6, 2018, approximately 30 local residents attended the “Mid-Century Modern Architecture of Forest Hills and Rego Park” tour led by architectural historian Frampton Tolbert, who founded “Queens Modern,” an innovative website which largely chronicles the period of 1948 to 1970, when the Queens Chamber of Commerce recognized nearly 400 Queens buildings at its annual building awards program. The tour explored 1930s to 1960s developments along Queens Boulevard and nearby including Yellowstone Boulevard and 71st Avenue. Attendees learned that Art Moderne, Classical Moderne, International style, and Modernist sites were anything but dated. 

Tolbert feels that many people may not consider Mid-Century Modern architecture as significant, especially if they can remember it being built. He said, “Now that architecture from the 1960s is passing the 50-year mark, it is time to reevaluate what's worth preserving, especially in Queens which really had its heyday of development from the 1930s to the 1960s. It’s also a good time to reevaluate the significance of earlier examples like Forest Hills Jewish Center, the Forest Hills Post Office, and the former Metropolitan Industrial Bank.”

The tour was arranged in partnership with the Municipal Art Society, as part of the Jane’s Walk NYC series, a festival of over 200 complimentary tours featuring local history and personal observations, and bearing homage to Jane Jacobs, a tireless urban planning and preservation advocate and author of “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.”

Preservationist, author, & urbanist Jane Jacobs, Photo by Ron Bull, Toronto Star via Getty Images

Guests assembled at MacDonald Park, named after Captain Gerald MacDonald, a Forest Hills-based WWI veteran. The tour proceeded to the Classical Moderne Ridgewood Savings Bank, an Individual Landmark. Tolbert explained, “This was their first branch office due to growing population and the subway which opened a few years before. In 1940, mutual savings bank deposits were at an all-time high. Halsey, McCormack & Helmer were known as bank architects. You see the streamlined eagles and concave and convex shapes on a triangular plot. They really wanted to make a statement on Queens Boulevard, since many of the surrounding buildings were not here.” 

Ridgewood Savings Bank, 1st Prize Award recipient at 1940 Building Awards Competition, Courtesy of Queens Chamber of Commerce 

Ridgewood Savings Bank, Photo by Joanne Sullivan

The Kennedy House's distinctive lobby, Photo by Michael Perlman

The Kennedy House, 110-11 Queens Blvd, Photo by Michael Perlman

The Kennedy House, developed by Alfred Kaskel and opened in 1966, was the tallest apartment building in Queens for 24 years, according to Tolbert. “This glamorous building had one of the first rooftop swimming pools in the country and was designed by a prolific architect, Philip Birnbaum, who had a strong hand in Forest Hills.” He also pinpointed the Cord Meyer office building on Continental Avenue, completed in 1969. “Cord Meyer chose an International style office building, more in tune with Park Avenue office buildings in the late 1950s. I would say this was one of the last ‘Modern’ office buildings in Queens.” 

Forest Hills Library, Photo by Joanne Sullivan

The Forest Hills Library was completed in 1957 by architect Boak & Raad, mostly known for Art Deco/Moderne Manhattan apartment buildings. He pointed out the Modernist block brick façade and late Moderne elements including metal signage, window trims, and curved railings which conform to a flagpole. 

Forest Hills Post Office, Photo by Joanne Sullivan

Forest Hills Post Office, March 31, 2007, Photo by Greg Godfrey 

Forest Hills Post Office, Spirit of Communication

The terra-cotta-paneled Forest Hills Post Office, placed on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed by Lorimer Rich in 1937. Tolbert said, “He got a job with the Architect of the Treasury during the WPA era and designed post offices around the country.” Above the entrance, the Spirit of Communication terra-cotta relief, designed by famed sculptor Sten Jacobsson, and features a female figure, a carrier pigeon, and a clock. Tolbert read a quote from Professor Andrew Dolkart of Columbia University; “Forest Hills Station is a simple modern design. It is basically two cubes that have collided.” He added, “It’s a mystery how the government funded it at a time when most post offices were Colonial Revival.” 

Forest Hills Jewish Center, 2009, Photo by Michael Perlman

Forest Hills Jewish Center's Holy Ark, the greatest work of 20th century Judaic art by famed artist Arthur Szyk, Photo by Michael Perlman

Architect Joseph Furman with Rabbi Ben Zion Bokser pointing to the 1947 cornerstone of Forest Hills Jewish Center, Photo courtesy of Architect Joseph Furman's grandson, Architect Rich Furman

Forest Hills Jewish Center's main sanctuary after completion, Courtesy of Architect Joseph Furman's grandson, Architect Rich Furman

Forest Hills Jewish Center's main sanctuary's Art Moderne foyer, Courtesy of Architect Joseph Furman's grandson, Architect Rich Furman

Forest Hills Jewish Center's main sanctuary's Art Moderne foyer, Courtesy of Architect Joseph Furman's grandson, Architect Rich Furman

Forest Hills Jewish Center shortly after completion, Photo by Albert Rothschild Studios, Courtesy of Architect Joseph Furman's grandson, Architect Rich Furman

Joseph Furman designed Forest Hills Jewish Center in 1949, which was his sole synagogue, and received Honorable Mention by the Queens Chamber of Commerce. Tolbert pinpointed notable features including a crab-orchard rock façade and limestone surrounds with stained glass windows, which attendees interpreted as depicting the Burning Bush. He explained, “A main focus of the inside is the Holy Ark by the Polish-born illustrator Arthur Szyk. This is one of his only 3D sculptures and his only work for a synagogue. Unfortunately, the synagogue is proposed to be sold to a developer and demolished for a 10-story building that they would have space in.”

 

Postcard of Parker Towers on Queens Boulevard from Yellowstone Boulevard, Courtesy of Rego-Forest Preservation Council

Parker Towers, a 3-building complex was built around a courtyard with a large fountain that was recently demolished. He said, “It accommodated over 1,300 families, and originally 750 cars, an underground beauty parlor, barber shop, drugstore, and a maid and valet service; all the amenities, so you would never have to leave your complex.” Jack Parker commissioned Philip Birnbaum, who designed over 300 apartment buildings in NYC. “He was prolific and revolutionary,” said Tolbert, who referenced how Birnbaum minimized on hallways and offered exterior access to maximize usable space in apartments. 

Yellowstone Park in 2017, Photos by Michael Perlman

Opened on May 27, 1968, Yellowstone Park was initiated by Council Member Arthur Katzman. He explained, “Originally planned as just a concrete playground, the community requested the addition of grass and tree shaded areas. Before the late 1960s, architects had to follow templates of design provided by the Parks Department, which generally included placing the playground furniture. The landscape architecture firm of Coffey Levine and Blumberg were given free rein, and they created several semicircular spaces within the park that broke out different uses and addressed the change in grade.” He noted that Clara Coffey was one of the few women to lead a firm at this time, and the master plan was completed by another woman, Ann Butter. 

Metropolitan Industrial Bank, 99-01 Queens Boulevard, 1st prize award, Courtesy of Queens Chamber of Commerce

Fans explore the former Metropolitan Industrial Bank, Photo by Michael Perlman

Builder Alfred Kaskel & Architect Philip Birnbaum receive a 1st prize architectural award by Queens Chamber of Commerce, Photo courtesy of Rego-Forest Preservation Council 

Tolbert called the former Metropolitan Industrial Bank Building at 99-01 Queens Boulevard a neighborhood highlight by Philip Birnbaum under Alfred Kaskel, which earned a 1st prize award by the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “This was a showcase of industrial materials. You don’t see a lot of Mid-Century metal banks anywhere, especially in NYC,” he said. He also pinpointed the site’s former Hollywood Lanes, a 30-lane bowling alley.

Trylon Theater in The Theatre Catalog, 1941

“The Trylon Theater, with a glass block and stone facade was named for one of the two symbols of the 1939 World’s Fair, the Trylon and Perisphere, and was designed by Queens architect Joseph Unger,” explained Tolbert. It became Ohr Natan, and the adjacent Tower Diner was formerly Emigrant Savings Bank, which features a clock tower; both of which are endangered due to redevelopment pressures. 

Parkside Memorial Chapels, 98-60 Queens Blvd, Rego Park, Photos by Michael Perlman

A rare abstract sculpture at Parkside Memorial Chapels, Photo by Michael Perlman

Parkside Memorial Chapels was designed in 1961 by Viennese architect Henry Sandig, who worked for the notable firm Emory Roth & Sons. Tolbert said, “This is his most notable work. Most other works listed in the AIA Guide are no longer extant, but this one is pretty unusual, consisting of star-patterned walls and concrete screens. There is a striking metal sculptural fountain near the entrance, and the design of the building is supposed to represent the Sinai Desert, according to their website.”

Rego Park Jewish Center, March 2010, Photo by Michael Perlman

Rego Park Jewish Center, 1950, Courtesy of RPJC

Rego Park Jewish Center's main sanctuary, August 2008, Photo by Michael Perlman

Rego Park Jewish Center's main sanctuary, August 2008, Photo by Michael Perlman

Architectural historian Frampton Tolbert & friend Leora in front of Rego Park Jewish Center mosaic mural, Photo by Michael Perlman

Attendees explored the sanctuary of Rego Park Jewish Center, erected in 1948 by Frank Grad & Sons, and earned placement on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The façade’s mosaic mural, designed by the prominent artist A. Raymond Katz, features a Torah scroll and the Ten Commandments, and Jewish holiday symbols, and stained glass windows were also designed by Katz. Tolbert said, “The mosaic was fabricated by V. Foscato, a mosaic factory in Long Island City. The mayor attended the dedication, and later, Eleanor Roosevelt visited and presented the congregation with a plaque.” Two prolific Ben Shahn tapestries were among the sanctuary’s numerous intact features. 

Lefrak Tower at 97-45 Queens Boulevard (now The Contour) & Lefrak Center at 97-77 Queens Boulevard, 2010, Photo by Michael Perlman

Lefrak Tower (1962) and Lefrak Center (1965) were completed by the Lefrak family’s in-house architect Jack Brown, who also designed Lefrak City. He said, “Proposed as Mid-City Center, the family wanted to create a commercial core and lure businesses out of Manhattan. This is one of the first and only Mid-Century office complexes in Queens.” IBM, Liberty Mutual, GM, and McGraw-Hill were the earliest tenants.

A similar version was published in Michael Perlman's Forest Hills Times column: www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/27568067/article-Touring-Mid-Century-gems-in-Forest-Hills---Rego-Park 

Preservation Call: Public Art in Forest Hills & Rego Park

By Michael Perlman

Forest Hills and Rego Park are home to classic examples of public art, which foster a neighborhood’s distinctive identity and are often impacted by a community’s development and societal events. However, without educating property owners about their value and applying for NYC Landmark and National Register status, artistic works are being altered or demolished rather than restored.

Rego Park resident Pat Morgan is a regular on walking tours, who explained, "The design on our architecture is the creation of an artist put together by artisans of decades past. It was accomplished usually by hand, as computers were not available in the 30s and 40s for design, and relied upon the mechanical engineering of architects and their engineers." She continued, "As we bear witness to the work of the last century, we have proof that those designers and workers were truly artisans creating works that with proper care and maintenance, can last for more than a century."

Come upon the International-style Forest Hills Post Office façade, embellished with the “Spirit of Communication,” which is a terra-cotta relief designed in 1938 by famed Sculptor Sten Jacobsson. It features a female figurine holding a carrier pigeon and a clock, relating to timely services. It was commissioned by the Treasury Department Section of Fine Arts, where the goals were to enhance the public’s experience with art during the Great Depression while assisting impoverished local to national artists. The building earned National Register status in 1988 and the sculpture is part of the New Deal Art Registry.

Places of worship often become a showcase of religious art, where one acquires an appreciation regardless of faith. The Art Deco and Bauhaus-inspired Rego Park Jewish Center, completed in 1948, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 in response to local advocacy. The façade displays a massive mosaic mural depicting Old Testament scenes and symbols, which was designed by the notable 20th century Hungarian-born artist Alexander Raymond Katz. 

Banks were often designed on a more elaborate scale, meant to instill confidence while demonstrating commitment. Therefore, another mosaic mural was installed on the façade of Home Savings Bank of America at 108-36 Queens Boulevard (now TD Bank). It was designed by Richard Haas, an internationally recognized architectural muralist in 1989. It was nearly demolished, until owner Cord Meyer Development Company decided to cease lease negotiations with a prospective tenant that would not preserve it. Work was executed in Spilimbergo, Italy, and features views of the Forest Hills Gardens with Forest Hills Stadium, and the Twin Towers in the backdrop. 

There are other incidents where public art has vanished or perhaps temporarily, as in the case of Bank of America at 99-01 Queens Boulevard, which opened in 1952 as the Metropolitan Industrial Bank, and has sat vacant since 2015. A 22-by-25-foot mural, which illustrated Forest Hills’ growth was a focal point of the main lobby, but may have been covered over decades ago. It was situated in an International-style building designed by the award-winning architect, Philip Birnbaum, which consists of triple-height windows, a rotunda, and a colonnade of granite columns with stainless steel fins; an achievement of open planning that made patrons feel invited at a time when the norm was to erect banks in the Colonial and Art Deco styles with traditional materials, rather than industrial materials. 

When community residents picked up a copy of The Forest Hills-Kew Gardens Post on September 18, 1942, they came across an ad for the soon-to-open Art Moderne style Midway Theatre, designed by Thomas Lamb and S. Charles Lee. It read, “The Midway Theatre has been so named and dedicated as a tribute to the gallant men of our armed forces who achieved so brilliant a victory at Midway Island.” The glory was captured in a WWII “Battle of Midway” mural, but today it could likely be rediscovered under layers of paint. Patrons were ready for a single-screen theater, where they could enjoy films and attempt to escape the pressures surrounding WWII.

Four Art Deco murals once accentuated the facades of the Thorneycroft Apartments complex, completed during the 1939 World’s Fair along 99th Street and 66th Road, but today only one 99th Street mural remains intact, while the others have been concealed and removed. “The image of a man and woman sitting under a tree, with a dog on one side and a cat on the other, adds a personal touch,” said resident Carol Hagarty. “Over the past 30 years, my husband and I had several cats and dogs as companions, so the building’s rooftop artwork came to symbolize my own little family within those buildings. I hope that other neighbors know to look up and appreciate it, since artwork adds meaning to our lives.” A former Rego Park resident David Kalfus, who recalled his childhood, said, “I was puzzled by those murals when we passed them in our explorations, and I would tell my gullible brothers they were ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.” 

“Public art is a gift to the masses that should be celebrated and treated with the utmost level of respect,” said architect Matthew Ferraro, president of the board of directors of Chatwick Gardens, an Elizabethan and Tudor cooperative from 1929 in Forest Hills that is overseeing a large-scale façade restoration. “Previous renovations may have eliminated some historic features, but capital improvements provide a unique opportunity for owners to explore the history of their property, in order to evaluate how and if particular elements should be maintained or restored.”

A similar version appears in the Forest Hills Times: www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/27307687/article-Public-art-abounds-in-Forest-Hills--Rego-Park