A portion of 35th Avenue in Astoria is now named after a prominent figure in the neighborhood’s art scene.
The road between 35th and 36th streets on 35th Avenue will now be known as George S. Kaufman Way as of Saturday, Sept. 25, honoring the life and legacy of the real estate developer.
The co-naming ceremony began on the northwest corner of 35th Avenue and 36th Street. Among those in attendance were Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, state Senator Michael Gianaris, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards as well as family and friends of George S. Kaufman and community leaders.
“Queens would not be the hub of culture and creativity it is today without George Kaufman and the incredible potential he saw both in Astoria and our borough as a whole,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “His legacy is rich and deep in this community he helped revitalize, and it is an honor to help ensure his name lives on in the neighborhood he loved.”
In Astoria, Kaufman is best known for transforming a rundown movie studio.
This restored studio, now named Kaufman Astoria Studios, rose to prominence and revived film and television production in western Queens.
“It’s only appropriate that the man who brought feature film production to [Astoria] has a street named after him,” Van Bramer said. “Happy to join friends, family and other elected leaders in unveiling George S. Kaufman Way on 36th Street and 35th Avenue.”
Kaufman Astoria Studio now is the home for a range of media production, from major motion pictures to commercials, with seven column-free stages, including a 26,000-square-foot stage, the largest “east of Hollywood,” according to their website.
Major actors such as Harrison Ford, Meryl Streep, Al Pacino and Tom Hanks have acted there. Shows such as “Sesame Street” and “Orange is the New Black” have been filmed there, as well as award-winning films such as “The Irishman.”
Among the achievements of Kaufman includes the establishment of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, a performing arts high school in Astoria. He also served on the boards of The Whitney Museum, Fashion Institute of Technology, Exploring the Arts and the Museum of the Moving Image.
Hal G. Rosenbluth, president of Kaufman Astoria Studios, remembered Kaufman and his vision for Queens.
“When George dreamt up the idea for Kaufman Astoria Studios in the 1980s, critics at the time said, ‘You’ll never make movies in Queens.’ George certainly proved them wrong, ushering in the rebirth of the film and production industry in New York,” Rosenbluth said. “Today, our studios remain a premier destination for many of the productions produced in New York each year.”
Additional reporting by Bill Parry.
This story was updated on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 4 p.m.
