For others' reference (but I’m sure you already know this, Bway), the Myrtle Ave. Elevated’s Palmetto St. extension in Ridgewood was built during 1915. Chips ahoy, kids.
Note the trolley in the background at right. Makes it impossible for “Forbidden Paradise” to be part of a modern Porno Palace offering, but seriously, was the Parthenon also staging burlesque attractions between silent features in 1924? (I checked the movie’s release date on www.imdb.com.))
Bway, interesting observation on letters and lights. Good eye, man.
But to your city’s undying credit, MPol, trolley & streetcar lines (above & below ground) were retained and maintained for many years beyond ours, including the many lines in Ridgewood that got our parents to the theaters c.‘30s-early '50s.
Has anyone actually called that number recently? The outside of the Ridgewood Theater looks as barren and forlorn as a snow-covered tombstone in Potter’s Field.
Thx for that interesting item of trivia, ken, although I believe it was upgraded in the late 1940s. I’ll try to check further on that. My home exchange a block away in 1946 was Main, and my cousin’s (who lived several blocks away on Cumberland) was Sterling. Ulster was another common to the Clinton Hill area.
LM, perhaps the Ridgewood Times needs a government bailout, too. Everyone else seems to, though I haven’t checked the Ridgewood Theater page yet to see if the leaseholders have applied. Then we can change Dick’s short story title to “We Can Buy It For You Wholesale.”
Just responded to your Parthenon post, mrbillyc. My mom got some green depression glass and a few dishes at the Peerless Theater Dish Night giveaways c. 1944. (Now a small pentacostal church since ‘66 or so, the Peerless had been located at the other end of Myrtle Ave.)
Run, don’t walk, mrbillyc, to your local bookstore to find Jean Shepherd’s “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.” Among the many gems you’ll find between these covers is one classic short story: “Leopold Doppler and the Great Orpheum Gravy Boat Riot.” It relates directly to your post this morning. As Shep himself would say, “I laughed so hard that I coughed up a penny I swallowed when I was two…”
If I’m not mistaken, guys, there was a manager’s office on the 2nd floor above the lobby. Probably included a safe where the day’s receipts could be stored. Management staffers may have had their own restrooms on that floor, as well.
What a memory you have, Pete. ‘61 was my last trip (“Curse of the Werewolf”). You just didn’t bring a Saturday night date to Gates & Broadway in that era and hope to land a second one with her in the future.
The RKO Keith’s/flea market marquee showed up in a night scene from the recent “Righteous Kill,” along with the LIRR overpass. (Also featured in several other scenes was Salerno’s Restaurant at the end of the block.)
On my second trip to this struggling mall on a recent overcast day, I tried to see “Righteous Kill,” but the theater changed the times for weekday shows. Just as well: matinee and senior prices are high. Saw it instead at the nondescript (but very comfortable) Jamaica Multiplex for two bucks less.
P.S.: Got a couple of book & DVD bargains at Borders, which made the original trip worthwhile…
I know you’re not one to toot your own horn, but did you ever finish & release that CD you were working on last winter, robbie? Think of you every time I pass the Embassy & Haven theaters on the J train these days…
Noticed a ladder to nowhere Saturday as the M train rounded the bend out of the Wyckoff Ave station on its way to Seneca. It appears that the old wooden water tower of the RKO Madison has been dismantled.
Lost Memory, it appears your 19 Jun link above managed to last as long as the auction for the book. Hope some of the Boston movie theater fans got to see it (or copied it to disc) during the week before it went sayonara on us all…
If one should go to eBay during the next 5 days, enter “trolley books” in the search engine and scroll down to this entry: Clarke, the Boston Transit Album – 1977 – trolleys. The book seller has reproduced several good photos from it, the fifth of which is a clear shot of the Allston in the near background. Taken during MTA construction on 3 Aug 1949, the photo features a new PCC T-line trolley passing in front of the theater on Brighton at Harvard. The main marquee is blocked from view, but the tall one on the front of the building is visible. Perhaps someone could reproduce it and scan it on this page…
NativeForestHiller: To answer your recent question, I never had any personal contact with the two Hispanic owners. Was referring only to the many CT posts regarding them and their lack of vision during ‘06-'07, and wasn’t aware (as others astutely were) of yet another change of ownership hands since then.
Recent posters (Bway, PKoch, Lost Memory, Warren, frankie and you) all have valid observations. On my last trip to NY, I attended a screening of “I Am Legend” on 23 Dec 07 and was in the company of some half-dozen patrons on that chilly afternoon. When I spoke about the theater’s longevity with staff in the lobby, they were excited, yet surprised that they heard nothing about it from management. I also pointed out to them the civic plaque at Myrtle and Palmetto that listed the RKO Madison, but contained nary a word about its older neighbor two blocks away. Apparently, no one of note attended civic meetings at the time or followed their progress in the papers.
For others' reference (but I’m sure you already know this, Bway), the Myrtle Ave. Elevated’s Palmetto St. extension in Ridgewood was built during 1915. Chips ahoy, kids.
Note the trolley in the background at right. Makes it impossible for “Forbidden Paradise” to be part of a modern Porno Palace offering, but seriously, was the Parthenon also staging burlesque attractions between silent features in 1924? (I checked the movie’s release date on www.imdb.com.))
Bway, interesting observation on letters and lights. Good eye, man.
But to your city’s undying credit, MPol, trolley & streetcar lines (above & below ground) were retained and maintained for many years beyond ours, including the many lines in Ridgewood that got our parents to the theaters c.‘30s-early '50s.
Starring Leonardo di Crapio?
Has anyone actually called that number recently? The outside of the Ridgewood Theater looks as barren and forlorn as a snow-covered tombstone in Potter’s Field.
Thx for that interesting item of trivia, ken, although I believe it was upgraded in the late 1940s. I’ll try to check further on that. My home exchange a block away in 1946 was Main, and my cousin’s (who lived several blocks away on Cumberland) was Sterling. Ulster was another common to the Clinton Hill area.
And treat her to dinner, too, George. Bribes help.
LM, perhaps the Ridgewood Times needs a government bailout, too. Everyone else seems to, though I haven’t checked the Ridgewood Theater page yet to see if the leaseholders have applied. Then we can change Dick’s short story title to “We Can Buy It For You Wholesale.”
Just responded to your Parthenon post, mrbillyc. My mom got some green depression glass and a few dishes at the Peerless Theater Dish Night giveaways c. 1944. (Now a small pentacostal church since ‘66 or so, the Peerless had been located at the other end of Myrtle Ave.)
Run, don’t walk, mrbillyc, to your local bookstore to find Jean Shepherd’s “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.” Among the many gems you’ll find between these covers is one classic short story: “Leopold Doppler and the Great Orpheum Gravy Boat Riot.” It relates directly to your post this morning. As Shep himself would say, “I laughed so hard that I coughed up a penny I swallowed when I was two…”
“MS. PELOSI” – ???
Wishful thinkin', Panzer65. You did really mean Nancy Cataldi, right?
Seriously, the lady will be sorely missed on the local scene. Condolences to her family, many friends and associates.
“MS. PELOSI” – ???
Wishful thinkin', Panzer65. You did really mean Nancy Cataldi, right?
Seriously, the lady will be sorely missed on the local scene. Condolences to her family, many friends and associates.
If I’m not mistaken, guys, there was a manager’s office on the 2nd floor above the lobby. Probably included a safe where the day’s receipts could be stored. Management staffers may have had their own restrooms on that floor, as well.
What a memory you have, Pete. ‘61 was my last trip (“Curse of the Werewolf”). You just didn’t bring a Saturday night date to Gates & Broadway in that era and hope to land a second one with her in the future.
Good Lord, you two, what a “shining” example: even the dingy bulbs on the old Myrtle El were FIFTEEN watts…
The RKO Keith’s/flea market marquee showed up in a night scene from the recent “Righteous Kill,” along with the LIRR overpass. (Also featured in several other scenes was Salerno’s Restaurant at the end of the block.)
On my second trip to this struggling mall on a recent overcast day, I tried to see “Righteous Kill,” but the theater changed the times for weekday shows. Just as well: matinee and senior prices are high. Saw it instead at the nondescript (but very comfortable) Jamaica Multiplex for two bucks less.
P.S.: Got a couple of book & DVD bargains at Borders, which made the original trip worthwhile…
LMAO! Thx. Will check it out.
I know you’re not one to toot your own horn, but did you ever finish & release that CD you were working on last winter, robbie? Think of you every time I pass the Embassy & Haven theaters on the J train these days…
Felt right back at home, LM, though I’m back in B'klyn for a long while. Thx for posting this pic!
Noticed a ladder to nowhere Saturday as the M train rounded the bend out of the Wyckoff Ave station on its way to Seneca. It appears that the old wooden water tower of the RKO Madison has been dismantled.
Fortunately, I did save it to a floppy and I’ll get it to you somehow when I’m in Brooklyn this summer.
The notification feature has been working for me. Give the box at the bottom another click when you retrieve this one.
Lost Memory, it appears your 19 Jun link above managed to last as long as the auction for the book. Hope some of the Boston movie theater fans got to see it (or copied it to disc) during the week before it went sayonara on us all…
Thanks again!
If anyone could get an uplink here that fast, it hadda be good ol' LM! Whoa!
[Will be in NYC again very soon. Booking a flight today. If you don’t have my e-addy, you can get it from PKoch or Bway Chris…]
If one should go to eBay during the next 5 days, enter “trolley books” in the search engine and scroll down to this entry: Clarke, the Boston Transit Album – 1977 – trolleys. The book seller has reproduced several good photos from it, the fifth of which is a clear shot of the Allston in the near background. Taken during MTA construction on 3 Aug 1949, the photo features a new PCC T-line trolley passing in front of the theater on Brighton at Harvard. The main marquee is blocked from view, but the tall one on the front of the building is visible. Perhaps someone could reproduce it and scan it on this page…
NativeForestHiller: To answer your recent question, I never had any personal contact with the two Hispanic owners. Was referring only to the many CT posts regarding them and their lack of vision during ‘06-'07, and wasn’t aware (as others astutely were) of yet another change of ownership hands since then.
Recent posters (Bway, PKoch, Lost Memory, Warren, frankie and you) all have valid observations. On my last trip to NY, I attended a screening of “I Am Legend” on 23 Dec 07 and was in the company of some half-dozen patrons on that chilly afternoon. When I spoke about the theater’s longevity with staff in the lobby, they were excited, yet surprised that they heard nothing about it from management. I also pointed out to them the civic plaque at Myrtle and Palmetto that listed the RKO Madison, but contained nary a word about its older neighbor two blocks away. Apparently, no one of note attended civic meetings at the time or followed their progress in the papers.
Or even cared…