Ridgewood Theatre
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
31 people
favorited this theater
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O.K., Mock, we lived on the same block (Cornelia between Cypress and Wyckoff) between 1970 and 1991. You wrote your house was “a couple of doors down” from the house in the middle with the big floral tree.
Was your house closer to Wyckoff Avenue than that “house in the middle” ? I always liked those two-family gray brick houses between that more modern house in the middle, and the synagogue at 1616 Cornelia, near Wyckoff Avenue, because of the wide sidewalk and old large trees in front of them. They still seems luxurious to me.
I knew the Greek hot dog guy. He kept his wagon in a garage on Cornelia between the synagogue and Wyckoff Avenue. He’s the brother of Teddy, the Greek guy who owned the Bank Restaurant, now managed by his sons, on Seneca between Catalpa and Myrtle next door to Rudy’s Konditorei (bake shop). I’ve seen the Greek hot dog guy at Myrtle and Seneca.
The Ridgewood Theater had a Bruce Lee double bill in early November 1980 : “Fists of Fury” with “Chinese Connection”. I saw part of it the night of Saturday November 8, 1980.
Just registered because I read Peter K.’s comments. My parents bought a house in 1970 on Cornelia St. between Cypress Avenue and Wyckoff Avenue, a couple of doors down from the house in the middle that used to have this big, floral tree (what was it, cherry blossoms or something? Fragrant, pretty tiny pink petals). Did you know the Greek hot dog guy in front of the bank on Myrtle Avenue, off Cornelia St.? We used to get hot dogs from him for $0.35 each in the 1970s. He now has a spot further Myrtle Avenue and Seneca Avenue. We went to P.S. 81Q, on 559 Cypress Avenue and Menahan St. We didn’t go to parochial school.
Ridgewood theatre: I remember dropping my ice cream from my cone walking by it one afternoon in the 1970s; I almost cried. Remembered watching a Bruce Lee double matinee there. It was $3.50 then, I think? Haven’t been to the theatre in about 15 years because of the hygiene and rowdiness, as well as the selection of the movies (action and related; not into that stuff anymore).
Madison St. & Myrtle Ave. furniture store: Has been a VG Nichols for a long time, but from roughly the 1970s until the late 1980s, it was a “Selingers” furniture store. The Selingers lived in Huntington, LI; I remember vaguely their son, Ross, who went to Pratt Institute. I think he’s a real estate broker, or something now. On the other corner on the same intersection, there used to be this little newspaper stand there, an older, slightly built fellow was there all the time. Royal Pizza across the street: I remember their pizza, have only had two slices there in the last 25+ years, mostly within the last two years. I don’t go by there, anymore. I remember the skinny, spindly son (I think he’s my age, maybe slightly younger?). He grew up, looks much taller and more muscular, but still a lean build.
I’m just amazed at the number of people from Ridgewood and the memories; I guess my age was as a kid there in the 1970s to early 1980s.
DABOC :
Jack McCabe, SFP Class of 1974 (the last class to graduate from the old building on 186 North 6th Street in Williamsburg) was and is a (Grateful) Dead Head and amateur musician, not an athlete, except maybe in intramurals. He and some other members of his class agreed among themselves what parts of the old building each would take as a souvenir upon graduation. I’m not sure who got the sign over the front door.
“For the first time since mid to late 70’s I probably will be going back to Ridgewood this Saturday!”
Here’s hoping the 25 year absence doesn’t cause you moderate to severe culture shock !
“Now after hearing about Father Kelly, maybe I will skip seeing St. Brigid’s again.”
On the contrary, if you’re going to visit your old block, why not stop by St. Brigid Rectory and offer your condolences and get-well wishes for Father Kelly ?
“On for Old St. Francis” ……on red and blue oh my gosh how we can remember things from a song!
Was Jack McCabe a basketball player? I think I remember him from my cheering days.
For the first time since mid to late 70’s I probably will be going back to Ridgewood this Saturday!
I have to go to Woodhaven so I thought I’d drive through Ridgewood first and see my old house on Madison Street around the corner from the Ridgewood Theatre.
Now after hearing about Father Kelly, maybe I will skip seeing St. Brigid’s again.
For those present and former Ridgewood residents who wish to express their condolences and get-well wishes to Father Kelly, the address is :
St. Brigid Rectory
409 Linden Street
Brooklyn, New York 11237
To return to the grim present for a moment, off topic, Monsignor James Kelly was mugged in his St. Brigid’s rectory bedroom earlier today for $ 60 cash. The rectory is on Linden Street between Wyckoff and Cypress Avenues. 1010 WINS and CBS and ABC TV news are calling it “Bushwick”, but it is really lower Ridgewood or Wyckoff Heights. Channel 7 Eyewitness News is describing the mugging as “brutal”. Father Kelly fought back, forcing his attackers to flee through the same window that they entered through. He says he forgives his attackers. He may have facial fractures and has reported difficulty seeing with his right eye. Possibly more on TV news today and tonight at 6, 10 and 11 p.m. This happened three blocks from the former RKo Madison Theater and five blocks from the Ridgewood Theater.
The Ridgewood Theatre is still open and showing movies after 91 years, you just don’t see that much anymore. That is why I love NEW YORK, however NYC “areas” have lost some classic theatres of late one is the NOVA CINEMAS, which I loved when I visited NYC. There is just something magical about these old theatres with the big sidewalk marquees and it is just a feel they give. The big multiplex cinema just doesn’t have that. The “Multiplex Cinemas†chain around the NYC area are owned by National Amusements which owns the “Showcase
Cinemas"
chain
they
all
look just same the ones in OH, PA, MA and elsewhere they have no identity and that is what lacks in today’s Cineplex world.
Oh, and to add, I was thinking about it some more, The Ridgewood Theater used to be surrounded by other theaters, I can’t think of one nearby right now, and that is going into Queens or Brooklyn around it!
The Atlas terminal is quite a way away from the Ridgewood though. It’s possible that it would be damaged by it, but then again, The Ridgewood is the only theater for the Brooklyn area around there too. The Ridgewood’s location could save it further.
Today I had a chance to see the main level of the Ridgewood theater for the first time in 20 years!! (The last few movies I had seem there, also over 15 years ago, always seemed to be in one of the balcony theaters).
Anyway, I didn’t see a movie there, but got a great peak inside. I was in Ridgewood today, and had some time to kill, so decided to take a walk over to the Madison Theater to check out what can still be seen now that it’s the Liberty Dept store (see the Madison’s section for those comments). On my way back, I decided to take Madison Street around the back of the Ridgewood theater. Workers were repairing one of the emergency exit doors, and the doors were wide open to the left (if facing front) orchestra theaters.
I peaked in, and so many memories came rushing back. I immediately envisioned in my head sitting in the theater when it was still one theater, and looking at that exact same exit door from the indside.
A column still stands adjacent to the door (one of two columns that were on either side of the original large theater’s stage when it was one theater).
The theater looked to be in pretty decent shape inside. It appeared clean, and well cared for. Of course it was pretty dark inside, and I couldn’t stay too long as the workers were on their way back to finish repairing the doors. But it was sure nice to see the inside again.
Rumor has it that an 8-plex is going to be part of the Atlas Terminal development project in Glendale on Cooper Avenue between Woodhaven Boulevard and 80th Street and oposite the southern end of St. Johns Cemetery. At the moment, I do not know who the operator will be.
Thanks for the update, Warren. Yet another old movie theater becomes a church ! Any news on a brand new multiplex cinema opening in Queens Center on the opposite side of Queens Blvd. ?
Rich Dittus, I e-mailed you privately at your Ave Maria U. e-dress. Hope to get a reply from you soon.
To keep this on topic, there was also the Chopin Theater, at Manhattan and Greenpoint Avenues, where Joe Kuceluk and I saw “Cry Of The Wild” and “Bigfoot” in January 1974, and where our SFP classmate, Bob Dunas, saw “The Exorcist”, later in 1974.
One of the last few times we met face to face, Labor Day 1985, was by the LIRR tracks at 68th Street and Otto Road. I was walking home from a cinema in Lefrak City, Queens, where I had just seen “Godzilla 1985” with Raymond Burr. That cinema is no longer there. You expressed mild amusement that “Godzilla” had been remade. As I recall, we met that way several times, while I was walking back to my Ridgewood home after having seen a film elsewhere in Queens, anywhere from 4 to 7 miles away, from Jackson Heights to Kew Gardens, mostly Forest Hills and Elmhurst, in between. Once, we sat on your front stoop and talked with Kathy and your kids. I remember Kathy mentioning one of your kids putting pennies on her pregnant belly. I also recall walking around your block with you a few times at night in summer 1987 after seeing “Robocop” at the Elmwood (also no longer there), talking about meeting at a Pat Costa concert at St. Adalbert’s in Elmhurst, yet that fell through somehow.
Peter Koch
Wowww… Thanks to my brother Bob Dittus, I have learned about this website and the SFP / St. Paul’s reunion. January 16th – 19th, 1975 was the St. Paul’s weekend that many of us attended – including Joe Kuceluk (leader). John Kiely, Kathy Kennedy, and I were at the same discussion table. Peter Koch, weren’t you at this weekend too? Wasn’t there a moment when we sang “On for Old St. Francis?”
Mike Daley, where is he living in Florida? Kathy (Kennedy) and I are now married for 25 years and have 6 children ranging from 21 to 8 years old. I am the Director of Admissions at Ave Maria University. You can contact me at
Rich D, remember Brother Thomas, our tennis coach and matches where you would drive us in a station wagon to Highland Park? Whatever happened to John Nowak?
My sister, Susan, graduated St. Nicholas High School in 1975. As mentioned, many of us from SFP went there for driver’s ed, dances, and participated in the school plays.
Pete Koch, whatever happened to the old gang on 37 ½ Dobbin Street – including Tony Yanni, Joe Kuceluk, and Jack McCabe?
My brother tells me things are really changing back in Greenpoint / Williamsburg – not quite the same old neighborhood.
I lived in Glendale (68th Street) from 1982 to 1992 and walked home via Mrytle Avenue from the LL train station. I can’t remember the old movie houses – except for the Rainbow on Graham Avenue in Williamsburg, the Grand, the Graham, the Arion in Middle Village where they had movies for $1.50 or $2 before it closed in the 1980s. Remember Eddie’s Sweet Shop near a theatre in Forest Hills – went to see ET there on February 25, 1983.
Rich Dittus
Rich D :
I have NO idea why John Dafgard was nicknamed “Rocky”. If I’d known he came to SFP from St. Brigid’s, I’d forgotten.
Was Bob Dominiani the SFP Class of 1972 valedictorian ? I ask, partly because he reminds me of my Class of 1973 valedictorian, Frank Tellian, who also became an MD and a shrink. Yet, Frank had a sense of humor. Right before the graduation ceremony, we were all in the gym in our white tuxedo jackets, and Frank asked everyone to take out their handkerchiefs and drape them over our right wrist, and all walk out like the Waiter’s Convention. I’m not sure if any of us did. Regarding being a psychiatrist, Frank told Joe Gasperetti at Columbia, (who then told me) “It takes one to know one !”
Then, after the ceremony, back in the gym, there was Danny Ahern impersonating Hitler on top of the bleachers, with just about all 125 of us giving him “Seig Heil !” at the top of our lungs.
I have no idea what happened to Bill Joel, nor am I sure why I did not know, or do not remember him, from St. Brigid’s. The same goes for John Dafgard.
Your description of Bob Dominiani reminds me of the extremely driven law students pictured in the films, “The Paper Chase”, and “Legally Blonde”.
Peter –
John Dafgard was ALWAYS known to me as “Rocky”, a name that apparently came with him from St. Brigid’s to SFP – perhaps you can shed some light on the origins of the nickname
I don’t think I ever met a more serious or intense student than Bob Dominiani – he was driven from the first day at SFP to become an MD and ultimately became one (a medical doctor, not a Maryland resident :)). I never thought he enjoyed school at all and missed out on a LOT of fun…and he was so uptight about academic success that he would literally make himself ill around tests and schoolwork – but a most brilliant guy with an incredible work ethic.
Any idea as to what became of Bill (not Billy) Joel? Wasn’t he also a St. Brigid’s guy?
Rich D :
What was the longest you remember waiting for the B-55 ? It runs every few minutes most of the day and night but, I think, once an hour in the small hours.
That must have been an interesting walk from Halsey and Wyckoff to Cooper and 64th late at night or in the small hours. I usually get off the L at Halsey when I go to Ridgewood Savings Bank.
Speaking of RSB, I kept meaning to visit your SFP 1972 clasmate, John Dafgard, there, but he left the main office at Myrtle and Forest before I “got a round tuit”. I also recall John working at the Ridgewood library at 20-12 Madison, between Forest and Fairview Avenues, when we both attended SFP (1971-72).
Thanks for acknowledging my great memory for detail. Thanks for the correction on Vicki Craft.
I remember the K of C at the southwest corner of Catalpa and Fresh Pond. A newer building with a “Hamburg Savings Bank” ad painted on the side, as I recall. Yes, I was in Class 101, the scholarship class. Wow, three guys to a locker ! With my class, it was two – I shared a locker with Andy Kobel, whose older brother, Peter, was with you in the class of 1972.
Thanks for mentioning Bob Dominiani. I had been thinking about him. I remember chatting with another classmate of yours, Bill Joel (I wonder how many times he got asked / joked with re : music star Billy Joel from Plainview, L.I. ?) at the math fair at Pace College in March 1972 about Bob D, and how he was already reading Greek books. That impressed me.
My SFP Class of 1973 classmate, and best friend, Terence McHale, recalled that what Joe Graif said he got from his cursillo was that he didn’t have to impress people anymore. I remember him coming into my Class 301 in spring 1972 and saying, “You might think you’re a Christian, but how many times a week or month do you tell your mother that you love her ?” Made me think.
When I would visit Terry McHale in Chicago in the early 1980’s, sometimes we’d be at the Loop late at night or the small hours, after a movie. The subway only ran once every 45 minutes then, so sometimes we’d walk back to Terry’s place on the Near West Side (near Notre Dame and U of I Circle campus).
Once, Terry mentioned meeting Joe Kriz in Chicago, mentioning me, getting Joe’s address on North Mozart for me to meet up with him, but I never did.
Peter – I rarely, if ever, walked from Myrtle/Wyckoff to Glendale so I did spend a lot of time on (and even more time waiting for) the B-55. Sometimes I would go upstairs and take the Metropolitan Ave “el” to Fresh Pond Road and walk from there or stay on the LL to Halsey St and walk from there. You do have a great memory for detail, with some misplaced punctuation! – Joe Graif married Vicki Craft who was from Maryland (MD) – she was not an M.D. :)
Joe and I first met when we were in the 8th grade and competed in a Catholic School spelling bee at the Knights of Columbus on Fresh Pond Road and Catalpa Ave. There was about 20 competitors and he and I wound up being the two finalists. He won – I went down on “fundamental” (I put an “e” where the first “a” should have been) which was a fundamental error, I guess. Anyway, when I reported to SFP on the first day of freshman year, there was Joe in the same class (like you, we were in that year’s scholarship class) and in the locker next to mine (we had 3 guys to a locker, assigned alphabetically – so I shared with Mike Daley and Roberto Dominiani) with Joe, Bob Genalo and ? next to us.
John Kiely :
Thanks for the compliment on my memory ! I’ve been exercising it alot lately, on this and other message boards !
I thought “Stuck in the Middle With You” was about your fraternity experience. Interesting that you say it describes much of your subsequent life.
I only knew Joe Graif a bit, but I remember him well. My first experience of him was when I was a sophomore at SFP and he was a junior. I was at my locker, and he was bellowing in my ear, and at others, for some unknown reason. I remember Rich Danderline smiling in the background then. Next year I was a junior and he was a senior. I knew him from his talk in my classroom about the cursillo experience, and an April 1972 folk concert, in which he was part of the “14th Street Canarsie Line” group. They did “Let The Sun Shine In” from “Hair”. I also spoke with him about his music appreciation mini course, and the Gyorgy Ligeti composition, “Atmospheres”, used in “2001 : A Space Odyssey”. Last thing I read about him in an SFP newsletter was that he was married to Vicki Craft, M.D. He was a Ridgewood boy (lived on Fairview Avenue near Madison Street) from Miraculous Medal parish in upper Ridgewood. Very smart and musically gifted. Hung out with Gerard Boehme, Fred Serna, Joe Kriz, Roderick James, of the SFP Class of 1972.
-Peter Koch
Peter, you have some memory….
Stuck in the Middle With You kind of describes my whole fraternity experience, and much of my subsequent life…“clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right”
Did you know Joe Graif??
jk
Actually, I am also against having Spanish subtitles at the Ridgewood, but Warren, I think you brought it up in the first place! I brought up “Polish” and the other Eastern European residents of Ridgewood just because the non-Hispanics still make up the majority of Ridgewood, even if there is a high population of Hispanics too. The Ridgewood is the only theater in the area, so find it would do more harm than good if they did such a thing.
Anyway, personally, I would not go to a theater that had subtitles (any language). I find it very distracting.
Warren, I actually enjoyed the Spanish subtitles of “Godzilla”, especially when French was being spoken and there were three languages going on at the same time. I tend to be “Bored Of The Rings”, to echo the Harvard Lampoon, so I would probably closely study the Spanish subtitles, so as to learn Spanish, when the film itself got boring. It was interesting watching “Godzilla”, seeing how the English was translated into Spanish : “He’s a scumbag !” became “! Es despicable !” (despicable).
I agree, though, that a language should not be forced on someone who does not want it. The headsets you mention are a good idea.
Rich D : I too remember when the G and the L were the GG and the LL ! Many times returning to Ridgewood from Greenpoint I would give up on the GG and walk to Bedford Avenue on the L, like in June 1975 when Joe K, Rich Dittus, Jack McCabe and I saw “Ladies and Gentlemen The Rolling Stones” at the Meserole Theater. So you were “dazed and confused” from being “trampled underfoot”, so you needed a “whole lotta love” before “goin' to california”, or maybe “kazhmir”, for a “misty mountain hop” with “four sticks” and some “custard pie” for some “rock n roll” ? Whoo ooo yeah yeahuh I know my Led Zeppelin too !
After getting off the L at Myrtle Avenue, did you wait for the Myrtle Avenue B-55 bus or just walk to Cooper and 64th ?
Odd that I don’t remember Joe K raving about “Lovely Rita – la Dolce Vita”, because I remember almost everything, and Joe K was nothing if not vocal about any girl he had the hots for.
Yes, Joe was a major Dylan fan, and at times could cut Dylan with his own songs (perform them better) but now he’s extremely soured on Dylan and other ‘60’s music stars still functioning. He referred to Dylan, Keith Richards and Ron Wood playing together at the July 13 1985 “Live Aid” concert as “Three Stooges” and the “three ugliest m.f.’s on the face of the earth !”
Odd in retrospect that you weren’t a regular at Joe K’s 1973 Friday night Dobbin St. stoop parties + amateur nights ! I was, and remember your SFP classmate, Charlie Wassermanm being there a few times, once blowing us all away with how well he performed CSN’s “Suite : Judy Blue Eyes” as some of us began to sing along. Charlie also contributed the following comment to the “ranks” part of one evening :
“Br. Fabian : A week before ‘It’s Academic’, you asked me to get my hair cut for the show. I did, and we lost. F.U. !”
(guitar) Refrain : You gotta lotta nerve to say you are my friend !
John Kiley : I too remember the Wagner as pornographic in the late ‘60’s. My cousin Fran and I would snicker over the titles there like “Devil’s Bed” and “Let’s Play Doctor”.
Yes I was on the same weekend as Rich Dittus. I don’t think you were at my table, but I remember you were there, and remember you subsequently performing The Eagles' “Best Of My Love” and Steeler’s Wheels' “Stuck In The Middle” at an SFC folk concert, and saying that the latter song reminded you of times spent with some SFC buddies of yours.
Peter K…
You were on the weekend Rich Dittus was on???
Were you in my group??
jk
By the way…
I don’t remember the Wagner Theatre as a German film theatre, but I remember it as a porno palace.
jk
Peter K – another blast from the past – Joe Kuceluk! In my high school days, I spent most of my hanging out time in Greenpoint, since my main buds, Mike Daley, John Gryzanka and Wally Winkowski lived there (spent many late nights “dazed and confused” on the GG and LL going back and forth to Glendale). Joe K was also a Greenpoint guy, and was a grammar school mate of John & Wally’s at St. Stan’s. One thing I remember about him was that he had a crush on Mike Daley’s younger sister Rita (and may have dated her) and always referred to her as “Rita – La Dolce Vita” I also remember him as a major Bob Dylan fan.