Thanks Ed Solero on the facts about geographical errors in Hollywood movies, your quite correct, they dont have a fact checker for films like they do in books and/or newspapers.
Warren, Did you go to the balcony, to try that mysterious door Bway has mentioned? I may have to bring my camera . open it and find Madison’s past through photos.
PKoch, Thanks for your excellent postings!
I never saw one film at the Madison, but I saw many at the Ridgewood,Haven, and Arion not to mention the Sunrise drive in.
The posting counter appears at the top left each time a posting is entered, 1257 is a high number, as compared to the Ridgewood I will have to check. My interest in this page contiues because the Madison has a sort of mystique about it, especially after reading every posting.
PKoch,
Please pardon any comments that might seem a bit vague, I did see it at the Haven, maybe some,time after. My memory is not as sharp as it was , but because I missed out on such a grand venue as the Madison, I felt compelled to mention it once more, it may have even never played there, but I know that it did have charm for many movie goers who miss it, and I want to Thank Warren for posting that ‘33 ad for King Kong at the Madison.
PKoch,
In reply to my experience seeing King Kong at the Haven in'76, it was an unforgettable one to say the least, but, I could have seen it at the Madison.
In reply to the comments about which theater Kong was featured in the ‘33 version there appears to be some conflict, PKoch mentions that after his escape the police radio mentions “heading west towards Empire State Bldg”, that means the theater would be on 3rd ave, if memory serves me there was an el on 2nd ave also, if the theater was on 2nd, he would have to pass two els to get to 5th ave and 34th st.Mr. Solero mentions that in books about the film the producers used a theater in L. A.’s Shrine Auditorium as a backdrop, but their intention was the location to be Manhattan’s Times Square, in proximity to the 6th ave. el. It appears perhaps the producers being from California, had the geography incorrect.
PKoch,
I remember seeing that life sized Kong in the newspaper, and all the hype about its premier, which brings up an interesting point, many Cinema Treasures friends have old posters or billings about past films. Does anyone have the poster for the premier of the ‘76 version? I noticed that as he stands on top of the late Trade Center,his paws have a foot on each one of the towers, while in the movie he has both feet (paws?) on one tower. More strange, if you check out the poster for the '33 vesion, he’s standing behind the Manhattan skyline and appears way too big in proportion as in the movies he is much smaller!
Indeed PKoch, As was King Kong a pioneering film, that quote you mention after Kong takes a plunge off the newly opened Empire State building, is a timeless one!
PKoch,
Thanks for your reply, incidentally,the scene in the ‘76 King Kong at his escape by the el was filmed in Queens at the el near Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria. A resident friend of mine told me they used a giant inflatable Kong replica in the final scene at his escape.
Does any one know which theater Kong was featured in the original ‘33 version towards the end of the movie? It obviously was in Manhattan,perhaps it was a fictional movie house?
King Kong (‘33) at he Madison. I can only imagine what a thrill that would be to see a four star movie of that caliber at the Madison at its premier. I can picture the line down Myrtle ave.and the house at full capacity.
I dont want to go too far off topic, but the Ridgewood Savings bank building is very typical of the banks built during the 20’s, a very solid granite, with a grand hall type interior. If it did go under it would have an astronomical cost to demolish a building of this nature. I would think the costs of demolition far outweigh those of keeping the structure intact. An exception to this rule is the disgraceful demolition of Penn.Station in 1963, which was the same type of construction, but on a much larger scale. The contractor agonized to level this beautiful building, which spawned the Landmarks Preservation Commision. The trend seems to preserve the past,hopefully more developers will adhere to this trend.
I passed by that building so many time during the 70s, when it was the Victorian House, and as PKoch mentions, the Social Security offices, as I am an alumni of nearby St. Pancras school. So when I saw the conversion I could not loose the opportunity to visit.
PKoch ,
I can remember four movies I saw there:
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High"
"King Kong” (1976)
“Superman 2"
Some women’s jail movie, cant remember the name.
Thank you friends for all your replies concerning the conversion of the Madison into a retail store, a lot of these points brought up are quite interesting, especially those taxes imposed on the marquee I would have never thought of.
Brings up an interesting point, the former Acme (the Itch) on Myrtle
ave. in Glendale, now a supermarket, does still utilize its marquee. Does anyone know if they are paying a surcharge for its use? I have visited the former Acme a few months ago, its in excellent shape, and I have some postings there if anyone is interested.
I have attended some old movies theaters in the Greater New York City area in my youth in the 70’s, but never one of this design. After viewing the photos of the Loew’s Jersey City, I now know what a real movie palace looks like, and the good folks who restored and now care for this gem should be commended for their efforts, congratulations Friends of The Lowe’s Jersey City.
It may somewhat off topic, but I found an interior photo of the Meserole theater interior as it looks today as an Eckerd (now Rite Aid) pharmacy.Courtesy of Chris & forgottenny.com View link View link View link
Bway,
Thank you for your reply concerning the destruction of Madison’s interior. It is sad indeed that Madison burned after its heyday as a theater, and you are quite correct, I have no idea how serious that fire was,but that is most likely the reason why its interior was not saved. I looked the best I could through that open tile at the checkout, maybe the ceiling was so charred, you cant see it through such a small opening. I wonder if the balcony ceiling sustained any damage?
Thanks Ed Solero on the facts about geographical errors in Hollywood movies, your quite correct, they dont have a fact checker for films like they do in books and/or newspapers.
Warren, Did you go to the balcony, to try that mysterious door Bway has mentioned? I may have to bring my camera . open it and find Madison’s past through photos.
PKoch, Thanks for your excellent postings!
I never saw one film at the Madison, but I saw many at the Ridgewood,Haven, and Arion not to mention the Sunrise drive in.
The posting counter appears at the top left each time a posting is entered, 1257 is a high number, as compared to the Ridgewood I will have to check. My interest in this page contiues because the Madison has a sort of mystique about it, especially after reading every posting.
The RKO Madison has 1257 comments posted!
PKoch,
Please pardon any comments that might seem a bit vague, I did see it at the Haven, maybe some,time after. My memory is not as sharp as it was , but because I missed out on such a grand venue as the Madison, I felt compelled to mention it once more, it may have even never played there, but I know that it did have charm for many movie goers who miss it, and I want to Thank Warren for posting that ‘33 ad for King Kong at the Madison.
PKoch,
In reply to my experience seeing King Kong at the Haven in'76, it was an unforgettable one to say the least, but, I could have seen it at the Madison.
In reply to the comments about which theater Kong was featured in the ‘33 version there appears to be some conflict, PKoch mentions that after his escape the police radio mentions “heading west towards Empire State Bldg”, that means the theater would be on 3rd ave, if memory serves me there was an el on 2nd ave also, if the theater was on 2nd, he would have to pass two els to get to 5th ave and 34th st.Mr. Solero mentions that in books about the film the producers used a theater in L. A.’s Shrine Auditorium as a backdrop, but their intention was the location to be Manhattan’s Times Square, in proximity to the 6th ave. el. It appears perhaps the producers being from California, had the geography incorrect.
Heres the ‘76 Kong poster.
View link
Heres the ‘33 Kong poster.
View link
Attended the premier of the ‘76 King Kong at the Haven in Queens.
PKoch,
I remember seeing that life sized Kong in the newspaper, and all the hype about its premier, which brings up an interesting point, many Cinema Treasures friends have old posters or billings about past films. Does anyone have the poster for the premier of the ‘76 version? I noticed that as he stands on top of the late Trade Center,his paws have a foot on each one of the towers, while in the movie he has both feet (paws?) on one tower. More strange, if you check out the poster for the '33 vesion, he’s standing behind the Manhattan skyline and appears way too big in proportion as in the movies he is much smaller!
Indeed PKoch, As was King Kong a pioneering film, that quote you mention after Kong takes a plunge off the newly opened Empire State building, is a timeless one!
PKoch,
Thanks for your reply, incidentally,the scene in the ‘76 King Kong at his escape by the el was filmed in Queens at the el near Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria. A resident friend of mine told me they used a giant inflatable Kong replica in the final scene at his escape.
Does any one know which theater Kong was featured in the original ‘33 version towards the end of the movie? It obviously was in Manhattan,perhaps it was a fictional movie house?
King Kong (‘33) at he Madison. I can only imagine what a thrill that would be to see a four star movie of that caliber at the Madison at its premier. I can picture the line down Myrtle ave.and the house at full capacity.
Thanks PKoch,
Pretty sure it was “Women’s Prison Massacre”.
Well said Bway!
I dont want to go too far off topic, but the Ridgewood Savings bank building is very typical of the banks built during the 20’s, a very solid granite, with a grand hall type interior. If it did go under it would have an astronomical cost to demolish a building of this nature. I would think the costs of demolition far outweigh those of keeping the structure intact. An exception to this rule is the disgraceful demolition of Penn.Station in 1963, which was the same type of construction, but on a much larger scale. The contractor agonized to level this beautiful building, which spawned the Landmarks Preservation Commision. The trend seems to preserve the past,hopefully more developers will adhere to this trend.
Lost Memory,
Thank you for the information regarding the Acme’s marquee.
PKoch,
I graduated St. Pancras in June 1979, a full ten years after!!
I passed by that building so many time during the 70s, when it was the Victorian House, and as PKoch mentions, the Social Security offices, as I am an alumni of nearby St. Pancras school. So when I saw the conversion I could not loose the opportunity to visit.
PKoch ,
I can remember four movies I saw there:
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High"
"King Kong” (1976)
“Superman 2"
Some women’s jail movie, cant remember the name.
Thank you friends for all your replies concerning the conversion of the Madison into a retail store, a lot of these points brought up are quite interesting, especially those taxes imposed on the marquee I would have never thought of.
Brings up an interesting point, the former Acme (the Itch) on Myrtle
ave. in Glendale, now a supermarket, does still utilize its marquee. Does anyone know if they are paying a surcharge for its use? I have visited the former Acme a few months ago, its in excellent shape, and I have some postings there if anyone is interested.
I have attended some old movies theaters in the Greater New York City area in my youth in the 70’s, but never one of this design. After viewing the photos of the Loew’s Jersey City, I now know what a real movie palace looks like, and the good folks who restored and now care for this gem should be commended for their efforts, congratulations Friends of The Lowe’s Jersey City.
It may somewhat off topic, but I found an interior photo of the Meserole theater interior as it looks today as an Eckerd (now Rite Aid) pharmacy.Courtesy of Chris & forgottenny.com
View link
View link
View link
Bway,
Thank you for your reply concerning the destruction of Madison’s interior. It is sad indeed that Madison burned after its heyday as a theater, and you are quite correct, I have no idea how serious that fire was,but that is most likely the reason why its interior was not saved. I looked the best I could through that open tile at the checkout, maybe the ceiling was so charred, you cant see it through such a small opening. I wonder if the balcony ceiling sustained any damage?