Although the ‘pointer’ marks the wrong building!…..look across the street at the building we have both photographed. It is really hemmed in with other older buildings, apart from on the left where the bank building now adjoins it. Could perhaps we be looking at the wrong building (a re-numbering or mis-print) and the site of the theatre was where the bank building is now located? (built in the 1930’s, which ties in nicely with the time of the Loews Fulton’s closure). A second theory could be that we have the correct building, but the theatre’s auditorium was located off center to the left where the bank building is now located.
In either scenario, the auditorium at least has been demolished.
Just for the records….Trow’s Business Directory 1912 for the Borough of Brooklyn:Moving Picture Exhibitions, has no listing for a movie theatre operating at this address.
I have taken a look around the rear of this building, and there is no sign of a 1,600 seat auditorium to be seen. The 1930’s bank building which stands to the left of the theatre has a small facade and former entrance on the street at the rear and I am almost certain that this was built on the site of the Fulton Theatre auditorium.
The Regent Theatre is not listed as operating in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915 so I presume it was not a purpose built movie theatre (build date 1910 on the details posted by Lost Memory on 31st March 2005). It is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition as the Regent Theatre, 1217 Fulton Street with a seating capacity given as 560. It is still listed as operating in the F.D.Y. 1957 edition with a seating capacity of 529.
The furniture store which used the main St. John Place entrance must have later become a wholesale store (which when seen in June 2006 is closed). The supermarket using the former auditorium has also closed, leaving the entire building shuttered and unused.
WOW! I doubt we would ever have solved this mystery from ‘memories’ and would have been speculating and going around in circles for years. I am pleased I ‘made your week’ Ed!
Glad to have helped with my photo’s. I agree with Lost Memory regarding the black mark next to the third circle from the right and further proof is that I have gone back to the original of my second photo I posted and looking at it on a full screen, there is also another black mark located just to the right of the second circle from the right. This too can be seen in the ‘Always Air Conditioned’ photo. These marks are acually the remains of metal support brackets in the facade (possibly where the theatre ‘name. sign was fixed).
Again looking at the ‘Always Air Conditioned’ photo, you can now see where the curve in the marquee begins to gently wrap around the corner of the building. One unusual aspect of this marquee, in my estimation, is that it was placed rather high up on the facade over the entrance!
The Film Daily Yearbook;1926 and 1927 edition’s give an address at 1416 St. Johns Place, Brooklyn and a seating capacity of 1,628. In the 1930 edition of F.D.Y. the street address is given as 1410 St. Johns Place with a seating capacity of 1,508. Operated by Randforce Theatres from at least 1941, it closed in 1954 and is now in use as a MET Supermarket.
Lost Memory;In the five weeks I was in NYC I visited 175 theatre buildings and took over 400 photographs. Unfortunately I just didn’t get time to go out to Richmond Hill on this occasion. Next time!…..
The National Theater opened on 14th October 1921 and closed in 1957. The seating capacity given in Film Daily Yearbook’s; 1926 and 1927 edition’s is 1,300. In the 1930 and 1941 edition’s of F.D.Y. seating is given as 1,262. I can’t find the operator in the 1940 edition of F.D.Y. (certainly not Loew’s – was it ever?) but in 1943 it is listed as being operated by Brandt Theaters, same in 1950.
Bway; You are correct regarding the orignal decorative treatments on the original side walls and ceilings of the two outer balcony screens. It is a large panel on the side-wall (maybe this contained a painted mural when the theatre first opened?) The sheet-rock walls which divide off the centrally located screen are plain with no decoration.
However in the larger center screen in the balcony, the sheet-rock walls have plain panels fixed to them all along both walls. OK, they are cheap looking, but do relieve the monotony of a plain walled auditorium, which at least in this screen also has the large central ceiling dome from the original 1916 decoration of the theatre
The floor covering on the foyer floor is similar to a rubberised linoleum. Inside the auditoriums the concrete stairs/steppings have floor paint, with no covering or carpeting.
For the sake of clarity, we can easily make this theatre page the Rivoli/Burlington/Gay Theatre, 3811 McCalla Avenue and retain the Gay/Strand Theatre, 415 S. Gay Street to its own page, adding aka Gay Theatre.
As promised to you all….here is my set of photographs that I took of the Ridgewood Theatre on 25th June 2006. Apologies for the rather poor quality of the interior shots, but the bad (almost non-existant lighting) was not in my favour. I have lightened the photos as much as possible, so hopefully you will get some idea of the auditorium interiors. Also apologies for some blurry shots of the foyer, again the lighting is not good and I wasn’t using a tripod.
As I mentioned in my posting above (26th June 2006) I attended a screening in the left hand side screen located in the former balcony area and managed to view the other two screns up there. I did not go into the two screens in the former orchestra level. Perhaps some local will ‘do’ those for us and report back?
Ok, so there is my input, I know this theatre is held dearly in the memories of many of you (hence the great number of postings for this particular movie theatre. Well unlike many on this site, the Ridgewood Theatre remains in use as a movie theatre! Please support it, otherwise you will loose it. If I can travel all the way from the UK, and then from my base in N.Y.C. right across town to see a movie (using the handy Metro as transportation), then I would hope that both current resident locals in Ridgewood and other resident New Yorkers will do the same (and regularly too!).
The building was pre-existing in 1902 as records show alterations were done to it in that year. The Globe Theatre was open by 1913 according to newspaper advertisements in that year and a seating capacity was given as 906. It is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915. Architect Edward Kleinert was responsible for alterations to the building in 1926.
It was operated by the Sander’s family during the 1930’s and into the 1940’s. For some time later it was operated by the Brandt Circuit and closed as a movie theatre in the mid-1950’s. It became a public market in 1958, then was in use as a factory in 1988.
The plans to convert into a Beth Israel Medical Center were proposed in early 1996 and these plans describe the removal of the decorative ceiling amongst other alterations. It must have been at this time that the auditorium was stripped out. As stated above, the buiding never became a medical center!
The current use for the former Globe Theatre, as seen in June 2006, is as an artists studio (pottery artist). I believe the artist actually lives on the premises.
Looking the the building today, it is incredible to believe that it still exists, but it does.
It is a very old building, which according to records had an alteration done to an existing building in 1902. In 1908 alterations were done and it opened as the Vaudeau Theatre in January 1908 whick was operated by the Bay Ridge Amusement Co. By 1910 until 1913 it had been renamed the Konigswald Gustave Theatre (Swedish for King Gustave). In the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 it is listed as operating as the Sunset Theatre.
I would say that the C/O mentioned by lostmemory which was issued in 1926 for an an existing building, was possibly for an enlarged building with a new seating capacity.
The Sunset Theatre actually closed in 1951 and has been in use as a supermarket for many years.
Listed in Trows Business Directory 1912 as being operated by Elias Bernstein. The American Film Directory 1914-1915 lists it as the Etude Theatre (although the address is incorrectly given as #5422 Third Avenue).
It was re-named the Alben Theatre in the mid-1930’s and I believe it closed as a movie theatre in the mid-1950’s.
I have taken an external look around the building today and it is actually not painted blue & white as Orlando states in his post. The original stonework/bricks are unpainted and there are some decorated stone features on the facade. The building today is in use as a paper goods wholesale’s outlet.
Here is the arial view photograph:
View link
Although the ‘pointer’ marks the wrong building!…..look across the street at the building we have both photographed. It is really hemmed in with other older buildings, apart from on the left where the bank building now adjoins it. Could perhaps we be looking at the wrong building (a re-numbering or mis-print) and the site of the theatre was where the bank building is now located? (built in the 1930’s, which ties in nicely with the time of the Loews Fulton’s closure). A second theory could be that we have the correct building, but the theatre’s auditorium was located off center to the left where the bank building is now located.
In either scenario, the auditorium at least has been demolished.
Just for the records….Trow’s Business Directory 1912 for the Borough of Brooklyn:Moving Picture Exhibitions, has no listing for a movie theatre operating at this address.
I have taken a look around the rear of this building, and there is no sign of a 1,600 seat auditorium to be seen. The 1930’s bank building which stands to the left of the theatre has a small facade and former entrance on the street at the rear and I am almost certain that this was built on the site of the Fulton Theatre auditorium.
Here is a current (June 2006) view of the facade of the former Loew’s Fulton Theatre:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/184006408/
The Regent Theatre is not listed as operating in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915 so I presume it was not a purpose built movie theatre (build date 1910 on the details posted by Lost Memory on 31st March 2005). It is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition as the Regent Theatre, 1217 Fulton Street with a seating capacity given as 560. It is still listed as operating in the F.D.Y. 1957 edition with a seating capacity of 529.
Here is an exterior photograph I took in June 2006 of the now closed Slave #1 Theatre;
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183997141/
The furniture store which used the main St. John Place entrance must have later become a wholesale store (which when seen in June 2006 is closed). The supermarket using the former auditorium has also closed, leaving the entire building shuttered and unused.
Here are a couple of recent exterior photographs I took in June 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183695045/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183695387/
WOW! I doubt we would ever have solved this mystery from ‘memories’ and would have been speculating and going around in circles for years. I am pleased I ‘made your week’ Ed!
Glad to have helped with my photo’s. I agree with Lost Memory regarding the black mark next to the third circle from the right and further proof is that I have gone back to the original of my second photo I posted and looking at it on a full screen, there is also another black mark located just to the right of the second circle from the right. This too can be seen in the ‘Always Air Conditioned’ photo. These marks are acually the remains of metal support brackets in the facade (possibly where the theatre ‘name. sign was fixed).
Again looking at the ‘Always Air Conditioned’ photo, you can now see where the curve in the marquee begins to gently wrap around the corner of the building. One unusual aspect of this marquee, in my estimation, is that it was placed rather high up on the facade over the entrance!
The Utica Theatre was certainly not demolished as seen here in my exterior photographs taken in May 2006;
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183677633/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183678375/
The Film Daily Yearbook;1926 and 1927 edition’s give an address at 1416 St. Johns Place, Brooklyn and a seating capacity of 1,628. In the 1930 edition of F.D.Y. the street address is given as 1410 St. Johns Place with a seating capacity of 1,508. Operated by Randforce Theatres from at least 1941, it closed in 1954 and is now in use as a MET Supermarket.
The Victoria Theatre opened on 27th July 1912 and closed, as stated above around 1922.
Here are a couple of recent(May 2006) photographs I took of the exterior of the building;
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183662232/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183669888/
Here are two recent(May 2006) exterior photographs I took of the Empress/Crown Theatre:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183637081/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183637615/
Lost Memory;In the five weeks I was in NYC I visited 175 theatre buildings and took over 400 photographs. Unfortunately I just didn’t get time to go out to Richmond Hill on this occasion. Next time!…..
Two recent(May 2006) exterior photographs I took of the Carroll Theatre:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183625560/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183625955/
The National Theater opened on 14th October 1921 and closed in 1957. The seating capacity given in Film Daily Yearbook’s; 1926 and 1927 edition’s is 1,300. In the 1930 and 1941 edition’s of F.D.Y. seating is given as 1,262. I can’t find the operator in the 1940 edition of F.D.Y. (certainly not Loew’s – was it ever?) but in 1943 it is listed as being operated by Brandt Theaters, same in 1950.
Here is a photograph of the exterior I took in May 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183558877/
Here are a couple of recent exterior photographs I took of the Fox Savoy Theatre in May 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183529587/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183530562/
Joe From Florida; The photo’s are of the Rogers Theatre, Rogers Avenue, Brooklyn, which is the theatre this page is dedicated to.
The ‘other’ Rogers Theatre, Broadway, Brooklyn would still have the J & Z Lines Elevated running against it (but the theatre has been torn down!)
The Rogers Theater opened in either 1936 or 1937 and closed in 1967. Here are a couple of exterior photgraphs I took of the building in May 2006. The facade has had a new brick cladding, but the side walls remain the old brick:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183463409/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183463786/
A set of photographs I took of the former Loew’s Kameo Theatre in May 2006. Especial Thanks go to the Philadelphian Sabbath Cathedral for allowing me access and permission to record these images:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183386861/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183387293/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183387728/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183388489/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183389132/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183389499/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183389969/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183390417/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183390815/
Current May 2006 photographs I took of the Flatbush Pavilion (including one of the former auditorium):
http://flickr.com/photos.kencta/183326058/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183328319/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183328664/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183329070/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/183329495/
Bway; You are correct regarding the orignal decorative treatments on the original side walls and ceilings of the two outer balcony screens. It is a large panel on the side-wall (maybe this contained a painted mural when the theatre first opened?) The sheet-rock walls which divide off the centrally located screen are plain with no decoration.
However in the larger center screen in the balcony, the sheet-rock walls have plain panels fixed to them all along both walls. OK, they are cheap looking, but do relieve the monotony of a plain walled auditorium, which at least in this screen also has the large central ceiling dome from the original 1916 decoration of the theatre
The floor covering on the foyer floor is similar to a rubberised linoleum. Inside the auditoriums the concrete stairs/steppings have floor paint, with no covering or carpeting.
For the sake of clarity, we can easily make this theatre page the Rivoli/Burlington/Gay Theatre, 3811 McCalla Avenue and retain the Gay/Strand Theatre, 415 S. Gay Street to its own page, adding aka Gay Theatre.
The Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition lists the Gay Theatre, 3811 McCalla Avenue with a seating capacity of 300.
Listed as the Gay Theatre in two earlier editions of F.D.Y. that I have(1941 and 1943) with a seating capacity of 278.
As promised to you all….here is my set of photographs that I took of the Ridgewood Theatre on 25th June 2006. Apologies for the rather poor quality of the interior shots, but the bad (almost non-existant lighting) was not in my favour. I have lightened the photos as much as possible, so hopefully you will get some idea of the auditorium interiors. Also apologies for some blurry shots of the foyer, again the lighting is not good and I wasn’t using a tripod.
As I mentioned in my posting above (26th June 2006) I attended a screening in the left hand side screen located in the former balcony area and managed to view the other two screns up there. I did not go into the two screens in the former orchestra level. Perhaps some local will ‘do’ those for us and report back?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181107127/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181107664/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181108262/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181108667/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181109276/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181109828/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181110473/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181111074/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181111488/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181111880/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181112285/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181113601/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181115220/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181115673/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181116506/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181116966/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181117189/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181117558/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181117919/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181118228/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/181118521/
Ok, so there is my input, I know this theatre is held dearly in the memories of many of you (hence the great number of postings for this particular movie theatre. Well unlike many on this site, the Ridgewood Theatre remains in use as a movie theatre! Please support it, otherwise you will loose it. If I can travel all the way from the UK, and then from my base in N.Y.C. right across town to see a movie (using the handy Metro as transportation), then I would hope that both current resident locals in Ridgewood and other resident New Yorkers will do the same (and regularly too!).
The building was pre-existing in 1902 as records show alterations were done to it in that year. The Globe Theatre was open by 1913 according to newspaper advertisements in that year and a seating capacity was given as 906. It is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915. Architect Edward Kleinert was responsible for alterations to the building in 1926.
It was operated by the Sander’s family during the 1930’s and into the 1940’s. For some time later it was operated by the Brandt Circuit and closed as a movie theatre in the mid-1950’s. It became a public market in 1958, then was in use as a factory in 1988.
The plans to convert into a Beth Israel Medical Center were proposed in early 1996 and these plans describe the removal of the decorative ceiling amongst other alterations. It must have been at this time that the auditorium was stripped out. As stated above, the buiding never became a medical center!
The current use for the former Globe Theatre, as seen in June 2006, is as an artists studio (pottery artist). I believe the artist actually lives on the premises.
Looking the the building today, it is incredible to believe that it still exists, but it does.
It is a very old building, which according to records had an alteration done to an existing building in 1902. In 1908 alterations were done and it opened as the Vaudeau Theatre in January 1908 whick was operated by the Bay Ridge Amusement Co. By 1910 until 1913 it had been renamed the Konigswald Gustave Theatre (Swedish for King Gustave). In the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 it is listed as operating as the Sunset Theatre.
I would say that the C/O mentioned by lostmemory which was issued in 1926 for an an existing building, was possibly for an enlarged building with a new seating capacity.
The Sunset Theatre actually closed in 1951 and has been in use as a supermarket for many years.
Listed in Trows Business Directory 1912 as being operated by Elias Bernstein. The American Film Directory 1914-1915 lists it as the Etude Theatre (although the address is incorrectly given as #5422 Third Avenue).
It was re-named the Alben Theatre in the mid-1930’s and I believe it closed as a movie theatre in the mid-1950’s.
I have taken an external look around the building today and it is actually not painted blue & white as Orlando states in his post. The original stonework/bricks are unpainted and there are some decorated stone features on the facade. The building today is in use as a paper goods wholesale’s outlet.