Ridgewood Theatre
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
31 people
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Here is an article that appeared in The Real Deal, the main Real Estate publication for New York:
Ridgewood Theatre up for landmarking
By James Kelly
The 92-year-old Ridgewood Theatre at 55-27 Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens, is up for designation by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.
A hearing on whether to designate the building’s facade a landmark will take place tomorrow, with a vote by the commission planned for some time this year, said agency spokesperson Elisabeth de Bourbon.
Neighborhood preservationists have been moving to have the five-screen movie theater landmarked since it closed a year ago this month. It was purchased the same month by Anthony Montalbano, CEO of Montalbano Builders, for $6.02 million, according to public records. It went back on the market two months later for $14 million, according to the Ridgewood Ledger, but has not traded since. Montalbano did not return a request for comment.
The 20,500-square-foot building, opened in 1916, was designed by Thomas Lamb, a prominent architect who designed movie theaters across the United States, as well as several internationally, including in Toronto and Mumbai. The Levy Brothers developed the theater for $250,000.
Forest Hills resident Michael Perlman, who has been at the forefront of the landmarking effort, founded the Friends of the Ridgewood Theatre one week after it closed, and has garnered much support from Ridgewood residents and preservation organizations since. The organizations include the Theatre Historical Society of America, the Queens branch of the American Institute of Architects and the Ridgewood Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District.
Perlman said current rumors hold that the theater will reopen this spring and function as a multiplex film venue once again.
In addition to what he calls the theater’s “celebrated historical, cultural and architectural significance,” he points out the economic advantage to the area by reopening the theater.
“Reopening the Ridgewood Theatre would help boost jobs for the neighborhood, and help contribute to property values and street traffic for businesses, a huge boon, considering today’s economy,” said Perlman, who is optimistic about the landmarking
IMPORTANT MEMORANDUM
The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission will hold a Public Hearing, which will determine its eligibility as a NYC Individual Landmark. The hearing is set for Tuesday, March 24, 2009 from 11:25 AM – 12:00 PM at the Municipal Building, 1 Centre St, 9th Floor North, NY, NY 10007, and public testimony will be taken: View link
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Please attend and provide testimony at the March 24th Public Hearing. Reference the Ridgewood Theatre’s architectural, cultural, historical significance, request Individual Landmark status, and include any personal sentiment toward the theater, and the need for more Queens landmarks and theater landmarks. Your testimony can be brief. Also, please forward this posting to other contacts, so we can achieve a landmark victory. Power to the people!
If you cannot attend the public hearing, please e-mail your testimony/support letter to the following addresses: Chairman Robert Tierney .gov and Dir. of Research Mary Beth Betts .gov and .gov with a carbon copy to Your letter can be brief.
History: Opening its doors on December 23, 1916 and closing in March 2008, the Ridgewood Theatre was deemed the longest continuously operating first-run neighborhood theater citywide, and potentially throughout the U.S. It staged Vaudeville, silent films, saw the advent of photoplays, the first ‘100% All-Talkingâ€\ feature, Lights of New York (1928), and Technicolor. Its original seating capacity was 2,500, but currently contains 5 screens and seats 1,950. Modeled after Times Squareâ€\s long-demolished Mark Strand Theatre (the Worldâ€\s 1st movie palace), the $250,000 gem was designed by Americaâ€\s foremost theater architect, Thomas Lamb, & built by the Levy Brothers. The 3-story Indiana limestone and terra cotta façade is highly ornate, incorporating unique geometric patterns, medallions, a frieze, pilasters, and proudly boasts Ridgewood Theatre across the top. Interior murals originally depicted the history of Ridgewood.
Economic status/Significance of theaters: Theaters are the ‘ultimate public institutionsâ€\ which bridge the generations, as they foster community growth and pride, harbor countless memories, and often exhibit the work of our countryâ€\s most skillful architects. Commissioned architects hoped to leave a long-lasting impression of grandeur, confidence, serenity, and comfort; a bold step away from the pressures of society. When sacrificed in the name of progress, their loss is most heartfelt. Local theaters with an unfortunate fate include the Oasis, Parthenon, Irving, and RKO Madison Theatre (retail), but the Ridgewood Theatre can be economically viable if preserved and adaptively reused for theater-related purposes. It would contribute to an up and coming neighborhood and a diverse borough, and would boost jobs.
Ridgewood Theatre “Then & Now” Photos: View link
Online Petition: View link
Friends of The Ridgewood Theatre MySpace Group: www.myspace.com/ridgewoodtheatre
Thank you for your support!
Michael Perlman
Friends of The Ridgewood Theatre, Founder & Chair
4 Boro Preservation Alliance Corp, Queens VP
Rego-Forest Preservation Council, Chair
Queens Preservation Council, Bd. of Dir.
Central Queens Historical Association, Bd of Dir
John, I understand your point about conveying what the Ridgewood Theatre really means to Ridgewood, and I will proceed accordingly.
Thanks, ECR, for catching that terrible typo. (Damn Spellcheck!!) I guess if had been a time of urban delay – as opposed to urban decay -things would not have gone so badly – or not.
Peter, while I am flattered that you intend to pattern your testimony after mine, the area that you can really make a contribution is in relating what the Ridgewood Theatre really means to Ridgewood. As a non-resident who never set foot in the theater, I could not adequately convey that point. But this is precisely the area where you can make a huge difference.
Peter, while I did not initially intend to attend the hearing, I will now try to drop in, since I know you will be there.
John D that was a great testimonial. I am glad you mentioned Thomas Lamb. I also did that in my letter but I also mentioned how Lamb’s NY Academy of Music was allowed to be demolished by NYU’s wrecking ball.
One thing I would like to know is in your letter you had this line. “RKO Madison, closed its doors for good during a period of profound urban delay.” Did you mean delay or decay?
Michael
Wonderfully said John!
Thanks, John D. I will pattern my own testimony after yours. Hope to see you at the Municipal Building next Tuesday.
Thought you might be interested in reading the testimony that I submitted to the Landmarks Commission. Here goes.
Chairperson Tierney and members of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, I am pleased to offer the following testimony in support of the designation of the historic Ridgewood Theatre as a New York City landmark.
I am a current resident of Forest Hills who grew up in Greenpoint, two of Ridgewood’s neighboring communities. I am also an enthusiastic supporter of the preservation of community based public architecture. During the 1970’s, I served as the District Manager of Brooklyn’s Community Board #4, which represents the adjacent community of Bushwick. During my time in Bushwick, the last of Ridgewood’s other movie showplaces, the palatial RKO Madison, closed its doors for good during a period of profound urban delay. It now stands as a much defaced shadow of its former glory. Yet the Ridgewood survived and continued to serve this community until only one year ago. Hopefully, the Commission’s actions will not only preserve this wonderful edifice but encourage the realization of a future cinematic and theatrical history for the Ridgewood.
The fact that the Commission has moved so positively and expeditiously in calendaring this item is commendable and underlines its commitment to historic preservation that is neither Manhattan-based nor of “high†social status. Such actions only enhance the Commission’s role as a truly City-wide guardian of New York’s many historic treasures.
Strictly as an architectural entity, the Ridgewood has much to recommend it. An early work by the renowned creator of movie palaces, Thomas Lamb, the Ridgewood boasts an impressive façade consisting of Indiana limestone and terra cotta. Though the design, at first glance, appears to be quite simple, further inspection reveals a highly intricate and consistently impressive geometric design pattern. This is clearly the work of a budding master.
In addition to this â€" and somewhat ironically – the fact that Lamb patterned the Ridgewood’s design after that of his now long lost and greatly missed Strand Theatre in Times Square will provide future generations of architectural scholars and cinematic enthusiasts with the opportunity to revel in both the glories of this still extant show place as well as the memory of Time Square’s long forgotten past â€" if the Ridgewood is allowed to prevail as a designated landmark.
The fact that this is “only†an early work â€" and, concededly, not one of Lamb’s most elaborate creations – should not work against the Ridgewood’s designation. To the contrary, early works by great masters frequently shed valuable, and often essential, light on the mature masterpieces to come. This should emphatically be the case for Thomas Lamb, who is to movie palaces what Stanford White and Cass Gilbert are to the more stately forms of public architecture.
Finally, the sad fact that all too much of Lamb’s work â€" including some of his most accomplished â€" has been lost for all time though demolition and irreversible alteration increases the Ridgewood’s historic and architectural value exponentially â€" and makes a truly compelling cases for preservation.
When one turns to the Ridgewood’s historic and social role in its host community and the extraordinary impact it had has upon Ridgewood’s past and current residents, the case for designation becomes even more profound. From the date it helped usher in the Christmas season of 1916, the Ridgewood has played a central role in the community’s cultural, entertainment and economic life. This remained the case despite major changes in the community’s ethnic and economic make up, as the Ridgewood adapted itself to meet differing needs and preferences. This is a key reason why the Ridgewood was able to maintain itself â€" until last year – as the longest continuously operated movie theater in the country.
While I realize that only the exterior of the Ridgewood is currently being considered for designation, I also believe that the approval of this action will create strong incentives for the voluntary preservation of additional portions of the old theater, particular the distinguished and largely intact lobby. In addition, landmarks preservation might also encourage the future cinematic and/or theatrical utilization of at least a portion of this theater. While this possibility might be something of a long shot, it would be far less likely â€" and probably doom the Ridgewood to share the fate of the Madison – without this designation.
For these reasons, I congratulate the Commission for scheduling this item for consideration and strongly urge that you promptly act to make the landmarks designation of the Ridgewood Theatre a reality.
Thank you! To ensure delivery to various LPC parties, please e-mail your testimony/support letter to the following addresses:
Chairman Robert Tierney: .gov
Dir. of Research Mary Beth Betts: .gov
Public hearing address: .gov
Carbon copy Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre:
I have sent an e-mail to Chairman Robert Tierney .gov over the weekend. I got a notice back saying my e-mail was read. I sent it out 9:21:51 PM and it shows he read it 9:26:02 PM
Your message
To: Robert B. Tierney
Subject: Ridgewood Theatre Queens NY
Sent: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:21:51 -0400
was read on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:26:02 -0400
Thank you John, I will do that. As I’ve stated many times before, every time a movie palace is lost, they are lost forever. They are not building any new ones. Thousands have been lost nationwide and every effort must be made to save the remaining ones; even if the ones left aren’t up to the caliber of a Radio City, a Loews Paradise or a New Amsterdam. Today’s generation has little idea of how their parents and granparents went to the movies. It was a time when where you saw a movie was just as important (or more so) than what movie you went to see.
While only the facade of the Ridgewood is up for designation, it is a big step in saving the theater as a whole. The Ridgewood is not just one of Lamb’s earliest theaters, it is truly the definition of a neighborhood landmark that served its community uninterupted for 94 years before closing last year.
I will contribute my comments to do my part to save this theater.
Howard, while I’m sorry that you had a problem with my link, I think the issue involved your computer rather than the link. In any event, like ECR, I did not have a problem when I assessed it.
Luis, although you can’t make it to the hearing, you should consider sending in some written testimony at the address noted in Michael Perlman’s recent post. This is exactly what I did yesterday. Given your extensive knowledge of this issue – and your highly articulate manner of expressing it – testimony from you should prove highly valuable.
Since the Landmarks Commission pays very great attention to the written record, the submission of substantive testimony will, if anything, prove of greater value than simply attending the hearing. Clearly, written statements from Peter Koch, Bway and others that highlight the historic importance of the Ridgewood will be worth their weight in gold. And, simce the Commission leaves the record open to accept testimony submitted even after the hearing date, time is not of the essence – but quality is.
And, if you have not yet signed the petition, please do so now!
Thanks ECR for the info. I wish I was able to attend, but I’m hopeful that others who post on this page will be able to make it and report back to the rest of us.
No Hijacking here for me
Ridgewood Theater Up for Landmark Consideration
by Jeremy Sapienza | March 16th, 2009
The Ridgewood Theater. â€" Photo by Michael Perlman
In addition to the Gates-Palmetto Mathews flats and the Ulmer Brewery complex on Beaver, the ornate limestone and terra cotta façade of the Ridgewood Theater may be added to the growing list of Greater Bushwick structures up for historic landmark consideration.
A hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday [pdf] to determine if the Landmarks Commission should further consider the theater for Individual Historic Landmark status. A petition is being circulated to convince the Commission of the theater’s importance to the community.
The theater opened in 1916, and for generations served Bushwick and Ridgewood. “It is believed to be one of the oldest continuously operated theaters in the country, having never closed for renovations during its 89-year run.†It closed almost exactly one year ago.
TIME: 11:25 AM â€" 12:00 PM
PUBLIC HEARING ITEM NO. 7
LP-2325
STAFF: V.K.
BOROUGH OF QUEENS
RIDGEWOOD THEATER. 55-27 Myrtle Avenue, Queens.
Landmark Site: Borough of Queens Tax Map Block 3451 Lot 7 in part
Thanks for the warning, HowardBHaas. I’ll make sure to avoid the above link at all costs.
Be warned that I above link hijacked my computer. I had to shut down the computer to get rid of it.
This was just posted in the BushwickBk, com web site.
View link
Hmmmm…interesting.
Sounds like a beautiful theatre…and a beautiful response to this situation. Here’s wishing all the best of luck to you guys in your endeavor to have the Ridgewood landmarked.
Hi Everyone,
GREAT NEWS!!! The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission will hold a Public Hearing for the Ridgewood Theatre, which will determine its eligibility as a NYC Individual Landmark. The hearing is set for Tues, March 24, 2009 from 11:25 AM – 12:00 PM at the Municipal Building, 1 Centre St, 9th Floor North, NY, NY 10007, and public testimony will be taken: View link
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Please attend and provide testimony at the March 24th Public Hearing. Reference the Ridgewood Theatre’s architectural, cultural, historical significance, request Individual Landmark status, and include any personal sentiment toward the theater, and the need for more Queens landmarks and theater landmarks. Your testimony can be brief. Also, please forward this posting to other contacts, so we can achieve a landmark victory. Power to the people!
If you cannot attend the public hearing, please e-mail your testimony/support letter to the following addresses: Chairman Robert Tierney .gov and Dir. of Research Mary Beth Betts .gov and .gov with a carbon copy to
History: Opening its doors on December 23, 1916 and closing in March 2008, the Ridgewood Theatre was deemed the longest continuously operating first-run neighborhood theater citywide, and potentially throughout the U.S. It staged Vaudeville, silent films, saw the advent of photoplays, the first ‘100% All-Talkingâ€\ feature, Lights of New York (1928), and Technicolor. Its original seating capacity was 2,500, but currently contains 5 screens and seats 1,950. Modeled after Times Squareâ€\s long-demolished Mark Strand Theatre (the Worldâ€\s 1st movie palace), the $250,000 gem was designed by Americaâ€\s foremost theater architect, Thomas Lamb, & built by the Levy Brothers. The 3-story Indiana limestone and terra cotta façade is highly ornate, incorporating unique geometric patterns, medallions, a frieze, pilasters, and proudly boasts Ridgewood Theatre across the top. Interior murals originally depicted the history of Ridgewood.
Economic status/Significance of theaters: Theaters are the ‘ultimate public institutionsâ€\ which bridge the generations, as they foster community growth and pride, harbor countless memories, and often exhibit the work of our countryâ€\s most skillful architects. Commissioned architects hoped to leave a long-lasting impression of grandeur, confidence, serenity, and comfort; a bold step away from the pressures of society. When sacrificed in the name of progress, their loss is most heartfelt. Local theaters with an unfortunate fate include the Oasis, Parthenon, Irving, and RKO Madison Theatre (retail), but the Ridgewood Theatre can be economically viable if preserved and adaptively reused for theater-related purposes. It would contribute to an up and coming neighborhood and a diverse borough, and would boost jobs.
Ridgewood Theatre “Then & Now” Photos: View link
Online Petition: View link
Friends of The Ridgewood Theatre MySpace Group: www.myspace.com/ridgewoodtheatre
Thank you for your support!
, (917) 446-7775
Friends of The Ridgewood Theatre, Founder & Chair
4 Boro Preservation Alliance Corp, Queens VP
Rego-Forest Preservation Council, Chair
Queens Preservation Council, Bd. of Dir.
Central Queens Historical Association, Bd of Dir
Wow, the Ridgewood page has gone unattended for six whole days! This must be something of a record. Anyway, does anyone have any new news about the landmarking campaign? I have not seen any articles in the local papers about this in the past few weeks. In particular, I would be interested in seeing how local Queens CB 5 is responding to this. Also, Michael, have you submitted any requests for support to either CB 5 or the local politicos? If yes, have received any responses?
Talk soon.
Oh, well. 1900 of your closest friends? Didn’t know anybody had such a huge circle of friends. (lol)
When you talk about the distributors there is also something that flies under the radar.When a multiplex gets a movie not all of them go at the same cost. Here is how the public gets screwed again. I am sure the big chain multiplexes get a better rate then the smaller ones but here is what happens. Using a duplex to make it easier to explane. They get 2 different movies in at the same time. The licensing cost for one of them is half the cost of the other one. Get the picture? Rather then charging less for the lower cost movie they charge the same for both of them. They use the one price fits all even though they are paying less for the one. They already rip you off enough at the snack bars butthen again they have been doing that for years.
I still think that Ridgewood has a chance to make a come back as a single screen premier house. There is nothing like seeing a movies with 1900 of your closest friends.
While it would be a great idea for the Ridgewood to function as the Brooklyn/Queens theater for limited releases for opening films, I don’t think it is up to the theaters. That decision rests solely with the movie distributors. They are the ones to decide how many screens to open on. Back in the day, when the movie companies owned the theaters they could easily designate their favorite theaters to open at and then funnel them into secondary theaters for wider release. However, the antitrust laws broke up this relationship in the 50’s and that contributed mightily to the downfall of the big palaces. The new Ridgewood would have to compete against the AMC/Loews and Regals of the world for movies. I don’t think that is viable.
Unfortuantely, I don’t believe that we can go “back to the future” in this regard.
This:
“What needs to happen is that when a major film come in to a metro are it should only be released to a single screen house for the first 2 weeks and then distributed to the multiplexes.
That can be something to think about with Ridgewood. Convert it back to a sibgle screen and make it a "Premier” first run house for both Brooklyn and Queens. A deal should be struck with the major studios. Call it going back to the future."
sounds like a fabulous idea, EastCoastRocker! Here’s wishing that somebody would run this idea by theatres here in our area.