RKO Madison Theatre
54-30 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
54-30 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
21 people
favorited this theater
Showing 651 - 675 of 1,251 comments
Returning the Madison Theater to it’s original magnificance as a single screen and then having live concerts and stage shows and again using it for the graduation exercises of the various high schools in the area would be a tribute to the comeback that is happening in the Bushwick area. If the homes are selling for $500,000+ there must be money in the area and from what I have been seeing there is much construction going on … and what could be better than a wonderful theater on the scale of Radio City … right there on the Bushwick/Ridgewood border … only a thought.
I think Ridgewood and Bushwick still are viable neighborhoods, with help having been on the way in the form of the gentrification of Bushwick over the past five or so years, and I am thinking also of the scarcity of movie theaters for about five miles in every direction from the Ridgewood and Madison, with the sole exception of the Atlas Park Multiplex two miles to the east northeast, which, however, seems much too upscale and too far away from the Ridgewood Theatre (and the Madison, were it to re-open as a cinema) to draw much business away from it, anyway.
I certainly hope the Ridgewood Theater does not close, given its history, and the fact that it observed, only five months ago, albeit quietly, its 90th anniversary as a functioning cinema.
What about the recent revival and success of the Loew’s Jersey City, as well as the Paradise, in the Bronx ?
Amortization of procurement and renovation costs, together with continuing operating costs could NOT be paid back within a 20 year period as I recall. It was a limited study I did back in ‘85 on my trusty MacSE. I assumed three screens, but don’t recall any other details. I don’t know if I can recover a hard copy of the spreadsheet, summary, and conclusions.
Given the success of the Loew’s Paradise /theaters/900/ and similarity of the neighborhoods, if I were to do a study today, my first option would be to restore the Madison into its former single screen glory.
The analysis would be more complicated because, I’d consider diverse engagements such as concerts, plays, and movies. Somewhat like alley the film guy “envisions” for the Ridgewood,except I’d be serious about putting money behind my mouth.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the passion to pursue it because I don’t believe Ridgewood is a viable neighborhood. But then, I probably would have said the same thing about the Paradise.
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior
Has anyone given any serious thought as to what the economics of turning the RKO Madison Theatre from its present use as a Liberty Department Store into a multiplex cinema would be : the cost and the payback, in terms of new movie goers ?
Let’s stay on topic, guys.
mikemovies — I’ve had to warn you several times in other threads. I don’t want to see another comment from you about Warren.
They’re off-topic… and starting yet another flame is a good way to get yourself banned.
mikemovies, let your freak flag fly while doing so !
Warren may call Tonino and myself a freak but at least we are not fibber’s that claim to have photo’s of the Ridgewood Theatre that he never actually had. I would rather be called a freak then a fibber anyday. Perhap’s we could take a tour of the Liberty Dept Store. I would very much like to meet Mae West. haha
Yes, along with my witty rejoinders about the Priapic Theatre.
Thanks, Bway. Now I know where to look for Mae West !
Say, big boys, why don’t we go up there and see her some time ?
No, said Mae West balcony was in the Madison Theater. I hope she enjoys sitting in the couches now for sale in the Liberty Dept Store’s furniture dept in the balcony.
No. Takes too long to load. And actually, mikemovies' open question to you re FastEddie is on this page. It appears that all Fast Eddies posts have been removed???
Have you posted it there yet ?
Mae West
Fast Eddie
Better than Coca Cola.
This really belongs on the Ridgewood page.
Who’s on first ?
What’s on second ?
Naturally !
There you go again Warren, attempting to weasle out of a previous statement. Trying to legitimize his earlier use of “freak acts”, by now including acts such as Babe Ruth and Ruth Keller. I contend they would be more accurately called “celebrity acts”. The Cherry Sisters fit the term since they are sometimes referred to as the worst act in vaudeville; yet they were in the business for decades, pulling down $1k a week.
I can accept “freak act” as a legitimate term. I must howver take exception to your statement that you did not intend it to be derogatory. By addressing it to mike and myself and saying that it was the last resort for performers who couldn’t get employment elsewhere, your intent was quite clear.
I must also add that an unintentionally funny plate-spinning act could also be categorized as a “freak act”, ie- anyone acting crazy or silly, rather than a balancing act.
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior
What was your act fella swallowing goldfish. Perhap’s a quote from an Abbott & Costello routine will sum up the comments made by Warren. Abbott- Now, that’s the first thing you’ve said right. Costello- I don’t even know what I’m talking about!
If the quote fits ….
If the quote fits …
Perhap’s it is true that $25 per night wasn’t a lot of money for a performer of any merit in the 1940s. $2.50 per night would have been over payment for no talent Warren. The trained animal act would earn more then him. haha
I doubt Dylan knew Warren. But I suppose a latter day Mr Jones could be Warren.
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior
“You hand in your ticket
And you go watch the geek
Who immediately walks up to you
When he hears you speak
And says, "How does it feel
To be such a freak?"
And you say, "Impossible"
As he hands you a bone
Because something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?"
Tsk, tsk. Name calling again Warren. I would have expected you to play those gigs as a plate-spinner who was funny because he was so lousy…and when they hooked him off-stage.
You know the type, never cleared more than $1.45 from a perfomance. Fortunately a nickel brought a lot of plates from the 5 and 10; fake plates, like his character, not crystal. Despite his unintentional comic relief, he was never invited to the Ed Sullivan or Johnny Carson shows.
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior
Warrin presumes to know everything yet his babbling testifies to his true ignorance on many topics. When he posted that vaudeville was discontinued in 1932 many people presume he means there was no more vaudeville after 1932. Speak english fella. In general show biz people earn more money then the average worker even in vaudeville times that would be true.
Warren originally said that after 1932 “vaudeville was a much lower grade than in the "old days,” and most of the performers worked for about $25 per night or less, depending on their experience. "
I merely stated that $25 was a hell of a lot of money in the 40s and a lot of money in the 40s, compared to what the average guy made.
It was Warren who on May 14th changed the context from old time performers to “performers of merit”. He then became obsesed with defending what he considered to be the poor pay of mostly poor
performers, and he also changed the context to include goups of performers and most importantly performers outside of vaudevlle.
I make a last effort to put the facts in perspective, and he goes tilt.
Shalom, ciao and excelsior
Eleanor, thanks for asking. I will be back on Bushwick Buddies soon. I was hindered from returning by a compulsory computer upgrade on November 20, 2006. I will need to re-register when I return.
The last Bushwick stuff I looked at was the week of November 20, not on Bushwick Buddies, but on BrooklynPix.com : some new and improved Bushwick pages that Chris was kind enough to send me a link to. Some photos dated from 1896 and 1906.
Peter
Peter … where have you been … we’ve missed you at the website … is everything OK? Chris has added so many new and wonderful pictures in the past few months. It seems that you haven’t been there since January or February. Hope things are well with everyone. Hope to see you soon. Eleanor