Thanks for the info, Michael. I suppose Beaux Arts hung on until “modern hack” (mass-produced pseduo-Corbusier and Mies Van Der Rohe) began to take over.
You’re most welcome to my e-mail. I hope we can all do something for RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill Theatre.
“Hungeleiter” is a Ridgewood-ism for a stingy, over-protective, extremely frugal, penny-pinching, control freak-neat landlord of German descent, such as predominated in Ridgewood fifty or more years ago, mostly.
The positive side of it is extreme civic pride, of German-American landladies washing the brownstone front stoops of their brick Ridgewood homes on a Friday morning.
The downside is getting into a fistfight with tenants for smoking in the hall, or leaving for cigarette butts on the front stoop.
Another aspect of it is extreme chutzpah, like pushing a baby carriage out in front of you to bring all traffic to a screeching halt, so you can cross Myrtle Avenue more easily on a busily shopping Saturday afternoon.
The dark green color with which most of the exterior wood trim of most houses in Ridgewood used to be painted, was known informally as “hungeleiter green”.
So, after 91 years and one week shy of three months of operation, I would expect that some “hungeleiter” had crept into the style of the Ridgewood Theatre.
Bway, Lost Memory, once upon a time, ex-Ridgewood-ites like myself, can perhaps elaborate further.
You probably remember the Twilight Zone episodes, “Long Distance Call”, in which Billy Mumy gets phone calls from his dead grandmother, and “Night Call”, in which bedridden Elva Keane (Gladys Cooper) gets phone calls from her dead fiance in the cemetery : the phone wire is found touching his gravestone.
Thanks, Lost Memory. It’s a bit eerie, listening to that message. It’s a bit like listening to the answering machine message of a relative who has recently died.
I just e-mailed NativeForestHiller about starting a petition for the RKO Keith Richmond Hill Theatre. He knows about the letters having been removed from the marquee.
The Tuesday Sept. 23 2008 edition of The New York Post listed the Ridgewood Theatre under the heading “Queens” in its movie timetable section. It gave the phone number as (718) 821-5993 with “Call theater for schedule”. I just dialed that number and got a message that that number had been temporarily disconnected.
I didn’t feel put on the spot, George Tobor, but thanks for your consideration. I was merely stating my opinion that NativeForestHiller is in more of a position to help than I am.
Good for you, Brooklyn Jim. I’m glad you survived the Jamaica Multiplex at s/e corner of Jamaica and Parsons. Glad it was comfortable. Glad of your book & DVD bargains at Borders, and that it made your trip worthwhile.
It reads like Atlas Park has some serious upscale snob and overpricing problems, which could lead to its undoing.
And now to respond to Lost Memory’s wonderful post of Jul 6, 2006 at 5:06pm, at the top of this page :
A Lenny Bruce bit, “Maria Ouspenskaya Interview” :
“Tank you veddy much, ladies und gentlemen, I chust vant to say, dat Helen Hayes is a fink; I am de real Anastasia !”
Too bad Hollywood didn’t take more of an interest in the RKO Keith Richmond Hill when “Righteous Kill” was made. It may have helped preserve the theater.
BrooklynJim, thanks for the note about “Righteous Kill”. A similar thing happened with “Goodfellas” in 1990 : The LIRR overpass appeared in that earlier film.
Good remark, Lost Memory.
George Tobor, not to pass the buck, but Michael Perlman (“NativeForestHiller”) is in much more of a position to get a petition started for preservation of the RKO Keith than I am.
Thanks, Panzer65, for your marvelous photographs. I’m reminded of my last visit there Saturday July 8 2006. Thank you Lost Memory and LuisV for your posts. Yes, Luis, your message is very well-written. My sentiments exactly. To your list of losses I can only add : the closing of the Richmond Hill LIRR station in March 2008, and the loss of the Landmark Restaurant at Jamaica Avenue and 116th Street.
Small correction : “it’s” before “neighborhoods” should be “its” (no apostrophe).
I look forward to there being an on-line petition to sign to save the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill as there is for the Ridgewood Theatre.
Thanks for the info, Michael. I suppose Beaux Arts hung on until “modern hack” (mass-produced pseduo-Corbusier and Mies Van Der Rohe) began to take over.
You’re most welcome to my e-mail. I hope we can all do something for RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill Theatre.
“Hungeleiter” is a Ridgewood-ism for a stingy, over-protective, extremely frugal, penny-pinching, control freak-neat landlord of German descent, such as predominated in Ridgewood fifty or more years ago, mostly.
The positive side of it is extreme civic pride, of German-American landladies washing the brownstone front stoops of their brick Ridgewood homes on a Friday morning.
The downside is getting into a fistfight with tenants for smoking in the hall, or leaving for cigarette butts on the front stoop.
Another aspect of it is extreme chutzpah, like pushing a baby carriage out in front of you to bring all traffic to a screeching halt, so you can cross Myrtle Avenue more easily on a busily shopping Saturday afternoon.
The dark green color with which most of the exterior wood trim of most houses in Ridgewood used to be painted, was known informally as “hungeleiter green”.
So, after 91 years and one week shy of three months of operation, I would expect that some “hungeleiter” had crept into the style of the Ridgewood Theatre.
Bway, Lost Memory, once upon a time, ex-Ridgewood-ites like myself, can perhaps elaborate further.
Yes, Lost Memory, that WAS weird. That and the grandmother wanting Billy dead, with her, so she wouldn’t be lonely.
Good one, once upon a time. I LOVE that movie ! I wonder if it ever played at the Ridgewood ? Why not ?
Art Deco perhaps, as well as Beaux Art ? Wasn’t Beaux Art late 19th century, architecturally ?
Maybe some “hungeleiter” in the mix, as well ?
Thank you, Lost Memory !
“Hellllllooooooo ?”
You probably remember the Twilight Zone episodes, “Long Distance Call”, in which Billy Mumy gets phone calls from his dead grandmother, and “Night Call”, in which bedridden Elva Keane (Gladys Cooper) gets phone calls from her dead fiance in the cemetery : the phone wire is found touching his gravestone.
Perhaps the person who was murdered inside the Ridgewood Theatre ?
Sorry, right number ….
Thanks, Lost Memory. It’s a bit eerie, listening to that message. It’s a bit like listening to the answering machine message of a relative who has recently died.
You’re welcome, Lost Memory. Or with requests, therefor.
I just e-mailed NativeForestHiller about starting a petition for the RKO Keith Richmond Hill Theatre. He knows about the letters having been removed from the marquee.
The Tuesday Sept. 23 2008 edition of The New York Post listed the Ridgewood Theatre under the heading “Queens” in its movie timetable section. It gave the phone number as (718) 821-5993 with “Call theater for schedule”. I just dialed that number and got a message that that number had been temporarily disconnected.
George Tobor, I’ll e-mail NativeForestHiller about starting a petition for the RKO Keith Richmond Hill.
Lost Memory, I agree with you.
…. it ain’t over till it’s over.
I didn’t feel put on the spot, George Tobor, but thanks for your consideration. I was merely stating my opinion that NativeForestHiller is in more of a position to help than I am.
Good for you, Brooklyn Jim. I’m glad you survived the Jamaica Multiplex at s/e corner of Jamaica and Parsons. Glad it was comfortable. Glad of your book & DVD bargains at Borders, and that it made your trip worthwhile.
It reads like Atlas Park has some serious upscale snob and overpricing problems, which could lead to its undoing.
And now to respond to Lost Memory’s wonderful post of Jul 6, 2006 at 5:06pm, at the top of this page :
A Lenny Bruce bit, “Maria Ouspenskaya Interview” :
“Tank you veddy much, ladies und gentlemen, I chust vant to say, dat Helen Hayes is a fink; I am de real Anastasia !”
Good idea, mp775. Unfortunately, the two things lacking seem to be the two things you mention at the end of your post.
Too bad Hollywood didn’t take more of an interest in the RKO Keith Richmond Hill when “Righteous Kill” was made. It may have helped preserve the theater.
BrooklynJim, thanks for the note about “Righteous Kill”. A similar thing happened with “Goodfellas” in 1990 : The LIRR overpass appeared in that earlier film.
Good remark, Lost Memory.
George Tobor, not to pass the buck, but Michael Perlman (“NativeForestHiller”) is in much more of a position to get a petition started for preservation of the RKO Keith than I am.
Thank you, Justmeez. I hope to read more of you on this site.
George Tobor, I suppose we could follow the example set by Michael Perlman for a petition for the Ridgewood Theater.
“A decaying marquee could collapse with the first snow storm.”
That’s exactly what happened to the Ridgewood Theatre marquee in the blizzard of February 9th, 1969.
Good idea, Lost Memory.
Live long and prosper !
Thanks, Bway and Panzer65. I think you mean “tragedy” rather than “travesty”.
You’re welcome, LuisV. Ironically, you got the “its” before “title” correct !
I’ll look forward to a possible response from the Richmond Hill Historical Society.
Welcome, Justmeez. Enjoy !
What is AFAIK an abbreviation for ?
Thanks, Panzer65, for your marvelous photographs. I’m reminded of my last visit there Saturday July 8 2006. Thank you Lost Memory and LuisV for your posts. Yes, Luis, your message is very well-written. My sentiments exactly. To your list of losses I can only add : the closing of the Richmond Hill LIRR station in March 2008, and the loss of the Landmark Restaurant at Jamaica Avenue and 116th Street.
Small correction : “it’s” before “neighborhoods” should be “its” (no apostrophe).
I look forward to there being an on-line petition to sign to save the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill as there is for the Ridgewood Theatre.
Then perhaps you’d like to start a page for the Ideal Theater.