RKO Madison Theatre

Not in the photo that Warren posted a link to, but in another photo from the same time, the Madison had both a vertical and a horizontal marquee.

I remember Howard’s, on the northwest corner of Myrtle and Putnam. Didn’t that have a vertical sign, too ? Got my First Holy Communion suit there in May 1963 and another suit there in February 1969 for my dad’s parents' 50th anniversary bash, which I also wore first year of high school.

Exactly where was Irv and Syd’s place ? Koletty’s Ice Cream Parlor was on the n.e. corner of Myrtle and Palmetto, next to the Rathskeller.

L'chaim !

Perhaps you would be interested Vik in helping other member’s to land mark the Ridgewood theatre. Photo’s of the Ridgewood theatre would be a big help in achieving that status.

Thanks Vic. Testimony to bad signage rules and zoning regulations.

Is the ad on the west facing wall still for the Madison ? It was mentioned in discussion of photos from the Myrtle Ave el on this page.

Are you old enough to remember Ripley’s Clothing a few doors away, and the Horn and Hardart Automat?

Shalom, ciao, and excelsior

Two horror movies available on dvd that I have never seen or heard of before fella’s. Both movies involve nudist camps. The first movie is titled ‘The Beast that Killed Women’ 1965 directed by Barry Mahon. A gorilla runs around a Miami nudist colony killing people. The second title is ‘The Monster of Camp Sunshine’ 1964. Toxic waste is released into a river. A man in the nudist camp drinks the water and turns into a monster. The second movie is better then the first. Unfortunately BrooklynJim they are both in full screen.

In a box somewhere in my closet rests truncated and silent single reel 8mm versions of “Tarantula” and “Incredible Shrinking Man” – both courtesy of Castle Films! Those movies – and many other Universal titles I had as a kid – were quite popular at the annual block parties we used to have every Summer when I lived in Laurelton, Queens. I know I’ve mentioned this elsewhere on this site, but some of my favorite memories involved our home-movie projector and screen being set up by my dad at the curb in front of our house (with several extension cords strung from the socket under the front stoop lamp to supply power). I think I had just about every film from the original Frankenstein series – right up to “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein!”

Good times…

FYI… a big-screen remake of “Incredible Shrinking Man” is in the works for 2008. The director is Keenan Ivory Wayans, which surely means that this will be a comedy.

Got my copy of “This Island Earth” earlier this month. Best feature: the (restored) color is the most vivid I’ve seen since the original release in ‘55. Worst feature: only available in full screen format.

As much as I like this movie over the aforementioned FP & WoW, I can no longer view it without hearing the witty, acerbic and often insane dialogue inserted in the “MST3K: The Movie” version. Tom Servo or Crow commenting on the initial appearance of Brack, Exeter’s assistant: “He’s president of the Buddy Ebsen Fan Club.” LMAO!

And for those of you who’ve patiently been waiting…

5 movies previously unavailable on DVD have been released by Universal last week and are available only through Best Buy franchises at the present time under the title of Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection, and I believe every one played at RKO Madison matinees 1955-1958:

Tarantula
Mole People
Monster on the Campus
Incredible Shrinking Man
Monolith Monsters

I loved the $19.99 price tag, too. ;)

Can Gog (1954 in EastmanColor) be next???

[“If it’s ‘Universal,’ doesn’t that automatically make it ‘International?’” – Crow at the outset of MST3K’s “This Island Earth” parody.]

Very cool. I must buy that dvd. This Island Earth receives far less attention then War of the Worlds and Forbidden Planet. In my opinion fella’s This Island Earth is the better of these 3 movies. The next year Jeff Morrow could be seen in the Creature Walks Among Us. Only two years prior to This Island Earth; Jeff Morrow was in the Robe. That is diversity.

Thanks, Bway !

Thanks, RobertR !

I remember those icicle-encrusted block letters advertising “HEALTHFULLY AIR CONDITIONED” very well.

I missed that double feature at the RKO Madison, but saw “This Island Earth” and “Creature From The Black Lagoon” at NYC’s Film Forum in late July 1989, the latter in 3-D, yet.

Vacation on Metaluna, anyone ?

Maybe this site needs an inter-rossiter !

Thanks, Bway. Fortunately, the RKO Bushwick, with some help from the NYC Board Of Ed, and its chosen building contractor, has risen like the phoenix from its own ashes, exterior preserved, albeit with interior gutted, and changed into a school.

The RKO Bushwick stopped showing movies sometime during 1969. I am not sure what month. The Church moved in some time after that. I don’t know exactly how many years the church was in the RKO Bushwick before moving into the Gates Theater. The Gates may also have sat empty for a few years before the church moved in, so even if we find out when the church moved into the Gates, that doesn’t mean it’s the same year it closed.
Of course, once the church moved out of the RKO Bushwick Theater, it began it’s now infamous decline into complete shambels over the following 25 to 30 years…..

‘Lung warts’ is very funny PKoch. Any of you fella’s know if they used a double for Mia Farrow’s nude scene?