Ridgewood Theatre
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
31 people
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Hello PKoch,
Re: Hank’s Billiards and the Teen Dance Hall.
I’m wondering how such an establishment would fit into Ridgewood’s top floor(s).Could they be in the area where the auditorium wing meets the outer lobby, or back portion of the balcony. Looking at the Myrtle ave. side it appears the facade houses the main area of this portion of the building, it seems the square footage is limited up there.Never been there , I’m just being inquisitive.
once upon a time,
That was such an excellent posting from someone who attended in the earlier years in Ridgewood’s history. If memory serves me correctly, the establishment Cappy’s that you mention above the theater was a pool hall. I attended Ridgewood a few times as a child in its single screen configuration, and several in its multiplex alter ego. I attended Grove Billiards to play pool many times, just around the corner, do you now when Cappy’s closed?
Yes, those film cans remaining untouched outside the Ridgewood Theatre was indeed a sign of those safer times !
Thank you, once upon a time ! Please keep these Ridgewood Theatre memories of yours coming on this page !
I remember Hank’s Billiards above the Ridgewood Theatre, and have read on this page about some sort of teen dance hall (the name escapes me) that was before my time.
In “Kiss Of Death”, did Widmark push the old lady in a wheelchair down a long flight of stairs ?
As I reflect on my early movie days, it seems all the theatres in the Ridgewood area had a unique persona. And in my opinion, none projected a more balanced blend of a relaxed formality than the one that heralded its neighborhood name…. The Ridgewood!
The Ridgewood was structurally much larger than the Grandview, yet shared its warmth. The Madison was certainly more opulent. Serving as a happy medium between them, were the Parthenon, Glenwood and Oasis.
My first memories of the Ridgewood were the tugging arms of my father and oldest brother as we ascended the soft carpeted steps to the balcony. As I recall, the picture showing was ‘Tobacco Road’ (1941). Somehow, I related the plumes of cigar, cigarette and pipe tobacco swirling in the projectors beam of light as having to do with the movies plot. Ah, so much for the intellectual acumen of my five-year old mind.
Of the many times I attended the Ridgewood in the 1940’s, several highlights stand out. One was a Saturday matinee that substituted the half-dozen cartoons with an Amateur Contest. In it, an aspiring eleven year old Jeanette MacDonald screeched out a rather unconvincing rendition of ‘My Man’! Another Saturday afternoon feature which even prompted my Dad to come along, was the theatres ballyhoo of a Live Circus on stage. They should have instead, showed DeMille’s ‘Greatest Show on Earth’.
However, what I consider the best of their double bills was shown in the late 1940’s: ‘The Jolson Story’ playing with…‘Jolson Sings Again’. Kudos for Larry Parks!
As young teens, the above double bill’s resultant Jolson imitations were probably only surpassed by our echoing Richard Widmark. All of his high pitched wise cracks were jeeringly preceded with “Hey..Big Man†in ‘Kiss of Death’ (1947). After seeing and hearing ‘Johnny Udo’ on the Ridgewood’s screen, we ran outside the theatre and up one flight of steps to Cappy’s Pool Room. Cue sticks in hand, we tauntingly mimicked Widmark’s character. Trivia: How many of you remember the other establishment above the Ridgewood Theatre, circa 1940’s-’50’s?….Hmmm…how many remember Cappy’s?
Speaking of that era, and this is perhaps a comment on those times and the neighborhood’s quality of life. During those years, I occasionally saw several ‘cans’ of film left on the sidewalk outside the Ridgewood’s Box Office. They were apparently delivered in early hours for future showing. To my knowledge, those metal octagon shaped film cans apparently remained untouched till a staff member opened the theatre and brought them inside!
And such were the times in Ridgewood…. at the Ridgewood!
As I reflect on my early movie days, it seems all the theatres in the Ridgewood area had a unique persona. And in my opinion, none projected a more balanced blend of a relaxed formality than the one that heralded its neighborhood name…. The Ridgewood!
The Ridgewood was structurally much larger than the Grandview, yet shared its warmth. The Madison was certainly more opulent. Serving as a happy medium between them, were the Parthenon, Glenwood and Oasis.
My first memories of the Ridgewood were the tugging arms of my father and oldest brother as we ascended the soft carpeted steps to the balcony. As I recall, the picture showing was ‘Tobacco Road’ (1941). Somehow, I related the plumes of cigar, cigarette and pipe tobacco swirling in the projectors beam of light as having to do with the movies plot. Ah, so much for the intellectual acumen of my five-year old mind.
Of the many times I attended the Ridgewood in the 1940’s, several highlights stand out. One was a Saturday matinee that substituted the half-dozen cartoons with an Amateur Contest. In it, an aspiring eleven year old Jeanette MacDonald screeched out a rather unconvincing rendition of ‘My Man’! Another Saturday afternoon feature which even prompted my Dad to come along, was the theatres ballyhoo of a Live Circus on stage. They should have instead, showed DeMille’s ‘Greatest Show on Earth’.
However, what I consider the best of their double bills was shown in the late 1940’s: ‘The Jolson Story’ playing with…‘Jolson Sings Again’. Kudos for Larry Parks!
As young teens, the above double bill’s resultant Jolson imitations were probably only surpassed by our echoing Richard Widmark. All of his high pitched wise cracks were jeeringly preceded with “Hey..Big Man†in ‘Kiss of Death’ (1947). After seeing and hearing ‘Johnny Udo’ on the Ridgewood’s screen, we ran outside the theatre and up one flight of steps to Cappy’s Pool Room. Cue sticks in hand, we tauntingly mimicked Widmark’s character. Trivia: How many of you remember the other establishment above the Ridgewood Theatre, circa 1940’s-’50’s?….Hmmm…how many remember Cappy’s?
Speaking of that era, and this is perhaps a comment on those times and the neighborhood’s quality of life. During those years, I occasionally saw several ‘cans’ of film left on the sidewalk outside the Ridgewood’s Box Office. They were apparently delivered in early hours for future showing. To my knowledge, those metal octagon shaped film cans apparently remained untouched till a staff member opened the theatre and brought them inside!
And such were the times in Ridgewood…. at the Ridgewood!
Thanks, Noah, for the article.
Monica, you look great !
Thanks, Warren. Excellent article.
It’s good to see not only pictures of the Ridgewood, inside and out, but Monica H(arbison) as well.
Thank you, Monica, for contributing.
Only $ 9.5 million now, eh ? Any takers yet among CT posters ?
I’m glad you enjoyed my story, Patrick.
I know what you mean about Film Forum. I’ve posted some on the Film Forum page on this site, although not recently.
Ha, that’s pretty funny, Peter.
Yeah, I really enjoyed seeing movies at the Film Forum when I lived in the city. They’ve always had great programming there.
Thanks for you answer, Patrick. I’m glad to read you’ve worked on a few films with people who worked with your alter ego, and that they told your alter ego about you.
Yes, it’s always fun to see your name on the big screen, even if it’s someone else’s.
It happened to me at Film Forum in NYC, Feb 1988 : they made a mistake, and screened “Heartbreak Ridge” instead of “Heartbeat”, Hollywood’s version of The Beats (Sissy Spacek as Caroline Cassady, Nick Nolte as Neal Cassady, John Heard as Jack Kerouac) and there was my name, Peter Koch, in the credits !
Even though it was “Heartbreak Ridge” instead of “Heartbeat”, some guy in the audience found characters in the intro who resembled Ginsberg, Cassady and Kerouac ! A balding guy with a beard, a guy talking rapidly, and another guy writing in his diary !
Well, I never told Ross about all the movies I’ve been producing on the side. ;)
Just kidding. That’s not me, Peter… though I’m actually interested in making movies. I’ve worked on a few films with people who worked with my alter ego, and they told the other Patrick Crowley about me.
And, hey, it’s always fun to see your name on the big screen, even if it’s someone else.
Thank you, Ross.
Peter — No, it’s not the same Patrick Crowley. Warren — thanks for letting me know about the Halsey. Off I go to check it out …
Ross :
On Saturday, August 25, 2007 when “BrooklynJim”, “frankie” and I saw “The Bourne Ultimatum” at the Ridgewood Theatre, we saw a Patrick Crowley in the end credits. Unfortunately, I forget what he was credited for. Could it be the same Patrick Crowley that you work with at Cinema Treasures ? Thanks in advance for your answer.
Peter Koch
Thanks Peter — Patrick and I are still very much here and very active (largely behind the scenes). We do our best not to interfere on the theater pages, but we’ve gotten some complaints about this thread. We’re delighted to have you all here as well. :)
Thanks, Ross, good to see you on the board. I will comply.
Is Patrick Crowley still part of the management of CT as well ?
Does anyone have any older (say, 1960’s) interior images of the Ridgewood Theatre, especially the orchestra and balcony inner lobbies, that they could post here ?
All the best, Ross, and please keep up all your fine work here at CT. I LOVE being here !
Peter Koch
Hi Everyone,
I’m Ross Melnick, co-founder of Cinema Treasures. I just wanted to thank you for sharing all of these memories with our users, but did want to remind you of our comments policy which is to stay on topic about the theater and not crowd the thread with a lot of non-theater related discussions. I hate to be a downer, but it’s getting harder to find information about the theater in here.
Thanks for your understanding.
Best,
Ross
I knew something I posted above sounded off kilter…the owner of the Brauhaus was Rosie Wolf (I got the last name wrong, corrected below).
That bar was the Glendale Brauhaus on 68th Ave & I believe 64th Place, about one and a half blocks from the 104th in Glendale. In the 70’s into the 90’s it was run by Rosie Wolf, the lunch/party cook was Luzie Gruber and Rosie’s sister Gertrude Berninger also helped out there alot. It was full of guys from various teams playing in Farmer’s Oval on Sundays. They had a board on the backbar with the badges of retired 104 police officers. It is now a Yugoslavian restaurant.
Mr billy c,
thanks for the info on Rosies.Brauhaus…used to go in there early to late 70’s before and after softball up at the Oval……
Heard they changed the name of the Oval???? and that it has been fixed UP????
Zitch
Zitch :
Again, thanks, and you’re most welcome to the memory jog.
French Connection : I think the Ridgewood-baby carriage part of the chase scene was filmed under the Myrtle Avenue el between the Seneca and Forest Avenue stations, near the old trolley tracks.
Yes, Sal and Angie’s was used in the film, both inside and out.
Hope you walk the streets of Ridgewood again soon !
Peter
Thanks, mrbillyc. It makes sense that it’s now a Yugoslavian restaurant. A Yugoslavian man I used to work with, a Mr. Anton Tomic, “Mr. A. Tomic”, used to live near there on Catalpa Avenue near its end at Shaler Avenue.
Peter,
Remember the French connection well …although most of the chase scenes were filmed in Bensonhurst…..probably the most memorable chase scene for me a least was filmed in Ridgewood ….ie the lady with the baby carriage….not a planned take …it just happened….
I believe Sal and Angie’s was used in the movie also. …so you are right again…….Got the streets mixed up…all the more reason to go back and walk the streets!!!!
Thanks again for the memory jog…..
Zitch
That bar was the Glendale Brauhaus on 68th Ave & I believe 64th Place, about one and a half blocks from the 104th in Glendale. In the 70’s into the 90’s it was run by Rosie Wagner, the lunch/party cook was Luzie Gruber and Rosie’s sister Gertrude Berninger also helped out there alot. It was full of guys from various teams playing in Farmer’s Oval on Sundays. They had a board on the backbar with the badges of retired 104 police officers. It is now a yugoslavian restaurant.
French Connection ?
“That’s what you get for picking your feet in Poughkeepsie !”
“How about a milkshake, boys ?”
Saw it at the Ridgewood in 1972.