I don’t agree that the Ridgewood Theater has outlived it’s usefulness as a theater as was suggested by Warren above. However, yes, people have come to expect MUCH more than the Ridgewood did offer. As mentioned, when I still lived in Ridgewood, as soon as I was old enough to hop a bus or get on the subway by myself with friends and no adults necessary, I stopped going to the Ridgewood, as it WAS run down in the 80’s already. It needed an upgrade then alread, and other theaters were nicer, so we went to other theaters.
I am sure that many of the current residents of Ridgewood do the same even today…and even when the Ridgewood was still operating. It’s not that they aren’t “willing to spend $10 to see a movie”, they are unwilling to spend $10 to see a movie in an old run down theater, so they go elsewhere.
That being said, the Ridgewood CAN be refurbished. It CAN be made into a theater with the amenities people have come to expect from movie-going. People do NOT want what the Ridgewood offered prior, which was an old run-down theater lacking modern amenities and comfort. That COULD be changed.
Has the theater really been demolished behind the facade? It appears the roof has been changed, but have the other walls been completely taken down? I don’t really know if this could be called “demolished”, as while yes, parts of the building have been removed, it “hasn’t” been completely demolished. I think that calling it “demolished” is incorrect. Is it intact? No. But it’s not “demolished” either, and that is misleading.
By the way, you can see the different aerial views of the building on http://www.historicaerials.com/
Frankie, I don’t feel the end of “cinema” is here. People have NOT stopped going to the movies…..but how they go has changed a lot.
My local multiplex cinema, which is a NA ‘Cinema de Lux", is PACKED on any given night, and often movies go sold out. Cinema de Lux offeres modern theaters, with large comfortable seating, a bar, mall style food court, and lots of amenities that attract people.
There is no indication at many multiplexes that “movies are on the way out”. people still enjoy the act of “going out” to a movie. Single screen theaters obviously are a thing of the past, and it appears even cut up “5 screen” theaters such as the Ridgewood can’t survive, in the way they were (although cutting it up allowed it to survive when most other single screens went out of business).
But people have come to expect much better amenities than the Ridgewood offered. The Ridgewood was in terrible need of refurbishment. Let’s face it, it was run down.
That combined with what people have come to expect….modern auditoriums with stadium seating, well kept theaters, comfortable chairs, etc, etc….all things the Ridgewood didn’t have.
I mentioned many times that the Atlas Park Terminal Theater in glendale WAS the final nail in the coffin for the Ridgewood, but people didn’t believe me. I said even in the 80’s I left the Ridgewood for “better pastures”, in my case that meant going to the “cleaner” and better kept Forest Hills Theaters like the COntinental (now Brandon), and the Midway (now also refurbished).
Movie-going is not dead, it’s alive. Perhaps not like the 50’s, but it is alive….but people have come to expect higher standards.
If it keeps the Ridgewood open as a theater instead of “just another store”, I’m open to any suggestions! Anything using the Ridgewood as a “theater” is better than the alternative…. I don’t want to see the Ridgewood go the way of the Madison or the Oasis, where you can buy curtains in the Madison, or NyQuil in the Oasis….
Thanks lost….it’s nice to finally see a photo of it. I didn’t know what it looked like when I added this theater. From the photo, it does look like the fire dept property near Jennings Ave, on the north side of Lake St, which was my assumption.
Interestingly, the building does show it’s original past, as a church, as it even though it was altered, the steeple is pretty apparent!
Interesting, the normal progression of theater buildings when they closed, many became churches….this building started as a church and became a theater!
It’s so true, they are out too fast. I wanted to see American Gangster in the theater last Dec, but by the time I got around to it, all the theaters didn’t have it anymore already!
Yes, I think a few of the local high schools used the old Madison Theater for graduation ceremonies. I know Bushwick High School did, as well as others. I believe someone told me that the Ridgewood was also used way back when too for graduation. This of course was long before it was cut into a multiplex.
I think it could be very useful if the orchestra level was made back into one theater. I don’t think the Balcony would need to be restored back, it would be more profitable remaining three auditoriums and perhaps still used for movies up there.
Obvious a demographic study would have to be done. On one side of the Ridgewood Theater is a lot of Polish and Eastern Europeans. On the other side of the Ridgewood Theater is a lot of Hispanics. Perhaps something that caters to one of those two ethnic groups? Then of course there could be regular performances to attracting people in from other areas. One of the biggest problems with that though is parking. Public transportation is good in the area, yet, many people would still want to come by car.
Then you have the hipsterification that is happening in nearby Williamsburg and Bushwick. Perhaps also something catering to that group. Perhaps a combination of all of the groups mentioned. A performing arts theater doesn’t have to only cater to one group. Each night there could be something else.
Then, that would be the Orchestra level (made back into one theater downstairs). Upstairs in the already section off balcony the three theaters up there could continue to show movies. Perhaps a small 4th theater could be opened up in the unused space on the 2nd floor, or the 3rd floor bringing the total to 4 screens for movies….and the live theater area downstairs in the recombined orchestra level….which on off nights from performances could perhaps also show a movie.
The Ridgewood Theater’s biggest problem prior was not that there isn’t a demand for movie patronage, the problem was that the place wasn’t really maintained well, and in terrible need of upgrade.
George, the Ridgewood started as a live Vaudeville Theater. Live performance in the Ridgewood would not be “something new”, it would actually be a return to it’s original intent. There would be nothing wrong with having live performances there. What would you prefer over that, another drug store instead?
Yes, Palm, trees would make a lot more sense. Not only are they more “hollywood”, they are also not as invasive to sidewalks, and if pushed up a marquee, it’s leaves are above it, so they don’t block!
Thank you so much for trying to save our beloved Ridgewood Theater NativeForestHills. I remember how much work you put into the Trylon some years back, and hope that the Ridgewood will be a success story. We are either in the final hours of the Ridgewood, or the begining of the future, so hopefully we can get the right path open.
Ziggy you are correct. The Velencia’s biggest problem is a chandelier and a questionable chocie of paint. That’s pretty much it. I totally agree with Warren that the paint choice is garish ar best, but hey, it’s protecting the plaster, and it’s only paint. The Kings which has lost a lot of it’s plaster that would have to be duplicated, the Amsterdam had severe plaster problems, and yes, I have seen before and after photos of the Paradise. The Valencia is not even a hint of “lost”, a new paint job, and a missing chandelier, and the Valencia is back in business as original.
Another theater I feel that is TOTALLY salvagable is the RKO Keith’s in Richmond Hill, which unlike the Valencia, lost all it’s seats…but is relatively intact inside. Not nearly as well maintained as the Valencia (and of course not as ornate to begin with), but it’s plaster is protected under a coat of nondescript one color beige paint. I rather see that though, as hope exists there, as it’s intact, and the building is maintained…..than seeing it gutted and turned into a drug store with a drop ceiling.
I agree that that policy is a little curious, as not only are these former theaters that are churches very much open to the public, they are also in most circumstances very intact from the theater days, right down to the seats! Sometimes even the original organ functions. I don’t see why church theaters are labeled as “closed” as opposed to “open”, as most, in very little effort could be made a theater again. I can totally understand theaters like the old Meserole in Brooklyn, while intact, is used for retail, and all the seating was ripped out, as well as other alterations labled as closed. However, theaters like the Valencia, this one, and many of the intact with right down to the theater seating probably should be listed as “open”.
It’s a curious policy, however, it appears to be consistent, as I believe all the church theaters are labeled as “closed” if they don’t show movies or live.
Gaudy yes, Desecration, no. It could be gutted and have “Dollar Tree” on the marquee instead. THAT is desecration. I’d take this any day over the alternative.
While it’s a shame it did get damaged…really, for being empty as long as it has, it really has faired well. Many theaters empty as long, and even shoter are/were in far more shambles than the Kings.
I love trees, and think they look great on Hollywooed Blvd, rtrimmed or natural….but they don’t belong pushed up against either side of a theater marquee!!
Well of course if that is the case, Warren is correct, as the seating capacity should show the seating in the entire theater, not just the lower level, but the orchestra level plus the balcony. I don’t know why it changed by 20 or seats over the years on either side of 2000 from 1926 to 1945 to 1957, but I would agree that 2000 would be close enough, either that or the original number which would be 2006 using the year 1926’s capacity, or the most recent available which would be in 1956 showing 2016.
And not to totally confuse matters, but a couple years ago, the north westbound side of this road was called Jamaica Ave, and the south eastbound side was called Jericho Turnpike. To lessen the confusion, didn’t they recently change a portion of this road, the south side in Nassau to be officially Jamaica Ave a few years ago? I believe this stretch (meaning this will effect the theaters CURRENT address) called Jamaica Ave now? It’s either that or the former Jamaica Ave side is now called Jericho Turnpike. I forgot which.
Wow, that is a fantastic photo.
Didn’t feel safe??
I don’t agree that the Ridgewood Theater has outlived it’s usefulness as a theater as was suggested by Warren above. However, yes, people have come to expect MUCH more than the Ridgewood did offer. As mentioned, when I still lived in Ridgewood, as soon as I was old enough to hop a bus or get on the subway by myself with friends and no adults necessary, I stopped going to the Ridgewood, as it WAS run down in the 80’s already. It needed an upgrade then alread, and other theaters were nicer, so we went to other theaters.
I am sure that many of the current residents of Ridgewood do the same even today…and even when the Ridgewood was still operating. It’s not that they aren’t “willing to spend $10 to see a movie”, they are unwilling to spend $10 to see a movie in an old run down theater, so they go elsewhere.
That being said, the Ridgewood CAN be refurbished. It CAN be made into a theater with the amenities people have come to expect from movie-going. People do NOT want what the Ridgewood offered prior, which was an old run-down theater lacking modern amenities and comfort. That COULD be changed.
Has the theater really been demolished behind the facade? It appears the roof has been changed, but have the other walls been completely taken down? I don’t really know if this could be called “demolished”, as while yes, parts of the building have been removed, it “hasn’t” been completely demolished. I think that calling it “demolished” is incorrect. Is it intact? No. But it’s not “demolished” either, and that is misleading.
By the way, you can see the different aerial views of the building on http://www.historicaerials.com/
I dont believe the Bellport Gateway got involved with Patchogue Theater until a time AFTER the Patchogue Theater was restored.
Frankie, I don’t feel the end of “cinema” is here. People have NOT stopped going to the movies…..but how they go has changed a lot.
My local multiplex cinema, which is a NA ‘Cinema de Lux", is PACKED on any given night, and often movies go sold out. Cinema de Lux offeres modern theaters, with large comfortable seating, a bar, mall style food court, and lots of amenities that attract people.
There is no indication at many multiplexes that “movies are on the way out”. people still enjoy the act of “going out” to a movie. Single screen theaters obviously are a thing of the past, and it appears even cut up “5 screen” theaters such as the Ridgewood can’t survive, in the way they were (although cutting it up allowed it to survive when most other single screens went out of business).
But people have come to expect much better amenities than the Ridgewood offered. The Ridgewood was in terrible need of refurbishment. Let’s face it, it was run down.
That combined with what people have come to expect….modern auditoriums with stadium seating, well kept theaters, comfortable chairs, etc, etc….all things the Ridgewood didn’t have.
I mentioned many times that the Atlas Park Terminal Theater in glendale WAS the final nail in the coffin for the Ridgewood, but people didn’t believe me. I said even in the 80’s I left the Ridgewood for “better pastures”, in my case that meant going to the “cleaner” and better kept Forest Hills Theaters like the COntinental (now Brandon), and the Midway (now also refurbished).
Movie-going is not dead, it’s alive. Perhaps not like the 50’s, but it is alive….but people have come to expect higher standards.
If it keeps the Ridgewood open as a theater instead of “just another store”, I’m open to any suggestions! Anything using the Ridgewood as a “theater” is better than the alternative…. I don’t want to see the Ridgewood go the way of the Madison or the Oasis, where you can buy curtains in the Madison, or NyQuil in the Oasis….
Thanks lost….it’s nice to finally see a photo of it. I didn’t know what it looked like when I added this theater. From the photo, it does look like the fire dept property near Jennings Ave, on the north side of Lake St, which was my assumption.
Interestingly, the building does show it’s original past, as a church, as it even though it was altered, the steeple is pretty apparent!
Interesting, the normal progression of theater buildings when they closed, many became churches….this building started as a church and became a theater!
It’s so true, they are out too fast. I wanted to see American Gangster in the theater last Dec, but by the time I got around to it, all the theaters didn’t have it anymore already!
Yes, I think a few of the local high schools used the old Madison Theater for graduation ceremonies. I know Bushwick High School did, as well as others. I believe someone told me that the Ridgewood was also used way back when too for graduation. This of course was long before it was cut into a multiplex.
I think it could be very useful if the orchestra level was made back into one theater. I don’t think the Balcony would need to be restored back, it would be more profitable remaining three auditoriums and perhaps still used for movies up there.
And I forgot to mention concerts for the orchestra level. That is another avenue that could be used on off nights.
Obvious a demographic study would have to be done. On one side of the Ridgewood Theater is a lot of Polish and Eastern Europeans. On the other side of the Ridgewood Theater is a lot of Hispanics. Perhaps something that caters to one of those two ethnic groups? Then of course there could be regular performances to attracting people in from other areas. One of the biggest problems with that though is parking. Public transportation is good in the area, yet, many people would still want to come by car.
Then you have the hipsterification that is happening in nearby Williamsburg and Bushwick. Perhaps also something catering to that group. Perhaps a combination of all of the groups mentioned. A performing arts theater doesn’t have to only cater to one group. Each night there could be something else.
Then, that would be the Orchestra level (made back into one theater downstairs). Upstairs in the already section off balcony the three theaters up there could continue to show movies. Perhaps a small 4th theater could be opened up in the unused space on the 2nd floor, or the 3rd floor bringing the total to 4 screens for movies….and the live theater area downstairs in the recombined orchestra level….which on off nights from performances could perhaps also show a movie.
The Ridgewood Theater’s biggest problem prior was not that there isn’t a demand for movie patronage, the problem was that the place wasn’t really maintained well, and in terrible need of upgrade.
George, the Ridgewood started as a live Vaudeville Theater. Live performance in the Ridgewood would not be “something new”, it would actually be a return to it’s original intent. There would be nothing wrong with having live performances there. What would you prefer over that, another drug store instead?
Yes, Palm, trees would make a lot more sense. Not only are they more “hollywood”, they are also not as invasive to sidewalks, and if pushed up a marquee, it’s leaves are above it, so they don’t block!
Thank you so much for trying to save our beloved Ridgewood Theater NativeForestHills. I remember how much work you put into the Trylon some years back, and hope that the Ridgewood will be a success story. We are either in the final hours of the Ridgewood, or the begining of the future, so hopefully we can get the right path open.
Ziggy you are correct. The Velencia’s biggest problem is a chandelier and a questionable chocie of paint. That’s pretty much it. I totally agree with Warren that the paint choice is garish ar best, but hey, it’s protecting the plaster, and it’s only paint. The Kings which has lost a lot of it’s plaster that would have to be duplicated, the Amsterdam had severe plaster problems, and yes, I have seen before and after photos of the Paradise. The Valencia is not even a hint of “lost”, a new paint job, and a missing chandelier, and the Valencia is back in business as original.
Another theater I feel that is TOTALLY salvagable is the RKO Keith’s in Richmond Hill, which unlike the Valencia, lost all it’s seats…but is relatively intact inside. Not nearly as well maintained as the Valencia (and of course not as ornate to begin with), but it’s plaster is protected under a coat of nondescript one color beige paint. I rather see that though, as hope exists there, as it’s intact, and the building is maintained…..than seeing it gutted and turned into a drug store with a drop ceiling.
I agree that that policy is a little curious, as not only are these former theaters that are churches very much open to the public, they are also in most circumstances very intact from the theater days, right down to the seats! Sometimes even the original organ functions. I don’t see why church theaters are labeled as “closed” as opposed to “open”, as most, in very little effort could be made a theater again. I can totally understand theaters like the old Meserole in Brooklyn, while intact, is used for retail, and all the seating was ripped out, as well as other alterations labled as closed. However, theaters like the Valencia, this one, and many of the intact with right down to the theater seating probably should be listed as “open”.
It’s a curious policy, however, it appears to be consistent, as I believe all the church theaters are labeled as “closed” if they don’t show movies or live.
Gaudy yes, Desecration, no. It could be gutted and have “Dollar Tree” on the marquee instead. THAT is desecration. I’d take this any day over the alternative.
While it’s a shame it did get damaged…really, for being empty as long as it has, it really has faired well. Many theaters empty as long, and even shoter are/were in far more shambles than the Kings.
Wow, that brings back memories.
I love trees, and think they look great on Hollywooed Blvd, rtrimmed or natural….but they don’t belong pushed up against either side of a theater marquee!!
This theater still has “seats” as the balcony’s seats are still up there, lol!!!
There’s those ridiculous trees in front of the marquee again! What were those tree plansters thinking!
Well of course if that is the case, Warren is correct, as the seating capacity should show the seating in the entire theater, not just the lower level, but the orchestra level plus the balcony. I don’t know why it changed by 20 or seats over the years on either side of 2000 from 1926 to 1945 to 1957, but I would agree that 2000 would be close enough, either that or the original number which would be 2006 using the year 1926’s capacity, or the most recent available which would be in 1956 showing 2016.
And not to totally confuse matters, but a couple years ago, the north westbound side of this road was called Jamaica Ave, and the south eastbound side was called Jericho Turnpike. To lessen the confusion, didn’t they recently change a portion of this road, the south side in Nassau to be officially Jamaica Ave a few years ago? I believe this stretch (meaning this will effect the theaters CURRENT address) called Jamaica Ave now? It’s either that or the former Jamaica Ave side is now called Jericho Turnpike. I forgot which.