Ridgewood Theatre
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
31 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1,201 - 1,225 of 2,835 comments
Since the entrance to the second floor is near the front door on the right side I imagine they will slice the lobby in half to provide entrance to the store. I wonder about the marquee?
It makes me sick to my stomach to see those photos. It’s amazing the Ridgewood Theater has lasted so long, and is still relatively intact, and now all of a sudden it could be lost. It will be a travesty if after all these years now the place will be gutted.
By the way, someone else posted photos of the interior of one of the balcony theaters, and the upstairs balcony mezzanine, bit I didn’t find them above, but I am sure the links are still up there.
The original ceiling dome is still exposed in at least the upstairs balcony theaters, I don’t know about downstairs. They didn’t cover over original features for the most part when multiplexing the place. For example, if you are in the right balcony theater, the wall on your right will be original, as well as the ceiling, and the left wall (fake wall) of course would be sheetrock. But a lot of the original plaster is exposed, at least from what I remember, and it’s been a while.
Thanks for sharing! Have you heard that bit of information from the owner? What other original features are intact inside the theater and worth preserving? In many instances, suspended ceilings and drywall can be removed to reveal original grandeur, and that would make a huge difference in not only aesthetics and history, but a theater’s investment potential.
From what I heard, they are going to turn the first floor into retail shops and turn the 2nd floor into 4 small screen theatres.
I find it strange that they would shut down a month or two after repainting the place and preforming minor renovations.
However, having been given a tour by one of the painters, I can tell you most of the old stage equipment is still installed behind the big screens. Also, there are still remnants of the old billiard hall in the side stairwells.
Sadly, is this the last of the Fox theater empire to give up the ghost? I agree that the neighborhood could use it as a performing arts center.Do all the local high schools hold their graduations at Queens College?
There’s not just a local audience for “ethnic” acts, but also for “indie” films and music, with all the hipsters moving into the Bushwick area. It could work!
NFH, I’ve sent an email to you and Al. I wish you the best of luck, and I’d be happy to do what I can to help although I’m short on money, resources and connections ;)
P.S. Does anyone have scans or links to the Times NewsWeekly articles on the Ridgewood Theatre over the course of the past year? I’d appreciate it.
NewYorkDave, do you know where the Museum of Sound Recording is located? Please tell me who you were in touch with, and provide their e-mail and phone if you can.
Al of Alliewayfilms has a superb proposal for the theater, and I hope many of you will be getting involved since we’re considering to launch a fundraiser. He can be reached at , and I can be reached at Please do not hesitate to contact Al & keep in touch with him. He’s a great guy, who also has an appreciation for the community and various causes.
However, we must have many plans if we really want to save the Ridgewood Theatre. Perhaps both parties can partner up and share the building, if Al’s plan doesn’t materialize. We must think fast & be as clever as possible! Who’s on board? Hope to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
Oh my GOD!! This is HORRIBLE! I can’t believe it’s actualy over….after all these years. Seeing that banner on the marquee makes me sick to my stomach!!
As someone whose family roots in Ridgewood go back a century or more, I feel sick about this. I really hope the theater can be saved. It would be great to see it reborn as a venue for indie films, plays, live music, etc. And the Museum of Sound Recording was still looking for a home last time I asked (after they lost their space at RKO Keith’s in Richmond Hill).
The “Retail space available” banner doesn’t necessarily mean the entire building is for sale, or will be sold, but we can’t outrule that option: http://flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/2340129010/
The “For Sale” signs are up ! It’s over, gentlemen !
Not a good sign, but “temporarily disconnected” is better than disconnected.
That’s an interesting lead. Will they reopen some of the screens?
Tuesday March 18,2008, New York Post, movie times listing: Ridgewood Theatre, call theatre for schedule,….That’s all folks.
It’s sad to hear of the Ridgewood’s closing. However, per many of the postings above and interior pictures that have been posted, the loss, architecturally speaking, won’t be that great. The loss of the Jackson Triplex, however would be more disturbing because I believe that many more details are still in place at that theater.
That said, it is a sad day when the longest continually operated movie theater in the country closes for good. Does anyone know what theater will now claim that mantle?
Hallelujah ! Believe it or not, for once I agree with Warren ! I never thought I’d see the day ! Does that make me “Cranky Fella, Jr.” ??? Hi, Lost Memory ! Ha-Ha ! How ya doin' ?
Make that ‘changing as regularly in recent months’…
I had a feeling the Ridgewood would be closing soon, too, based on the bookings not changing with as much regularly in recent months. The same is true with the Jackson Triplex (even though they are currently showing three major releases early in their runs – ‘Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who', ‘Never Back Down’, and ‘10,000 BC’), so we may need to watch out for that theatre as well…
I knew it was coming, but I was hoping for a miracle. I’m so glad I went there recently a few times. Rest in peace, poor tired Ridgewood ! Gentlemen, let us light a candle, and re-convene at the Kent, on Coney Island Avenue before THAT closes ! See Kent entry for my comments.
So very sad
I proudly grant credit to Smore () for the following photos:
http://flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/2340129010/
http://flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/2340129164/
http://flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/2339296489/
http://flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/2340129478/
What a sad moment in our history!
It could have closed that Sunday. I was on Myrtle Avenue on Thursday and there was no sign advertising the space for rent, or if it was I missed it, but it seems as if it was put up overnight practically because by Friday afternoon, it was there. Native-Emailed you the photos