Ridgewood Theatre

From ‘Tonino’s post, the Deutsches Theater appeared to have started as a live theater, because a German theatrical company, direction, casting, and play selection are mentioned.

Hey guys, I think I may have discovered a new theater, The Deutsches Theater at 22 Grove St (Ridgewood I presume, by its name)

GERMAN REPERTORY THEATRE STARTED IN GROVE STREET
New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Oct 16, 1927. pg. X3, 1 pgs

Abstract (Summary)
IN the little theatre in Grove Street, where not so long ago “The Manhatters” and “The Band Fox Follies” were doing their stuff, a German theatrical company is now definitely established. It is the Deutsches Theatre, 22 Grove Street, incorporated in the State of New York as the Erni Belian Theatre, Inc., with direction, casting and play selection all under the management of Miss Belian.

I haven’t looked yet. I’ve been trying to find an interior photo of the Ridgewood for us.

You may enjoy browsing that 11/27 page as it contains a lot of ads for other theaters. Problem with postin a jpg of this type is that you can’t magnify it much before it gets bad jaggies.

See as well as Hear Fox Movietone Newsreel at the Ridgewood. [NYT display ad 11/24/27]

Shalom, ciao, and excelsior

Bway, I don’t have that long-awaited historic photo of the interior of the Ridgewood theater to post here, but, to the best of my recollection, the auditorium part of the Ridgewood Theater, from where you can see and hear the film or show : the orchestra, loge, (side boxes) and balcony seats, and the proscenium arch, stage and screen, were pretty much as they were in the RKO Madison Theater. The Ridgewood as a single theater had about 2/3 the seats that the RKO Madison did. Taking the square root of 2/3 to get the ratio of linear dimensions, I estimate the linear dimensions of the auditorium part of the Ridgewood Theater, as a single theater, to have been about 4/5 of that of the RKO Madison Theater.

The main difference I recall between the Madison and the Ridgewood in terms of the appearance of the inside would be in the inner lobby. Whereas the inner lobby of the Madison had a high ceiling in common with the balcony, the inner lobby of the Ridgewood had a lower, one-story ceiling, except near the staircase up to the balcony. Upon entering, and having your ticket taken and torn in two, one would turn 45 degrees to the left and would then be facing the side wall on Madison Street. To one’s right would be the orchestra seating. To one’s left would be the refreshment counter and, further ahead, the staircase up to the balcony. Further ahead, past that staircase, the doors to the restrooms would be on the left, with more access to the orchestra seating on the right.

The balcony lobby was large and elliptical in shape. I got my last look at it on Tuesday June 17 1980. On one side was a refreshment counter, and on the other side were the doorways to the balcony seats. At each end must have been the entrance and exit stairways. The longer, or major, axis of the ellipse was parallel to the screen.
There were also restrooms on the balcony level.

Warren, I wasn’t sure of that. That’s why I included a description. Two pictures in the ad: one a dory w sailors and a whale’s fluke above the boat; the other of some of the actors

Shalom. ciao, and excelsior

Edgar Clifton’s Down to the Sea In Ships. Very nice display ad from the 5/23/1923 NYT of “The most sensational photoplay of this year which can be seen at thirty leading theaters”, including The Ridgewood.

Yes, they are.

You’re welcome, frankie. If I think of any more reasons why I think the Ridgewood has remained open and is still showing movies, I will post them here.

Thanks, Lost Memory. That’s as good an explanation as any as to why the Ridgewood has remained open to this day. I still can’t think of any more reasons besides what I’ve already posted.

You’re welcome, Warren. Sorry, that should have been “gee whiz”, not “whix”.

Good to read you again on this page, frankie …. or any CT page, for that matter … and thanks for getting us centrally back on topic here …. four weeks ago tomorrow that you and I and Bklyn Jim met at the Ridgewood ….

Exactly WHAT has saved the Ridgewood ???? That’s the $ 64 million dollar question …. It’s still showing movies because it has continued to make money doing so … but that merely begs the question … perhaps the ever-increasing lack of other movie theaters nearby, starting with the closing of smaller nearby neighborhood theaters like the Parthenon, Glenwood, Rivoli, Evergreen, Ritz, Oasis, Grandview, Majestic, Wyckoff, etc. due to TV roughly half a century ago … then the closing and the burning of the RKO Madison, 1977-79, its becoming a store in 1980, combined with the continued demand for a movie theater in Ridgewood, despite TV and a burgeoning home video market. Perhaps the Ridgewood being smaller and less expensive to maintain than the Madison, roughly 2/3 the seating capacity. Perhaps its multiplexing, starting in 1980 …. although that didn’t save the UA Astoria from becoming a Duane Reade. Perhaps the Ridgewood’s ideal location on Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood’s main commercial strip, with the busy Q-55 bus outside, the hub, or “depot”, of B-13, B-18, B-20, B-26, B-38, B-54 and Q-58 bus lines, (did I omit any ?) and the L and M subway lines a few blocks away ? Something in common with Loew’s Plaza Corona and Jackson Theaters, assuming THEY’RE still open and showing movies ?

That’s all I can think of at the moment.

Ridgewood Theater … 2146 comments, and still going strong !!!!