Bruce: I know of a bank that has been successful investing in low-income areas across the country. Contrary to popular business practices, they have made money by pursuing a socially-conscious agenda. If you come up with a business plan that makes sense I can run it by someone I know at the bank. I think they would relish the idea of bringing back the Kings in order to bolster the surrounding neighborhood. If the numbers makes sense, odds are they will give you financing.
And apparently set on fire at one point. What an amazing story! Looks like the preservation organization is still at it to me. There are Board Meeting listings for 2006 here:
Boy does this piss me off. I know that times change. I know that there isn’t a place in the modern world for every old theatre. But to leverage the demolition of a place like this for a stupid plaza just ain’t right.
Date: Today, Fri. May 12 Sat. May 13 Sun. May 14 Mon. May 15 Tue. May 16 Wed. May 17 Thu. May 18 Fri. May 19 Sat. May 20 Sun. May 21 Mon. May 22 Tue. May 23 Wed. May 24 Thu. May 25 Buy tickets from MovieTickets.com by clicking linked showtimes.
Ridgewood Theatre [ Add to My Favorite Theaters ]
55-27 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY, 11385 Theater Info | Map It
An American Haunting
Rated PG-13, 1 hr 31 min
Showtimes: 4:00, 5:50, 7:40 Goal! The Dream Begins
Rated PG, 1 hr 57 min
Showtimes: 4:30, 7:00, 9:30
Hoot
Rated PG, 1 hr 30 min
Showtimes: 6:25, 10:05 Mission: Impossible III
Rated PG-13, 2 hr 6 min
Showtimes: 4:00, 6:30, 9:00
Poseidon
Rated PG-13, 1 hr 38 min
Showtimes: 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:05 Scary Movie 4
Rated PG-13, 1 hr 23 min
Showtimes: 4:30, 8:15
Good news Jim. I have always wanted to see a movie at the Oriental & have never gotten around to it. I have been to a screening at Milwaukee’s Avalon. The Avalon was great when I was there in the early 90’s. Hope it will come back to life again.
Brian Wolf: here’s a research project for you, should you choose to accept it. I remember seeing ads for a theatre called River Run back in the 80’s. It would have been GCC or M&R. I got the impression that it was similar to Norridge, or the original Old Orchard or Randhurst Cinemas. No idea what town it would’ve been in. Don’t see a listing on this site. Could be remembering wrong, but am 99% sure that I am not.
Brian is correct. The Iroquois building was torn down.
Imagine how weird it would have been to see a show at Hyde & Beman’s knowing that a disaster took place within the building. Very weird, remodeling or not.
There is a cinder block wall on the right side of the lobby picture posted at that link. Was the lobby space reduced at some point to create more retail?
There are interior pictures on the Paramount Theatre page. You are right: it is a ruin. I’ve never seen decay severe enough to expose structural trusses before.
I’ll believe it when I see it. I don’t know of one theatre these guys have successfully restored. I do know of a long list of people who say that Grand Venues has ripped them off.
Tear down decrepit theatres in ghetto neighborhoods that are about to fall over. But don’t mess around with one that is well-maintained and does good business. You can build a freakin' senior center anywere.
I shouldn’t post comments of this nature. But it REALLY pisses me off.
I have a radar that picks up on former theatre buildings, and it was activated by this address about two weeks ago. It looks like the Drake’s retail and apartment block still stand. I think there is one column of the theatre’s front wall remaining on the west wall of the apartment and office block. Useless trivia I suppose…
1) Have you seen the inside of the theatre? What condition is it in? I have heard that they removed the dividing wall between cinema I & II. But the last time I saw the theatre in ‘89 it was painted black and covered with typical M&R drapes. Have they done any work to make the auditorium look better?
2) Is this the same silent film festival that was held at the Gateway in the mid-90’s?
I don’t know about this dinner theatre stuff. But I went and saw a friend of mine in the Combat-Do Fighting Challenge at this venue last night. The place was packed. It looks really nice in there. The mural is still there. Sounds like they used the color scheme described by Kathy when they repainted. Last time I saw it was in the 80’s and it was in need of cleaning at that point. Name of the venue has definitely been changed to Concordia Theatre.
Cinemark in Melrose Park is far enough away that I don’t think there’s a hell of a lot of mutual draw. Someone who lives at Harlem & I-90 is not likely to drive all the way down Harlem and out North Ave. to get to the Cinemark when the film offerings are similar at both theatres.
Bruce: I know of a bank that has been successful investing in low-income areas across the country. Contrary to popular business practices, they have made money by pursuing a socially-conscious agenda. If you come up with a business plan that makes sense I can run it by someone I know at the bank. I think they would relish the idea of bringing back the Kings in order to bolster the surrounding neighborhood. If the numbers makes sense, odds are they will give you financing.
See great photographs of the Central Park here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=11063
Cinematour kicks your ass up and down the street when it comes to photos fellas. Get that add photo deal back together.
Great photo submissions. It is a classic.
Hard to believe there was once one just like it at 63rd and Cottage Grove.
And apparently set on fire at one point. What an amazing story! Looks like the preservation organization is still at it to me. There are Board Meeting listings for 2006 here:
http://www.foxoakland.org/events.html
Boy does this piss me off. I know that times change. I know that there isn’t a place in the modern world for every old theatre. But to leverage the demolition of a place like this for a stupid plaza just ain’t right.
Doesn’t look closed to me. See below. Their answering machine also still has showtimes on it.
View link
Date: Today, Fri. May 12 Sat. May 13 Sun. May 14 Mon. May 15 Tue. May 16 Wed. May 17 Thu. May 18 Fri. May 19 Sat. May 20 Sun. May 21 Mon. May 22 Tue. May 23 Wed. May 24 Thu. May 25 Buy tickets from MovieTickets.com by clicking linked showtimes.
Ridgewood Theatre [ Add to My Favorite Theaters ]
55-27 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY, 11385 Theater Info | Map It
An American Haunting
Rated PG-13, 1 hr 31 min
Showtimes: 4:00, 5:50, 7:40 Goal! The Dream Begins
Rated PG, 1 hr 57 min
Showtimes: 4:30, 7:00, 9:30
Hoot
Rated PG, 1 hr 30 min
Showtimes: 6:25, 10:05 Mission: Impossible III
Rated PG-13, 2 hr 6 min
Showtimes: 4:00, 6:30, 9:00
Poseidon
Rated PG-13, 1 hr 38 min
Showtimes: 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:05 Scary Movie 4
Rated PG-13, 1 hr 23 min
Showtimes: 4:30, 8:15
So there is a newly-renovated cinema complex right down the street from River Oaks. Now I understand why that complex closed down.
Good news Jim. I have always wanted to see a movie at the Oriental & have never gotten around to it. I have been to a screening at Milwaukee’s Avalon. The Avalon was great when I was there in the early 90’s. Hope it will come back to life again.
Brian Wolf: here’s a research project for you, should you choose to accept it. I remember seeing ads for a theatre called River Run back in the 80’s. It would have been GCC or M&R. I got the impression that it was similar to Norridge, or the original Old Orchard or Randhurst Cinemas. No idea what town it would’ve been in. Don’t see a listing on this site. Could be remembering wrong, but am 99% sure that I am not.
Brian is correct. The Iroquois building was torn down.
Imagine how weird it would have been to see a show at Hyde & Beman’s knowing that a disaster took place within the building. Very weird, remodeling or not.
There is a cinder block wall on the right side of the lobby picture posted at that link. Was the lobby space reduced at some point to create more retail?
Jim: does this place do decent business in your opinion?
There are interior pictures on the Paramount Theatre page. You are right: it is a ruin. I’ve never seen decay severe enough to expose structural trusses before.
Interesting situation.
I’ll believe it when I see it. I don’t know of one theatre these guys have successfully restored. I do know of a long list of people who say that Grand Venues has ripped them off.
That really is outstanding. Successfully running a business for that long is a big accomplishment.
Congratulations!
That is an unfortunate photograph.
It looks to be in decent shape. Amazing considering it has been sitting these many years.
I grudgingly must admit that it is a nice-looking auditorium.
What a bunch of $#*&
Tear down decrepit theatres in ghetto neighborhoods that are about to fall over. But don’t mess around with one that is well-maintained and does good business. You can build a freakin' senior center anywere.
I shouldn’t post comments of this nature. But it REALLY pisses me off.
The Cerrito is rising again.
To those involved in the renovation:
Well done!
Cool.
I have a radar that picks up on former theatre buildings, and it was activated by this address about two weeks ago. It looks like the Drake’s retail and apartment block still stand. I think there is one column of the theatre’s front wall remaining on the west wall of the apartment and office block. Useless trivia I suppose…
Brian: two questions…
1) Have you seen the inside of the theatre? What condition is it in? I have heard that they removed the dividing wall between cinema I & II. But the last time I saw the theatre in ‘89 it was painted black and covered with typical M&R drapes. Have they done any work to make the auditorium look better?
2) Is this the same silent film festival that was held at the Gateway in the mid-90’s?
I don’t know about this dinner theatre stuff. But I went and saw a friend of mine in the Combat-Do Fighting Challenge at this venue last night. The place was packed. It looks really nice in there. The mural is still there. Sounds like they used the color scheme described by Kathy when they repainted. Last time I saw it was in the 80’s and it was in need of cleaning at that point. Name of the venue has definitely been changed to Concordia Theatre.
Cinemark in Melrose Park is far enough away that I don’t think there’s a hell of a lot of mutual draw. Someone who lives at Harlem & I-90 is not likely to drive all the way down Harlem and out North Ave. to get to the Cinemark when the film offerings are similar at both theatres.