Ridgewood Theatre
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
31 people
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If that is indeed the Candler, it opened with “Antony and Cleopatra” in early May 1914, then soon switched to plays. I suspect the other titles on that sign are from the same Italian producers as a NYT article says “Antony” was “from the same director as "Quo Vadis”.
What year do you estimate the photo at, AAlvarez ?
PHOTO DRAMA THEATRE DELUXE
Going back to Lost Memory’s post of March 27, my guess is that it is the Candler (Harris) next to Murray’s Restaurant on 42nd street. The actual building is, how do I say this, err…conspicuous by its absence.
I’ve heard of Clayton Moore from a guy who used to post on this site as “Karl B”, mostly about Cypress Hills theaters, because that’s where he grew up.
Ridgewood Theater : safety reasons : Olivia is young, pretty, petite. 5 ft. 0 inches, 90 lbs. Needs protection from 7 ft. tall, 300 lb., horny 20 year-olds who crave violence and / or trouble. The bigger 2-legged rats.
My day started well, Peter: Logged on – 43 guests + Carl_LaFong on deck!
Retired: yep. “GM,V:” Ditto. (Cronauer nowhere near as funny as Robin W.)
Time for serials? one chapter per night.
Correction on “Junior G-Men of the Air:” 13 chapters.
Another TV hero who started playing bad guys in serials was Clayton (“Lone Ranger”) Moore. Think he was also in Cody’s “King of the Rocketmen,” but not 100% certain. DVD is back at Brooklyn casa.
Ridgewood Theater … “safety reasons” – ??? Rats? 4-legged or 2?
Bklyn Jim, thanks for the correction on the Batman serial.
Boot camp in spring 1966 ? You’re a Vietnam graduate ? Have you ever seen the film “Good Morning Vietnam !” ? If so, what did you think of it ? I liked it, and, several years after I saw it at home on VHS, I saw the REAL Adrian Cronauer in a brief TV spot.
Re : editing of serials : my son has a VHS of three Max Fleischer Superman cartoons, and the cartoon “Japoteurs” has been re-titled “Saboteurs”.
Unconscious Linda Page awakens in Daka’s underground hideout. She sees him and shrieks, “Nipponese !”, then pulls open her blouse, revealing a poison-tipped Madonna cone bra !
Or, make it a musical, a la “Lady And The Tramp” :
“Please Nipponese if you please …”
Still LYAO ?
Bklyn Jim, when do you find the time to watch all this great sruff ? Are you retired ?
My young colleague still hasn’t attended a film at the Ridgewood. I suggested she do so with her husband for safety reasons. I asked her if she was into the old serials, and she said no, but, did I recommend any ? I mentioned “Zombies Of The Stratosphere” starring an impossibly young Leonard Nimoy, and “Commando Cody”.
Many serials I mentioned are available on DVD, mikemovies, and the rest on VHS tape, usually in a 2 cassette package. Check catalogs such as Critics' Choice (Itasca, IL) – they currently have a good sale on about a dozen or so, including King of the Royal Mounted, Captain Midnight and the Phantom, or online at deepdiscountdvd. Also search eBay. You’d be amazed at what’s floating around out there in cyberspace!
As for price, these pups will range from $5 up to $24.95. There’s something for everyone’s wallet & purse if the interest is there. Let us know what ones you eventually get. I just ordered Junior G-Men of the Air (1942, 12 chapters) with Huntz Hall, the Dead End Kids and the L'il Tough Guys – a brand new B&W transfer for $15. Can’t wait! LOL!
I would very much like to check out those serial’s. Are they available on DVD. The 1949 Batman serial aired on AMC awhile back. I had planned to tape the show but my VCR was broken at the time. It is still broken. haha
Peter, the “Batman” serial you referenced with Croft, Lewis & Naish was actually the ‘43 wartime original. Saw it again in toto – all 4 hrs. 20 min. – in the late spring of '66, just before leaving for boot camp on scenic Parris Island.
When the VHS copy was released in ‘89 or so, all snide, rascist remarks had been either cut or dubbed over. Why? Very simple. Sony had bought out Columbia! But they left one in:
Unconscious Linda Page awakens in Daka’s underground hideout. She sees him and shrieks, “You’re a JAP!” Naish gleefully rubbed his hands, grinned and replied, “Please to say ‘Nipponese.’” LMAO!
Forgot to include stuff such as Dick Tracy (Ralph Byrd), Spy Smasher, Junior G-Men (with the Dead End Kids), X-9 Secret Agent… Gad, the list is endless! Theater owners were savvy enough to know that these 12-, 13- & 15-chapter serials would bring us rug rats and street urchins back each and every weekend. How right they were!!!
I saw “Gwangi” (pronounced “gwon-jee”, not, “gwang-gee”) at the RKO Madison on its original 1969 run, right before I started high school (St. Francis Prep). I liked it. It was like a higher-tech remake of “The Beast Of Hollow Mountain”. Didn’t it also star Richard Chamberlain (Dr. Kildare) ? I tend to confuse him with Franciscus (Mr. Novak).
Bklyn Jim : I’ve seen the 1949 Batman serial with Lewis Wilson, Douglas Croft, and J. Carroll Nash as the evil Dr. Daka. Film Forum in NYC ran it summer 1989, concurrent with the then-new Michael Keaton Batman movie.
Film Forum also ran the Captain Marvel serial the summer of 1988, and, in either summer 1988 or 1989, an episode of “Zombies Of The Stratosphere” starring an impossibly young (19 or 20) Leonard Nimoy.
In summer 1987 they showed episodes of “Space Patrol” with Edward Kemmer as hero “Buzz Corey”.
The latest homage to Commando Cody was a reference to a “Commander Cody” in Star Wars Episode III in 2005.
I’ll see if young Olivia (about 30 years of age)has any interest in this wonderful old stuff.
I, too, wonder what kiddie stuff the Ridgewood and Madison ran before I started going to them.
Perhaps we should get that lady hooked on the old Republic, Columbia, Universal and Mascot chapter serials: Batman (‘43 & '49), Perils of Pauline, Hurricane Express (w/ 1932-vintage John Wayne), Raiders of the Ghost City, Jungle Jim, Nyoka & the Tigermen/Jungle , Don Winslow of the Navy (& Coast Guard, too), Panther of the Congo, Tim Tyler’s Luck, Mandrake the Magician, Radar Men of the Moon, Zombies of the Stratosphere, Mysterious Dr. Satan, Masked Marvel, Captain Marvel (SHAZAM! – “the Big Red Cheese”), Green Hornet, Daredevils of the Red Circle, all 3 Zorros & Flash Gordons, Buck Rogers, Commander Cody, Flying Disc Man of Mars, the Green Archer, the Shadow, and on and on, ad infinitum et nauseam…
I’ll bet over 90% of these played at the Ridgewood kiddie matinees from the FDR Depression 1930s through the early 1950s of Harry and Ike’s presidencies. So bad they were great, mikemovies! Check ‘em out…
Perhap’s we can interest the lady in old movies PKoch. I will start the ball rolling. The Valley of Gwangi (1969) is available on DVD. James Franciscus plays a Wild-West showman who tries to capture a dinosaur alive. Good special effects by Ray Harryhausen. This movie is on the high price end at $16.95. It’s a good flick fella’s even at that price.
I’m not sure if my young colleague is into old movies. The last movie she mentioned to me having seen was the recent “Sean Of The Dead”. She likes horror movies, but is afraid to watch them alone.
The church at the Belvedere is supposedly building a new church at the Stop N Shop site across the street from the Belvedere, from what that thread says. I don’t know how true it is or not.
I would hate to see the Ridgewood close as a movie house but I wonder if the church thats in the Belvedere has any interest in the Ridgewood Theatre. They have said they outgrown the Belvedere and are looking for a larger space. I rather see this happen then the Ridgewood be gutted for retail.
Very cool PKoch. Perhap’s this lady is interested in old movies as well as theatre’s.
Anything new to be said about the Ridgewood Theater, whose page this is ?
It may soon have a new, young, intelligent patron, as a result of a conversation I had about it with a colleague at work last week. She is in her late 20’s and lives in upper Ridgewood with her husband and parents, on Grove Street near Forest Avenue.
I enhanced the photo PKoch. It becomes very blurry when enhanced. I’m not positive but perhap’s one line read’s ‘on to 4x street and’. Can someone else read more of the word’s in the photo. Perhap’s the tracks in the street are a clue. This is very much like a jumble puzzle in a newspaper. haha
That’s too bad. Is there any way you can enhance or enlarge that photo so as to be able to read those directions ?
I wish you success.
No idea. Why is the sign at the head of an alley, or gap, between two buildings ? Has anyone tried to date this photo using the films mentioned on the sign ?
Very cool photo. The smoke might be the result of a cold rainy day. The ground appear’s wet. The gentleman in the foreground is wearing a coat. Can any of you fella’s decipher the vertical sign with the letter’s ‘urrays’. Perhap’s the theatre should be posted then other folk’s can contribute.
Looks like Manhattan….certainly not Ridgewood, haha. Is that theater burning to the ground in that photo, what is that smoke!?
Does anyone know of any online photos of the interior of the Ridgewood from when it was still a single screen?
Thanks, mikemovies.
Very cool JKane. I will not seek out a copy of ‘The Playgirls and the Bellboy’. What do you think about ‘The Rain People’ directed by Coppola. It’s pre ‘Godfather’ and includes both James Caan and Robert Duvall. I haven’t found it on DVD as of yet. ‘Dementia 13’ is a good movie to purchase. It can be found on DVD for $6.