Why is probably because you can’t get a good idea of what the building would look like without the el in front. I have often seen photos or sketches of the Valencia also without the el. The marquee sketch doesn’t appear to be intricate enough to show a cut out for the el pillar.
Yes, the draperies do appear to be still hanging amazingly. When looking at the photos of the procenium, and of the ornate plasterwork around the stairways, it looks like a lot of the plaster was deliberately sledgehammered.
What was the configuration of the theater when multiplexed? How was it cut up?
Any interior photos available?
Unfortunately, the glass block area was concreted over, as shown in my photos from March 2005 above. It appears that was a recent occurance, as in 2003 or 2004 when Warren wrote the intro, he stated that the glass block was still there, however, broken.
I meant to say:
“The only thing I understand in the last few posts in this maddening thread is "Buenas Noches”. Other than that, which obviously I understand, what the heck language is being spoken here? I don’t believe it’s English."
The only thing in the last few posts in this maddening thread is “Buenas Noches”. Other than that, which obviously I understand, what the heck language is being spoken here? I don’t believe it’s English.
The Oasis, also listed in that ad, was even closer to the Maspeth than the Ridgwood. The Oasis was (give or take) half way between the Ridgewood and the Oasis. I don’t when the Maspeth closed, but the Oasis closed some time around 1979 or 1980 (give or take a year).
I didn’t realize the same ownership owned both the Ridgewood and the Oasis.
I drove by the Astoria yesterday, and instantly recognized it as a theater because of it’s distinctive traingle marquee, judging by photos here of the theater in it’s final days as a theater. The marquee has NY Sports Club on it, and Duane Reade. They punched windows into the side of the building, and the entire front has been transformed into glass, at least three stories of glass. The theater’s distinctive arched front no longer has windows, but is readily noticable.
Since I have never been in the Astoria, how were the 6 theaters cut up? 3 in the balcony and 3 downstairs? I am assuming it only had one balcony, but since it had just under 3000 seats perhaps it had two?
Also, does anyone know of any vintage photos of the interior? I didn’t see any linked here, unless I missed it.
Finally, I didn’t have time to stop inside the drug store, and I assume not…but are there any theater ornamentation or hints of the theater inside the drug store or the sports club upstairs?
I probably did also pass the Steinway…in fact I must have, as I was on Steinway St from the Grand Central all the way down to two blocks past Broadway (forgot the cross street off hand). However, I wasn’t “theater fanning”, so had no idea until I got home and looked at Cinematreasures how many theaters used to be on Steinway St…and Astoria in general!! I only noticed the Astoria Theatre because of the marquee…..
Thanks for the information!
I went by the Ridgewood Theater last night about 9:30, and the place looked great all lit up. The marquee sparkled, the lobby and it’s original floor just radiated through the doors. I wish I had my camera with me, as I would have snapped a photo. Actually, I was completely impressed with the way Myrtle Ave looked in general last night. I ate at the White Castle at Wyckoff and Myrtle, and then had to go to Glendale for something, and drove the whole length of Myrtle Ave from Wyckoff to the JR Parkway. I can’t explain it, the Christmas lights sparkling above, the Ridgewood Theater, all the lights from the stores, the brand new “retro” lamp posts….the place looks better than it has in years. It’s definitely improving fast. It was never really “bad”, but it was getting seedy. I even glanced through the doors of the Liberty Department Store (RKO Madison Theater), and even that looked good (well let’s not get into the fact that the Madison has been gutted…)
Seriously, really impressed.
WHat a sin it is that they allowed the Paramount to be destroyed. They were so foolish back then. Just think, in the 70’s, we almost lost Radio City Music Hall. Unthinkable today, but just imagine, that was the PLAN. The Paramount shouldn’t have been lost either.
I was on Steinway St today, and past what I think is a theater. It wasn’t the Steinway, because the building didn’t look like the current photos posted of Dr Jay’s. Anyway, the building I saw today, has a marquee, is somewhere north of Broadway, and is on the west side of Steinway St. It is currently a Duane Reade Drug Store.
ANyone have any idea what theater I was looking at?
Wow!!! This is the first time I have seen the interior of the Madison since I was a kid in there in the 1970'!!! Simply BEAUTIFUL!! Thanks so much, I can’t believe all that beauty is now all covered or gone. If you go into the Liberty Department store, the curve of the balcony is READILY noticable, as they have a drop ceiling under the balcon, and then you see the curve of the balcony, and just above the plaster on the edge of the balcony, around where the rail would have been is the fake drop ceiling that lowers the height of the ceiling to just above the level where the Balcony edge is in the photo…. And of course the floor has been leveled, so it wouldn’s seem as high as it may appear it would in the photo.
What a shame, and to think it was once as beautiful as the Loews Paradise. Someone just posted a link to recent places of that place, and WOW it’s is awe inspiring!
Not to bring the mood down here, but just click on the Paradise link below and go to page 20, you will NOT be sorry! Now if only, if only, if only for the Keiths….. View link
I think the Hard Rock marquee was where the old theater marquee was, so that would mean the Hard Rock would be about where the lobby was?
Remember, this building was an office building, in addition to a theater even when the theater was still there. The theater area was just made into more offices.
Well, I went here the other night to see a movie, and while I will get credit that it was perhaps the BEST popcorn I have ever gotten in a theater, the cost of concessions has gotten out of control. This is a trend everywhere, not just the Patchogue Theater. The movie was $9 each, so that’s $18 for two. I proceded to buy two medium drinks, and two medium popcorns…..and that came to $22!!! The concessions now cost more than the movie! While again, I have to say, the popcorn was the best I had in a while, freshly popped….but $6 is just ridiculous. And $5 for a medium coke!
Again, this is not just the Patchogue Theater, but just chose this one to vent as it was fresh in my mind…
The theater itself was clean, even if showing it’s age. I guess I am getting used to stadium seating in multiplexes, so it was a while since I have been in a theater with ‘standard" seating, and I have to say….I am spoiled by stadium seating….hard to go back….
YEs, the Valencia, although a Church is in good hands. It has been maintained beautifully, and while it’s interior painted colors are pretty guady, and not true to the original, at least it’s all still there, loved, and cared for….a lot more than we can say about the Keith’s!
Amazingly, after seeing the photos, as BAD as the place looks and as bad as it’s condition is, I believe enough of it’s original elements may remain to be able to restore it…if the money could be made available. It’s not the lost cause I once thought it was before seeing the photos.
Why is probably because you can’t get a good idea of what the building would look like without the el in front. I have often seen photos or sketches of the Valencia also without the el. The marquee sketch doesn’t appear to be intricate enough to show a cut out for the el pillar.
It’s amazing how through all the destruction and neglect, the draperies look almost the same as in Warren’s historic photo of the procenium:
View link
and today:
View link
Yes, the draperies do appear to be still hanging amazingly. When looking at the photos of the procenium, and of the ornate plasterwork around the stairways, it looks like a lot of the plaster was deliberately sledgehammered.
What was the configuration of the theater when multiplexed? How was it cut up?
Any interior photos available?
Unfortunately, the glass block area was concreted over, as shown in my photos from March 2005 above. It appears that was a recent occurance, as in 2003 or 2004 when Warren wrote the intro, he stated that the glass block was still there, however, broken.
I heard they want to tear it down and built condos here. If you go back to my March 31, 2005 comment, I posted some photos.
I meant to say:
“The only thing I understand in the last few posts in this maddening thread is "Buenas Noches”. Other than that, which obviously I understand, what the heck language is being spoken here? I don’t believe it’s English."
The only thing in the last few posts in this maddening thread is “Buenas Noches”. Other than that, which obviously I understand, what the heck language is being spoken here? I don’t believe it’s English.
I’m sorry, I meant “The Oasis was about half way between the Ridgewood and the Maspeth. Sorry for the typo.
The Oasis, also listed in that ad, was even closer to the Maspeth than the Ridgwood. The Oasis was (give or take) half way between the Ridgewood and the Oasis. I don’t when the Maspeth closed, but the Oasis closed some time around 1979 or 1980 (give or take a year).
I didn’t realize the same ownership owned both the Ridgewood and the Oasis.
That’s great Peter! Nice work!
I drove by the Astoria yesterday, and instantly recognized it as a theater because of it’s distinctive traingle marquee, judging by photos here of the theater in it’s final days as a theater. The marquee has NY Sports Club on it, and Duane Reade. They punched windows into the side of the building, and the entire front has been transformed into glass, at least three stories of glass. The theater’s distinctive arched front no longer has windows, but is readily noticable.
Since I have never been in the Astoria, how were the 6 theaters cut up? 3 in the balcony and 3 downstairs? I am assuming it only had one balcony, but since it had just under 3000 seats perhaps it had two?
Also, does anyone know of any vintage photos of the interior? I didn’t see any linked here, unless I missed it.
Finally, I didn’t have time to stop inside the drug store, and I assume not…but are there any theater ornamentation or hints of the theater inside the drug store or the sports club upstairs?
I probably did also pass the Steinway…in fact I must have, as I was on Steinway St from the Grand Central all the way down to two blocks past Broadway (forgot the cross street off hand). However, I wasn’t “theater fanning”, so had no idea until I got home and looked at Cinematreasures how many theaters used to be on Steinway St…and Astoria in general!! I only noticed the Astoria Theatre because of the marquee…..
Thanks for the information!
I went by the Ridgewood Theater last night about 9:30, and the place looked great all lit up. The marquee sparkled, the lobby and it’s original floor just radiated through the doors. I wish I had my camera with me, as I would have snapped a photo. Actually, I was completely impressed with the way Myrtle Ave looked in general last night. I ate at the White Castle at Wyckoff and Myrtle, and then had to go to Glendale for something, and drove the whole length of Myrtle Ave from Wyckoff to the JR Parkway. I can’t explain it, the Christmas lights sparkling above, the Ridgewood Theater, all the lights from the stores, the brand new “retro” lamp posts….the place looks better than it has in years. It’s definitely improving fast. It was never really “bad”, but it was getting seedy. I even glanced through the doors of the Liberty Department Store (RKO Madison Theater), and even that looked good (well let’s not get into the fact that the Madison has been gutted…)
Seriously, really impressed.
WHat a sin it is that they allowed the Paramount to be destroyed. They were so foolish back then. Just think, in the 70’s, we almost lost Radio City Music Hall. Unthinkable today, but just imagine, that was the PLAN. The Paramount shouldn’t have been lost either.
I was on Steinway St today, and past what I think is a theater. It wasn’t the Steinway, because the building didn’t look like the current photos posted of Dr Jay’s. Anyway, the building I saw today, has a marquee, is somewhere north of Broadway, and is on the west side of Steinway St. It is currently a Duane Reade Drug Store.
ANyone have any idea what theater I was looking at?
I assume theater 2 and 3 are the orchestra level theaters, and 1, 4, and 5 are the balcony, assuming from left to right if facing the screen?
BTW, were there any other photos, even if you only keep them up temporarily?
Wow!!! This is the first time I have seen the interior of the Madison since I was a kid in there in the 1970'!!! Simply BEAUTIFUL!! Thanks so much, I can’t believe all that beauty is now all covered or gone. If you go into the Liberty Department store, the curve of the balcony is READILY noticable, as they have a drop ceiling under the balcon, and then you see the curve of the balcony, and just above the plaster on the edge of the balcony, around where the rail would have been is the fake drop ceiling that lowers the height of the ceiling to just above the level where the Balcony edge is in the photo…. And of course the floor has been leveled, so it wouldn’s seem as high as it may appear it would in the photo.
All I have to say is WOW!!!! truly beautiful.
What a shame, and to think it was once as beautiful as the Loews Paradise. Someone just posted a link to recent places of that place, and WOW it’s is awe inspiring!
Not to bring the mood down here, but just click on the Paradise link below and go to page 20, you will NOT be sorry! Now if only, if only, if only for the Keiths…..
View link
I think the Hard Rock marquee was where the old theater marquee was, so that would mean the Hard Rock would be about where the lobby was?
Remember, this building was an office building, in addition to a theater even when the theater was still there. The theater area was just made into more offices.
Well, I went here the other night to see a movie, and while I will get credit that it was perhaps the BEST popcorn I have ever gotten in a theater, the cost of concessions has gotten out of control. This is a trend everywhere, not just the Patchogue Theater. The movie was $9 each, so that’s $18 for two. I proceded to buy two medium drinks, and two medium popcorns…..and that came to $22!!! The concessions now cost more than the movie! While again, I have to say, the popcorn was the best I had in a while, freshly popped….but $6 is just ridiculous. And $5 for a medium coke!
Again, this is not just the Patchogue Theater, but just chose this one to vent as it was fresh in my mind…
The theater itself was clean, even if showing it’s age. I guess I am getting used to stadium seating in multiplexes, so it was a while since I have been in a theater with ‘standard" seating, and I have to say….I am spoiled by stadium seating….hard to go back….
And if Boymelgreen is going forward with the project, isn’t he legally allower to destroy everything but the lobby? Stupid….but true.
YEs, the Valencia, although a Church is in good hands. It has been maintained beautifully, and while it’s interior painted colors are pretty guady, and not true to the original, at least it’s all still there, loved, and cared for….a lot more than we can say about the Keith’s!
Amazingly, after seeing the photos, as BAD as the place looks and as bad as it’s condition is, I believe enough of it’s original elements may remain to be able to restore it…if the money could be made available. It’s not the lost cause I once thought it was before seeing the photos.