Ridgewood Theatre
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
31 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1,926 - 1,950 of 2,835 comments
mikemovies, what can we do to help Lost Memory get reinstated here ?
Thanks, mikemovies. I didn’t know about the 1994 Johnny Legend documentary. The original Richard Matheson novel, “I Am Legend”, was first published in 1954, forty years earlier.
An injustice has been done PKoch. This is such a good website and mistakes are made. The remedy should be a rather simple one. Make things as they were before the injustice was performed. Reinstatement is the solution. I Am Legend was also a 1994 documentary about rock musician Johnny Legend.
“Unfortunately, this could be one of those rare times where the good guy gets killed off at the end of the movie. Stay Tuned!”
Yes ! Just like one of my favorite sci-fi + horror novels, “I Am Legend”, by Richard Matheson, and its two film versions, “The Last Man On Earth” (1964) with Vincent Price, and “The Omega Man” (1971) with Charlton Heston, which I saw at the Ridgewood Theater, spring 1972, along with “The Cowboys”, starring John Wayne and Bruce Dern.
The good guy also gets killed at the end of “Night Of The Living Dead” (1968), loosely based on “I Am Legend”.
Good work, mikemovies. Thank you. Lost Memory, you have my empathy and support.
I was asked to post this message here.
“I posted two comments in this thread last Friday. In the first comment I told Frankie to have a nice time at the Ridgewood theater and I included the movie schedule for that day. In the second comment I was explaining to Ed that Zum Stammtisch was located in Glendale and not in Ridgewood. Both comments were removed. Why? Were they offensive to someone? Could someone give me a valid reason as to why they were removed. I doubt that there is a valid reason. This is just another example of the harassment that myself and others are subjected to. Some people try to label me as the bad guy. Don’t be so quick to pass judgement on me when you don’t know all of the facts.
With all of the obstacles placed in my path, I still managed to become one of the top contributors to this website including over 7000 comments. And yet I was removed without so much as a warning. That is a real slap in the face. If there was a trial, my invitation to that trial must have been deleted along with my comments and theater. Not only was my password changed, my email address was changed so I couldn’t have the new password sent to me. If I was removed from this site, why wasn’t my account completely deleted? Why was just enough of my profile retained to give the impression that I was still a member? Either I am a full member or I am not a member at all. Could someone please make up their mind. If I am still a member here, I would like my old account restored.
Thanks for your support guys. I really do appreciate it. Unfortunately, this could be one of those rare times where the good guy gets killed off at the end of the movie. Stay Tuned!
posted by Lost Memory on Aug 30, 2006"
I agree with frankie about Lost Memory.
LostMemory makes valuable contributions to this site. His postings are always a delight. He is a true member of the movie fan brotherhood. Hopefully this is a temporary thing. All of us hope that the administrators of this site will make certain that there has been no foul play. “Come back, LostMemory ! Come back, Shane !”
Yes. I can still remember that photo he provided 2 ½ years ago of the Majestic Theater at Seneca and Greene Avenues in Ridgewood.
I agree actually. Lost Memory has provided lots of information on som many theaters regarding past ownership, research on opening and closing dates, organs, and so much more. I would hope that the management would reconsider, as he was a valuable member.
And not to mention all the links to photos of theaters he found.
That is sad, indeed, mikemovies. Is that a confirmed story? I would be supremely disappointed with CT management over that course of action. Did anyone from CT contact him to discuss the situation or was he tried, convicted and sentenced in absentia? Even if you eliminate those controversial “off topic” posts he made, he was far and away the most prolific contributor to this site and offered plenty of helpful “brick and mortar” information regarding C of O’s, organ installation dates, etc. If he is truly gone from this site, I will definitely miss him.
mikemovies, I agree with you about Lost Memory, but he can always re-join with a new screen name.
I want to see the WTC movie that Bway talked about. I know someone that perished that day. In case none of you fella’s noticed lostmemory is gone. His name is here but his password was changed so he can’t come back. That is a damn shame. Why would a website eject one of its best members. It was a mean spirited thing to do. This website will never be as good as it was before.
I intend to see “Hollywoodland”, once it’s out, though probably not at the Ridgewood Theater.
This Art’s really something, ain’t he, people ? Anyway, moving on, yes Bway, it’s the lack of good movies. “Little Miss Sunshine” had the full, quiet Saturday house to which I alluded above, and “A Prairie Home Companion” was a delightful surprise for the thinking moviegoers who go to the Cobble Hill. If the Ridgewood gets “The Illusionist” and “Hollywoodland”, I’ll see them there just to patronize it, but I doubt it. Tonino, these other outlets don’t interest me at all, because I still savor that Norma Desmond experience: “…all those wonderful people out there in the dark.” The lady meant US, fellas, not these non-moviegoing boobs. And having seen Hedy Lamarr in “Ecstasy” last night, I know what the lady meant when she said: “WE—HAD—FACES !!!” BUT —– if I go to the Ridgewood some more, and get bad audiences, no matter how small, what would be the point of going ? Back to BAM Rose !!!Hope you guys have been ! I think they get the people who WOULD go to places like the Ridgewood in its hey-day. Anyone who DOES get to the Ridgewood, please let us all know what you thought. (Is THAT “on-topic” enough for you, Art ???)
As an outsider reading this thread for the first time I find the comments both fascinating; informative and disturbing. People bickering over offtopic comments yet the same people write offtopic comments. What a dichotomy to someone new to this website. Of what relevance would summarizing the number of titles by year from 1888 to 2005 be to Ridgewood theatre history? Of what relevance does the WTC movie add to this thread if it is not being shown at the Ridgewood theatre? Yet those commentors chided others for offtopic comments. The true debate here is how far offtopic people are allowed to stray before flame wars erupt. simma down people. Let he without sin cast the first stone.
Before I saw the original 1960 Hitchcock classic “Psycho” at the BAM Rose Cinema this past Saturday July 15th, I watched the movie trivia slides that were on the screen while the house lights were still up. Mention was made of four or five more or less current films that were remakes of earlier films of several decades ago.
This reinforces Bway’s point above : “All they know how to do is make movies based on old TV shows, remakes”
“Psycho” itself was remade, released in 1998.
Expanding on Bway’s point, there are many more outlets available to consume our free time than there used to be. Continuous developments in technology was key to successful movie making. Too many alternatives and tickets too pricey today. I can generally wait for it to come on TV or to rent the DVD.
I found Warren’s early ad for Fox’s Ridgewood interesting in that it contained a dual bill for both a movie and 6 vaudeville acts. I thought vaudeville was a stand alone act for years.
In searching for background on Jean Southern in Whoso Findeth A Wife, I was surpised to learn that there are more than 4,200 titles listed in IMDb for the year 1916.
To the eager beavers, how about summarizing the number of titles by year from 1888 to 2005?
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior
Expanding on Bway’s point, there are many more outlets available to consume our free time than there used to be. Continuous developments in technology was key to successful movie making. Too many alternatives and tickets too pricey today. I can generally wait for it to come on TV or to rent the DVD.
I found Warren’s early ad for Fox’s Ridgewood interesting in that it contained a dual bill for both a movie and 6 vaudeville acts. I thought vaudeville was a stand alone act for years.
In searching for background on Jean Southern in Whoso Findeth A Wife, I was surpised to learn that there are more than 4,200 titles listed in IMDb for the year 1916.
To the eager beavers, how about summarizing the number of titles by year from 1888 to 2005?
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior
It’s not just Ridgewood. Movie going around the country is down. Perhaps Hollywood needs to reasses how they make movies. Has there been anything exciting this past summer for example? All they know how to do is make movies based on old TV shows, remakes, and relife disaster. That’s it lately.
Granted, I saw the WTC movie yesterday, and it was pretty good. The problem with that movie is though that it’s too real. it’s a great movie, but the problem is, it hit too close to home. the theater I went to was not empty by any means, but all you heard was sniffling here and there, and at the end, I never saw a quieter procession out of the theater.
I enjoyed the movie, don’t get me wrong, but I like to go to movies to “escape” for a bit. That one was too real.
Anyway, that being said, again, Hollywood really hasn’t come up with too much exciting lately, and of course that will hurt box office counts….
Thanks, Warren. Interesting about the 3000 seats in those old newspaper ads vs. the 1950 seats listed for the Ridgewood at the top of this page.
A couple of things I forgot. The manager told me that they don’t have DVD capability, so they’d have to get the actual monster films. A costly proposition ! Also, they donated some old projectors to a NYC historical society. Also, one of the ushers told me there’s still a backstage area, although the dressing rooms may be closed up. Moviegoing may be popular in other neighborhoods, but I just didn’t feel the vibe here. Many of the current residents couldn’t care less about a still – operating historic theater the way we do.
Cool articles. It’s so strange to see an article on something so long ago, reading it like it is today.
I am so surprised though that no one has been able to come up a historic interior photo (or even extrerior) of the Ridgewood from way back then. By all the responses in this theater thread, (and even if ¾ are on topic – that’s still alot), the Ridgewood provokes a lot of interest, and it’s just astonishing that none of us have been able to come up with a historic photo of the interior, or even a photo from before it was cut up!
Are we definite that William Fox built this theater, or could he have acquired it shortly after its opening? And did it really have 3000 seats or was this advertising hyperbole?
OK boys, Frankie did it ! Here’s your report. The lobby looks really nice. Theater #1 is a nice size. The seats are old but OK. The screen has 2 holes or blemishes on it. The top of the screen has a long black bar, so maybe the picture wasn’t centered. The sound was loud, but kept getting soft towards the end of the film. Most shocking of all: for the second week of “Snakes On A Plane”, there were less that 10 people there ! 3 of them were little kids (even with the sex scenes) who kept running up & down the aisle. I talked with the staff, who are all very friendly. They are sort of aware that it’s a historic place, but there’s sort of a resigned, matter-of-fact air about them. The manager told me that the owners have lost interest, due to the new competition, and the fact that business is bad, and (spoiler) they are looking to sell. One of the ushers took me on a tour of all the theaters. The blue paint looks nice, but there were hardly any people. It’s a real labyrinth with passageways, etc. The remaining balcony stairs look wonderful. One of the ushers thinks that a monster festival is a wonderful idea, but the manager told me that it would be up to the owners. Boys, I think I became aware of 2 definite, sad facts that we can do nothing about: 1.) The coming attractions were so atrocious, that it’s no wonder intelligent people are repelled by the movies nowadays. 2.) Looking around the neighborhood, it just didn’t feel like the sort of area where people love to “go to the movies” on a Friday night. I saw them in a nearby restaurant and thought: “Why aren’t they at the movies ?” As many of us have said before, it’s just not one of the main urban activities anymore.
I got all the information for you guys about the owners, and yes, we should all write letters and make phone calls, and those of you who can get there should definitely patronize the theater when you can (I know I will) but it may be an exercise in futility. If the owners don’t care, and the neighborhood doesn’t care, what can we do ? It should be landmarked by the local politicians (if they care), but I feel like the old girl’s days are numbered. I feel so sad, boys & girls, but it’s not our world anymore. Anyway, here you go:
Queens Circuit Management Corp.
98 Cuttermill Road suite 466 south
Great Neck, NY 11021
718-478-9200 ext. #1
Orlando Mendoza & Joe Diaz