Koletty’s and Gottleib’s were a favorite place for my mother and I to stop after a hard day of shopping on Myrtle Avenue when we were on our way to catch the Putnam Avenue bus to go home. The hot pastrami and Reuben sandwiches couldn’t be beat. And for ice cream treats and chocolates … Koletty’s was the place to go on all special occasions. I took my husband to Gottleib’s when we were dating … he’s from Oklahoma … and he fell in love with Hot Pastrami on Rye and with the Reuben … but you can’t find them the way they made them at Gottleib’s … and we’ve had them in lots of places … but he still compares them to the first one he ever ate.
I don’t remember anyone lately from cinematreasures joining but the invitation is open to everyone who is interested in the history of Bushwick, Ridgewood and surrounding areas. Thousands of pictures thanks to our roving photographer and our many wonderful buddies … and so many childhood memories … and lots of different discussions going all the time. So anyone interested … just send me your e-mail and full name to and I’ll send you an invitation to join us.
Hey Peter … I know you haven’t been there lately … and we’ve missed you … you wouldn’t believe everything that’s been going on … Chris has been amazing … hope to see you back soon.
Hi Panzer65 … are you a member of the Bushwick Buddies … because is you’re not … we’d love to have you … everybody there loved Jahn’s and would love to see and hear about what’s happening at our most favorite “hang out” along with what’s happening at the various movie theaters and other happenings in Bushwick, Ridgewood, and surrounding areas. Just contact me at and with your e-mail address and full name, etc. and I’ll be sure and get an invitation out to you.
Eleanor
Returning the Madison Theater to it’s original magnificance as a single screen and then having live concerts and stage shows and again using it for the graduation exercises of the various high schools in the area would be a tribute to the comeback that is happening in the Bushwick area. If the homes are selling for $500,000+ there must be money in the area and from what I have been seeing there is much construction going on … and what could be better than a wonderful theater on the scale of Radio City … right there on the Bushwick/Ridgewood border … only a thought.
Peter … where have you been … we’ve missed you at the website … is everything OK? Chris has added so many new and wonderful pictures in the past few months. It seems that you haven’t been there since January or February. Hope things are well with everyone. Hope to see you soon. Eleanor
Hi oodygdin … Bushwick Buddies not only includes loads of guys and gals from Bushwick, but many, many from Ridgewood and Glendale … so if you would like further information, please check out our public login page at www.bushwickbuddies.com and then contact me at We’d love to have you join us … there are lots of memories of the Madison and the Ridgewood and of the live Chicken market at the site. Let’s face it … there are many streets that were considered either Bushwick or Ridgewood and we overlapped a lot … so check us out … and that goes for anyone else who would like to learn more about Bushwick or Ridgewood.
Hi Tonino … I was 13 in 1953 and left Bushwick in 1962 when I got married. I actually lived in “Bushwick” not “Ridgewood” but we did most of our shopping either on Myrtle Avenue or took the Putnam Avenue bus downtown to A&S, Namms Loesers (forgot how to spell it) and of course Bonds and Mays. If you are at all interested in Bushwick with a touch on Ridgewood I have a website called Bushwick Buddies … PKoch is one of our younger buddies. Most of us are in our 60s and 70s and are sharing memories and pictures from the 40s, 50s and some earlier, and we have current pictures too. If you’d be interested, just drop me a note at or take a peek at www.bushwickbuddies.com It is a private site so username and password is required. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Everyone would certainly be appreciative of that Peter. We’ve got some of those pixs up as you’ve seen and they’ve drawn many comments, to include the one of my house at Central and Eldert. It seems we’ve got everyone searching through old photos lately. lol
The McCrory’s was a W.T. Grant’s in the early 50’s and late 40’s. In the children’s store in the lower level was a barber shop that had a hobby horse for the children to sit in for haircuts. I remember my mother taking my brother there for his haircuts main times, and he was born in 1947. I believe he had his first haircut there … he had a head full of curls … I was about 8 when he had them cut … of course I’m 7 years older than he is lol.
You know, I used to go to the Madison on a regular basis in the 1950s and walked Myrtle Avenue quite a bit but don’t really remember a Woolworth’s being close to the Madison. There was one further down, past the Ridgewood and on the same side where we shopped often. Is it just my senility or was it put in after the 1960s?
It seems to me it closed before 1954, because we spent a lot of time at the Madison, the Ridgewood, the Bushwick and the Gates. Since I lived on Central and Eldert it sure would have been closer to get to the Alhambra at 14 than those others. But sometimes my memory fails me.
I haven’t been on for several weeks now – am just trying to catch up. I went to that citylegacy.com website and could not find anything I was willing to pay $12.50 to join. I’m glad everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope the coming holidays are just as grand. Can you tell me if it’s OK to take the pictures of theaters submitted by individuals to put on my website. It is located on MyFamily.com and it’s growing every day. Of course most of it is pictures right now, but I’m hoping someday to have lots of different sections. I can still be reached at about those pictures of the Gates, the Alhambra, the Ridgewood, the Madison and any others in the area. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. Most of the people on my website no longer live in Brooklyn, although some are on the Island. I had good friends who lived on Halsey – half way up the block from Knickerbocker. I’m sure they would like to see the picture even if it breaks their heart. I know it breaks mine. Hoping to hear soon.
Orlando – it was quite interesting reading about the Alhambra as it is today. I haven’t been back to the neighborhood since 1965 when my parents moved to Glendale. In 1964 when we returned from Germany it was already on the downslope and we decided to keep the good menories. I spent many a day in the Alhambra in the 1940’s with my mother who went to get her give-away of china or silverware. It turned into a grocery store and as far as I know stayed that until it closed forever. Where on Halsey was the Imperial – I lived on Central between Eldert and Covert and don’t remember it unless it was on the otherside of Broadway which was Bed Sty and we never went there. It’s funny my address was 565 Central Ave but I don’t remember a theater on Central at all. I do remember the Grove on Wilson and remember when it became a grocery store. I’m so glad there are people interested in the history of my old stomping grounds.
BushwickBuddy
Hi all – I’ve seen my name mentioned several times during this post and would like to invite anyone interested to the website I created for my Brooklyn/Bushwick friends. There are lots of pictures and most of us went to PS 106, PS 113, PS 85, Bushwick HS, FK Lane, 14 Holy Martys, St Martin of Tours and St Barbara’s. We also went to Irving Square Presbyterian Church for scouts and youth activities as well as church and also to Bushwick Methodist, and the above named catholic churches. If you’d like an invitation please e-mail me at with your e-mail address and I will send an invitation.
BushwickBuddy
Wow! I hadn’t looked at this site yet and am glad I did. We used to go to the Gates quite a bit in the mid 1950’s and early 1960’s. Although I lived on Eldert and Central I usually walked at least one way to the theater. That was quite a trek, but we also used to walk to Highland Park which was also a good distance. I love this site and have recommended to multiple friends who also grew up in the Bushwick section during the 1940’s 1950’s and 1960’s. I have a website set up for our friends that has some interesting pictures – more people than places. If anyone would like an invitation please contact me at
BushwickBuddy
Peter – the Empire, Monroe, Colonial and DeKalb theaters were too far for me to adventure to – the Gates or the Madison were as far as I would go.
My mom would take me to the Alhambra every Saturday for the serials, and the movies – that was in the early 40’s. I saw “Song of the South” there. She used to collect the plates that were given out every week. It was converted to an A&P or Bohack sometime in the early 50’s.
The Grove on Wilson and Jefferson was where we went after the Alhambra closed. I saw 10 million BC there on Sep 28, 1947 – remember it well because my brother was born that day and they sent me to the movies with neighbors so I didn’t know what was happening – it was a rude awakening to come home and find out I was not an only child anymore.
I saw “Psycho” at the Lowe’s Gates on Broadway on a Sunday afternoon – I missed my connection with my friends and ended up sitting alone in the balcony and almost fell over when they pulled the shower curtain. I also sent many Saturdays and Sundays at the Bushwick, Madison, Ridgewood, Alhambra, Grove, Decatur theaters. The Alhambra on Knickerbocker and Halsey converted to an A&P or Bohack and my mother shopped there every week. I lived on the corner of Eldert and Central which was about equi-distant to all of the theaters. This is an interesting site. Unfortunately, I left Bushwick in 1962 and have never returned.
Koletty’s and Gottleib’s were a favorite place for my mother and I to stop after a hard day of shopping on Myrtle Avenue when we were on our way to catch the Putnam Avenue bus to go home. The hot pastrami and Reuben sandwiches couldn’t be beat. And for ice cream treats and chocolates … Koletty’s was the place to go on all special occasions. I took my husband to Gottleib’s when we were dating … he’s from Oklahoma … and he fell in love with Hot Pastrami on Rye and with the Reuben … but you can’t find them the way they made them at Gottleib’s … and we’ve had them in lots of places … but he still compares them to the first one he ever ate.
I don’t remember anyone lately from cinematreasures joining but the invitation is open to everyone who is interested in the history of Bushwick, Ridgewood and surrounding areas. Thousands of pictures thanks to our roving photographer and our many wonderful buddies … and so many childhood memories … and lots of different discussions going all the time. So anyone interested … just send me your e-mail and full name to and I’ll send you an invitation to join us.
Hey Peter … I know you haven’t been there lately … and we’ve missed you … you wouldn’t believe everything that’s been going on … Chris has been amazing … hope to see you back soon.
Hi Panzer65 … are you a member of the Bushwick Buddies … because is you’re not … we’d love to have you … everybody there loved Jahn’s and would love to see and hear about what’s happening at our most favorite “hang out” along with what’s happening at the various movie theaters and other happenings in Bushwick, Ridgewood, and surrounding areas. Just contact me at and with your e-mail address and full name, etc. and I’ll be sure and get an invitation out to you.
Eleanor
Returning the Madison Theater to it’s original magnificance as a single screen and then having live concerts and stage shows and again using it for the graduation exercises of the various high schools in the area would be a tribute to the comeback that is happening in the Bushwick area. If the homes are selling for $500,000+ there must be money in the area and from what I have been seeing there is much construction going on … and what could be better than a wonderful theater on the scale of Radio City … right there on the Bushwick/Ridgewood border … only a thought.
Peter … where have you been … we’ve missed you at the website … is everything OK? Chris has added so many new and wonderful pictures in the past few months. It seems that you haven’t been there since January or February. Hope things are well with everyone. Hope to see you soon. Eleanor
Hi oodygdin … Bushwick Buddies not only includes loads of guys and gals from Bushwick, but many, many from Ridgewood and Glendale … so if you would like further information, please check out our public login page at www.bushwickbuddies.com and then contact me at We’d love to have you join us … there are lots of memories of the Madison and the Ridgewood and of the live Chicken market at the site. Let’s face it … there are many streets that were considered either Bushwick or Ridgewood and we overlapped a lot … so check us out … and that goes for anyone else who would like to learn more about Bushwick or Ridgewood.
So true Peter and there is a picture of an apartment of that type posted on the Bushwick Buddies site.
Hey Lost … if you’d like to join us I’m sure you’d be welcome. I’d get lost if I went back.
Hi Tonino … I was 13 in 1953 and left Bushwick in 1962 when I got married. I actually lived in “Bushwick” not “Ridgewood” but we did most of our shopping either on Myrtle Avenue or took the Putnam Avenue bus downtown to A&S, Namms Loesers (forgot how to spell it) and of course Bonds and Mays. If you are at all interested in Bushwick with a touch on Ridgewood I have a website called Bushwick Buddies … PKoch is one of our younger buddies. Most of us are in our 60s and 70s and are sharing memories and pictures from the 40s, 50s and some earlier, and we have current pictures too. If you’d be interested, just drop me a note at or take a peek at www.bushwickbuddies.com It is a private site so username and password is required. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Everyone would certainly be appreciative of that Peter. We’ve got some of those pixs up as you’ve seen and they’ve drawn many comments, to include the one of my house at Central and Eldert. It seems we’ve got everyone searching through old photos lately. lol
Haven’t seen you in a while at “Bushwick Buddies” … please don’t forget about us … we’ve got quite a few new “buddies” who are quite vocal.
No Peter … the barber shop was in the basement of the children’s store … sorry for the misunderstanding.
The McCrory’s was a W.T. Grant’s in the early 50’s and late 40’s. In the children’s store in the lower level was a barber shop that had a hobby horse for the children to sit in for haircuts. I remember my mother taking my brother there for his haircuts main times, and he was born in 1947. I believe he had his first haircut there … he had a head full of curls … I was about 8 when he had them cut … of course I’m 7 years older than he is lol.
You know, I used to go to the Madison on a regular basis in the 1950s and walked Myrtle Avenue quite a bit but don’t really remember a Woolworth’s being close to the Madison. There was one further down, past the Ridgewood and on the same side where we shopped often. Is it just my senility or was it put in after the 1960s?
It seems to me it closed before 1954, because we spent a lot of time at the Madison, the Ridgewood, the Bushwick and the Gates. Since I lived on Central and Eldert it sure would have been closer to get to the Alhambra at 14 than those others. But sometimes my memory fails me.
I haven’t been on for several weeks now – am just trying to catch up. I went to that citylegacy.com website and could not find anything I was willing to pay $12.50 to join. I’m glad everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope the coming holidays are just as grand. Can you tell me if it’s OK to take the pictures of theaters submitted by individuals to put on my website. It is located on MyFamily.com and it’s growing every day. Of course most of it is pictures right now, but I’m hoping someday to have lots of different sections. I can still be reached at about those pictures of the Gates, the Alhambra, the Ridgewood, the Madison and any others in the area. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. Most of the people on my website no longer live in Brooklyn, although some are on the Island. I had good friends who lived on Halsey – half way up the block from Knickerbocker. I’m sure they would like to see the picture even if it breaks their heart. I know it breaks mine. Hoping to hear soon.
Orlando – it was quite interesting reading about the Alhambra as it is today. I haven’t been back to the neighborhood since 1965 when my parents moved to Glendale. In 1964 when we returned from Germany it was already on the downslope and we decided to keep the good menories. I spent many a day in the Alhambra in the 1940’s with my mother who went to get her give-away of china or silverware. It turned into a grocery store and as far as I know stayed that until it closed forever. Where on Halsey was the Imperial – I lived on Central between Eldert and Covert and don’t remember it unless it was on the otherside of Broadway which was Bed Sty and we never went there. It’s funny my address was 565 Central Ave but I don’t remember a theater on Central at all. I do remember the Grove on Wilson and remember when it became a grocery store. I’m so glad there are people interested in the history of my old stomping grounds.
BushwickBuddy
Hi all – I’ve seen my name mentioned several times during this post and would like to invite anyone interested to the website I created for my Brooklyn/Bushwick friends. There are lots of pictures and most of us went to PS 106, PS 113, PS 85, Bushwick HS, FK Lane, 14 Holy Martys, St Martin of Tours and St Barbara’s. We also went to Irving Square Presbyterian Church for scouts and youth activities as well as church and also to Bushwick Methodist, and the above named catholic churches. If you’d like an invitation please e-mail me at with your e-mail address and I will send an invitation.
BushwickBuddy
Wow! I hadn’t looked at this site yet and am glad I did. We used to go to the Gates quite a bit in the mid 1950’s and early 1960’s. Although I lived on Eldert and Central I usually walked at least one way to the theater. That was quite a trek, but we also used to walk to Highland Park which was also a good distance. I love this site and have recommended to multiple friends who also grew up in the Bushwick section during the 1940’s 1950’s and 1960’s. I have a website set up for our friends that has some interesting pictures – more people than places. If anyone would like an invitation please contact me at
BushwickBuddy
Peter – the Empire, Monroe, Colonial and DeKalb theaters were too far for me to adventure to – the Gates or the Madison were as far as I would go.
My mom would take me to the Alhambra every Saturday for the serials, and the movies – that was in the early 40’s. I saw “Song of the South” there. She used to collect the plates that were given out every week. It was converted to an A&P or Bohack sometime in the early 50’s.
The Grove on Wilson and Jefferson was where we went after the Alhambra closed. I saw 10 million BC there on Sep 28, 1947 – remember it well because my brother was born that day and they sent me to the movies with neighbors so I didn’t know what was happening – it was a rude awakening to come home and find out I was not an only child anymore.
I saw “Psycho” at the Lowe’s Gates on Broadway on a Sunday afternoon – I missed my connection with my friends and ended up sitting alone in the balcony and almost fell over when they pulled the shower curtain. I also sent many Saturdays and Sundays at the Bushwick, Madison, Ridgewood, Alhambra, Grove, Decatur theaters. The Alhambra on Knickerbocker and Halsey converted to an A&P or Bohack and my mother shopped there every week. I lived on the corner of Eldert and Central which was about equi-distant to all of the theaters. This is an interesting site. Unfortunately, I left Bushwick in 1962 and have never returned.