Hi Warren! To help coordinate a revamped preservation effort with people i.e. Ed Tracey & Tom Stathes, do I have your permission to save your RKO Keith’s photos to flickr for placement in a flickr album? I would grant you credit, if you prefer. It would be a huge help. Please let me know. Thanks!
Thank you very much, John, and all enthusiasts who have supported the Ridgewood Theatre cause, and signed the petition in support of landmarking the facade and theater lobby. The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission says they are interested in calendaring the facade for a public hearing in the near future, which would determine its eligibility as a NYC Individual Landmark. Nothing is official since it is not in writing. Therefore, now is the time to continue advocating for landmark status. Please sign the petition, post a comment, and circulate the link to ALL CONTACTS in your e-mail address book: View link The LPC said they may consider the theater lobby once the theater is open for a certain time period. Interior Landmarks must be open by law, when first designated.
Hi All! Michael is here, have no fear! I just noticed all your comments from today, in response to the NY Times article by Ralph Blumenthal. First of all, take a huge sigh of relief, since the Ridgewood Theatre is here to stay!
I was supposed to be interviewed on the Cheyenne Diner & the Moondance Diner, which I spared via transport, and to my astonishment, there was not even a mention of my role. I was briefly asked about the Ridgewood Theatre, since the NYT reporter stated “the AL couple” might be interested in making an offer on this theater (besides the Cheyenne Diner they purchased). I explained to the couple earlier this week that the theater facade may be landmarked, and the Ridgewood Theatre owner wants to keep it in his possession. If it was going to be demolished, then it would be a different story, but it’s not.
There was never any solid plan to move the Ridgewood Theatre to AL, but plans circulated between the couple & I, to save a different theater (anywhere in the U.S.) via transport that’s imminently endangered, whether that mean the facade &/or any interior architectural attributes. I never mentioned anything regarding Ridgewood Theatre seats and furnishings. I don’t know where the reporter got that from. I advocate for historic architecture and not furniture, lol.
I was disappointed when first reading this article, and had to do a double-take since my diner brokering credits were omitted, and the theater issue was boggled by misinformation. I am surprised with the NY Times, a reputable newspaper. I was photographed on the theater steps due to my efforts to landmark it only, as well as find a tenant or a new owner, if the current owner planned to sell. That was purely my intention, and that of the majority of supporters. The NYT expressed an interest in photos of myself in front of the Cheyenne Diner during sign removal day, and they were also interested in documenting me in front of the diner as of current. I guess they had a change of heart for some bizarre reason.
Any updates? Please let me know as soon as you can. I may have some ideas that are outside of the box, if the theater is still “imminently endangered.” You can post online &/or e-mail me at Thank you!
Architecturally speaking, the Ridgewood Theatre has one of the most elaborate theater facades and theater lobbies. It is one of Thomas Lamb’s earliest operations. Much has been hidden in the auditoriums, but is restoration-worthy. I believe nothing is impossible. That was very elaborate, and still has great potential. Portions of the interior can be designated once the theater was to reopen, after a specific time period.
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009: http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
**Please sign the petition to Landmark the historic Ridgewood Theatre, post a comment, and forward link to all of your contacts. Your help is crucial & much appeciated: View link
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009: http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
**Please sign the petition to Landmark the historic Ridgewood Theatre, post a comment, and forward link to all of your contacts. Your help is crucial & much appeciated: View link
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009: http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
**Please sign the petition to Landmark the historic Ridgewood Theatre, post a comment, and forward link to all of your contacts. Your help is crucial & much appeciated: View link
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009: http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009: http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009: http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009: http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009: http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Newar Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
To New Yorker: Please e-mail me photos of the Ridgewood Theatre possessions you came across. I can be reached at I may be interested, or one of my colleagues may be, or I can help point you in the right direction. Please let me know regardless of whether these items are still available. Thank you!
The Metro Theatre NY Times article is as follows: View link
This is the phone number for Eastern Consolidated, who posted the For Sale sign: (646) 658-7314.
In order to save the Ridgewood Theatre, our best bet is two-fold:
1 Sign and post a comment on the online petition to landmark the exterior and interior lobby of the Ridgewood Theatre. Please do more than signing it, by fowarding the link to every contact in your e-mail address book. Almost everyone enjoys forwarding jokes, but think of how many lives would be touched if this theater is preserved, which only takes a few mins of your time: View link
2 As rumor has it, this theater has been taken off the market for now. However, if you know of someone who may be interested in leasing the theater or making an offer to purchase it, communicate your ideas to Thomas Donovan of Massey Knackal Realty: (917) 566-1384 and (718) 275-3400 ext2626.
AM-NY has an annual series of the top endangered sites to save. Scroll down midway to the Queens paragraphs, and you will briefly read about my effort, as well as the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s quote: View link
The Ridgewood Theatre’s future is most likely in your hands, so please act now. Thank you!
Hi Warren! To help coordinate a revamped preservation effort with people i.e. Ed Tracey & Tom Stathes, do I have your permission to save your RKO Keith’s photos to flickr for placement in a flickr album? I would grant you credit, if you prefer. It would be a huge help. Please let me know. Thanks!
This is the Loew’s Canal Theatre’s property profile on the NYC Dept of Buildings website:
View link
The Canal Theatre is New Building #404, filed for in 1926, which is NB 404-26
These are the Certificate of Occupancies on file:
C of O, Sept 8, 1927:
View link
C of O, Sept 20, 1927:
View link
C of O, Nov 26, 1962 (when retail took over the first story):
View link
I am seeking a theater a fellow preservationist/buyer can transport, but please tell me the name of the theater. Thank you!
Thank you very much, John, and all enthusiasts who have supported the Ridgewood Theatre cause, and signed the petition in support of landmarking the facade and theater lobby. The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission says they are interested in calendaring the facade for a public hearing in the near future, which would determine its eligibility as a NYC Individual Landmark. Nothing is official since it is not in writing. Therefore, now is the time to continue advocating for landmark status. Please sign the petition, post a comment, and circulate the link to ALL CONTACTS in your e-mail address book: View link The LPC said they may consider the theater lobby once the theater is open for a certain time period. Interior Landmarks must be open by law, when first designated.
Also, routinely check www.myspace.com/ridgewoodtheatre, which has been updated. It is likely it will continue showing films.
Hi All! Michael is here, have no fear! I just noticed all your comments from today, in response to the NY Times article by Ralph Blumenthal. First of all, take a huge sigh of relief, since the Ridgewood Theatre is here to stay!
I was supposed to be interviewed on the Cheyenne Diner & the Moondance Diner, which I spared via transport, and to my astonishment, there was not even a mention of my role. I was briefly asked about the Ridgewood Theatre, since the NYT reporter stated “the AL couple” might be interested in making an offer on this theater (besides the Cheyenne Diner they purchased). I explained to the couple earlier this week that the theater facade may be landmarked, and the Ridgewood Theatre owner wants to keep it in his possession. If it was going to be demolished, then it would be a different story, but it’s not.
There was never any solid plan to move the Ridgewood Theatre to AL, but plans circulated between the couple & I, to save a different theater (anywhere in the U.S.) via transport that’s imminently endangered, whether that mean the facade &/or any interior architectural attributes. I never mentioned anything regarding Ridgewood Theatre seats and furnishings. I don’t know where the reporter got that from. I advocate for historic architecture and not furniture, lol.
I was disappointed when first reading this article, and had to do a double-take since my diner brokering credits were omitted, and the theater issue was boggled by misinformation. I am surprised with the NY Times, a reputable newspaper. I was photographed on the theater steps due to my efforts to landmark it only, as well as find a tenant or a new owner, if the current owner planned to sell. That was purely my intention, and that of the majority of supporters. The NYT expressed an interest in photos of myself in front of the Cheyenne Diner during sign removal day, and they were also interested in documenting me in front of the diner as of current. I guess they had a change of heart for some bizarre reason.
What is the current status of the theater? Any chances of preservation? Please let me know. Thanks!
Please let me know what the current status of the theater is. If it’s facing demolition, I have an idea that’s truly “outside of the box.”
My pleasure!
Everyone is welcome to view and comment on my Ridgewood Theatre flickr photoset, which will be updated every so often:
View link
ENJOY!
Any updates? Please let me know as soon as you can. I may have some ideas that are outside of the box, if the theater is still “imminently endangered.” You can post online &/or e-mail me at Thank you!
Architecturally speaking, the Ridgewood Theatre has one of the most elaborate theater facades and theater lobbies. It is one of Thomas Lamb’s earliest operations. Much has been hidden in the auditoriums, but is restoration-worthy. I believe nothing is impossible. That was very elaborate, and still has great potential. Portions of the interior can be designated once the theater was to reopen, after a specific time period.
Thanks! When it comes to landmarking, each building is its own entity. I feel nothing should be compared.
RECENT PRESS COVERAGE & PETITION
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009:
http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
**Please sign the petition to Landmark the historic Ridgewood Theatre, post a comment, and forward link to all of your contacts. Your help is crucial & much appeciated: View link
RECENT PRESS COVERAGE & PETITION
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009:
http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
**Please sign the petition to Landmark the historic Ridgewood Theatre, post a comment, and forward link to all of your contacts. Your help is crucial & much appeciated: View link
RECENT PRESS COVERAGE & PETITION
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009:
http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
**Please sign the petition to Landmark the historic Ridgewood Theatre, post a comment, and forward link to all of your contacts. Your help is crucial & much appeciated: View link
RECENT PRESS COVERAGE
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009:
http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
RECENT PRESS COVERAGE
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009:
http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
RECENT PRESS COVERAGE
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009:
http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
RECENT PRESS COVERAGE
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009:
http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Near Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
RECENT PRESS COVERAGE
“Queens Residents Push For Landmarking of Ridgewood Theatre,” (Interview with Michael Perlman, Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre), NY 1 News, Jan 23, 2009:
http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=92744
“Ridgewood Theatre May Be Landmarked: LPC To Hold Hearings In Newar Future,” Times NewsWeekly, Jan 15, 2009: View link
“City Eyes Ridgewood Theatre Landmark,” Ridgewood Ledger, Jan 15, 2009: View link
Please share all that’s new. Thanks!
To New Yorker: Please e-mail me photos of the Ridgewood Theatre possessions you came across. I can be reached at I may be interested, or one of my colleagues may be, or I can help point you in the right direction. Please let me know regardless of whether these items are still available. Thank you!
The Metro Theatre NY Times article is as follows:
View link
This is the phone number for Eastern Consolidated, who posted the For Sale sign: (646) 658-7314.
This links contains great information on the theater’s history:
http://www.nyc-architecture.com/UWS/UWS044.htm
What ideas do you have for the theater? Please keep us posted on your progress. Good luck!
In order to save the Ridgewood Theatre, our best bet is two-fold:
1 Sign and post a comment on the online petition to landmark the exterior and interior lobby of the Ridgewood Theatre. Please do more than signing it, by fowarding the link to every contact in your e-mail address book. Almost everyone enjoys forwarding jokes, but think of how many lives would be touched if this theater is preserved, which only takes a few mins of your time: View link
2 As rumor has it, this theater has been taken off the market for now. However, if you know of someone who may be interested in leasing the theater or making an offer to purchase it, communicate your ideas to Thomas Donovan of Massey Knackal Realty: (917) 566-1384 and (718) 275-3400 ext2626.
AM-NY has an annual series of the top endangered sites to save. Scroll down midway to the Queens paragraphs, and you will briefly read about my effort, as well as the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s quote: View link
The Ridgewood Theatre’s future is most likely in your hands, so please act now. Thank you!
If I have any leads, I’ll be more than happy to point you in the right direction. How is the NYSMTC progressing? Please e-mail me at