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!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. I do not have much faith on them on the basis of their designation track record for Queens, and the amount of Request For Evaluation forms (RFE) that go unacknowledged or rejected without a public hearing. I also reminisce to their false promise in landmarking the Trylon Theater. However, I am trying my best to remain hopeful and exercise the few legal means that I have as a historic preservationist (pursuing landmark status as one). If they were to reject calendaring it for a public hearing, it would then be my role to publicize their negligence in serving NYC citizens, et al.
It’s great that you’re a new addition to the neighborhood, but I regret hearing that the Ridgewood Theatre wasn’t there to serve you shortly after. It is a gem, and as Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre, I would greatly appreciate all the help I can get in advocating for Individual Landmark status (facade) & Interior Landmark status (mostly intact theater lobby). Can you please sign our petition, post a comment, and forward it to your entire e-mail address book, encouraging them to do the same? I really need everyone’s help. This can take minutes. The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission must NOT stall any further. Borough-wide citizens always say how it’s their dereliction of public duty. This gem should be calendared for a public hearing ASAP. Thank you in advance!
Sorry to hear you are facing a similar scenario. Can the facade and interior be designated a landmark? Can you start an online petition through petitiononline.com? You are welcome to sign my petition, even though you are from out of state. Also, please post a comment and feel free to encourage your friends to sign it. I would value as much assistance as possible. Thanks!
Dangel, I have information on how you can restore those details most effectively. Please e-mail me at and specify who you are in the subject line. Thanks! – Michael Perlman
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
The Streetscapes reporter for the NY Times Real Estate section is Christopher Gray, who can be reached at Hope this helps!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. I do not have much faith on them on the basis of their designation track record for Queens, and the amount of Request For Evaluation forms (RFE) that go unacknowledged or rejected without a public hearing. I also reminisce to their false promise in landmarking the Trylon Theater. However, I am trying my best to remain hopeful and exercise the few legal means that I have as a historic preservationist (pursuing landmark status as one). If they were to reject calendaring it for a public hearing, it would then be my role to publicize their negligence in serving NYC citizens, et al.
It’s great that you’re a new addition to the neighborhood, but I regret hearing that the Ridgewood Theatre wasn’t there to serve you shortly after. It is a gem, and as Chair of Friends of Ridgewood Theatre, I would greatly appreciate all the help I can get in advocating for Individual Landmark status (facade) & Interior Landmark status (mostly intact theater lobby). Can you please sign our petition, post a comment, and forward it to your entire e-mail address book, encouraging them to do the same? I really need everyone’s help. This can take minutes. The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission must NOT stall any further. Borough-wide citizens always say how it’s their dereliction of public duty. This gem should be calendared for a public hearing ASAP. Thank you in advance!
View link
Sorry to hear you are facing a similar scenario. Can the facade and interior be designated a landmark? Can you start an online petition through petitiononline.com? You are welcome to sign my petition, even though you are from out of state. Also, please post a comment and feel free to encourage your friends to sign it. I would value as much assistance as possible. Thanks!
View link
Dangel, I have information on how you can restore those details most effectively. Please e-mail me at and specify who you are in the subject line. Thanks! – Michael Perlman