Comments from Bway

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Bway
Bway commented about Casino Theatre on Apr 29, 2004 at 4:04 pm

Fernando, in the links below you can see the building Peter is talking about. Peter and I had been trying for quite a while to figure out where the Casino Theater was until recently finding out the Casino was nearer to the Kosciuszko St El station, and we had originally mistakenly thought that that arched windowed building may have been the Casino Theater. For some reason now I have a feeling that arched building may have been “Bargintown”. Although refurbished in the late 90’s, into the 80’s it was abandoned and painted in red and white stripes, as seen in the distance in the nycsubway.org photo: http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4666 The Casino Theater would have been just to the right of the train in the photo.
The striped building has since been restored as seen in the “transitgallery photo”:
View link
Any information would be appreciated.

Bway
Bway commented about Hillside Theatre on Apr 28, 2004 at 6:04 pm

The funny thing is I was trying for a while since Peter first asked me to help him figure out those words on the marquee of the Hillside theater, and just fell short. Now that I know what it says, it looks so clear in the photo now!
And Peter, keep those links coming!

Bway
Bway commented about Rio Piedras Theatre on Apr 28, 2004 at 4:13 pm

Greenpoint, is that photo on the top of that page of the interior of the Broadway Theater?
Anyway, you can also get a glimpse of the Broadway Theater in the movie “Ghost”. When the train that Patrick Swayze’s character is on pulls into the Myrtle-Broadway station, you can get a glimpse of the theater to the left of the train. I have many times looked into the glass-less windows of the Broadway Theater while waiting for subway trains. In whatever that room was on the second floor facing the subway platform, the plaster ceiling had collapsed onto the floor.
In 1998 when they demolished the theater, I was able to see the interior of the theater for the first time. It was very ornate. For a period of time the interior of the theater was exposed. The final wall to come down was the stage wall and the proscenium arch was still intact. Some Corinthian columns also remained with the stage wall along another wall, and one last chandelier hung there waving in the wind. I wish I had my camera with me that day.
Today, the site of the theater is still vacant. A “shany-town” has sort of sprung up at the rear of the lot where the stage used to be with homeless people. You can still see the scars of the old theater on the wall that used to be shared by the theater and the building on the left. You can see where stairways went up to the balconies and different levels on the bricks on the side of the building on the left.
You can also see a photo taken in 1914 of the old Broadway Theater in it’s prime in the book, “The Brooklyn Elevated” by Greller and Watson on the Myrtle Ave El page.

Bway
Bway commented about RKO Bushwick Theatre on Apr 28, 2004 at 7:52 am

I had just seen the interior of the Bushwick Theater in “The Believers”. It must have been filmed there in the mid to late 80’s. I recommend the movie to anyone who wants to see the interior, till some other photos are available. The theater appeared very intact in the late 80’s according to what it looked like in the movie, although of course in compelete shambles. In the movie some cult had preformed human sacrafices on the stage. It really is a good movie.
Wouldn’t it have been nice and ironic had they restored the theater to movies, and the first movie to be shown there was “The Believers”. Oh well, at least it is still standing, even if for a high school.

Bway
Bway commented about Casino Theatre on Apr 26, 2004 at 2:40 pm

Here is the link to the photo Peter was talking about above. It’s a start from some photos, even if just of the “roof”.
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3033

Bway
Bway commented about Casino Theatre on Apr 26, 2004 at 2:32 pm

Thanks guys for all the information on the Casino Theater. I am very interested in finding out more about this and some of the other Broadway (Brooklyn) area theaters. If I find out anything more, I will post it here. Some photos of either the interior or exterior would also be very welcome if anyone ever finds a link to this or some of the other Bushwick theaters.

Bway
Bway commented about RKO Keith's Richmond Hill Theatre on Apr 26, 2004 at 7:45 am

I agree, the theater should be identified as RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill Theater. I had a lot of trouble finding the theater in the database, and finally found it by searching “RKO”, which finally let me find it. If I didn’t know it was an RKO theater, I may still not have found it because Keith’s is not in the title.

Bway
Bway commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Apr 23, 2004 at 5:10 pm

Monica, thanks for all your comments. I also enjoyed the Ridgewood as a child in the 70’s and as a teenager in the 80’s. Back in the 70’s, I had seen many movies there. My mother’s friend was the ticket checker, and would usually get us discount tickets. I can’t even remember the countless movies I had seen there, but many were while it still was only one theater (or some when it had only two when the balcony was first partitioned out for the main auditorium). The last movie I saw there before the main level was cut up was E.T. I also saw “In Search or Historic Jesus” there when it was one theater (Ironically so, after seeing what’s on the marquee in your photos!), and also some Disney movies with my mother as a child. The last movie I saw at the Ridgewood quite a few years ago was one of the Frideay the 13th movies, I think Part 6.
One of my funniest memories of the Ridgewood was going there to see “Beverley Hills Cop II” many years ago. I went there with a friend, and it was a very bright sunny day. It was playing in one of the balcony theaters. We bought popcorn and drinks, and then headed to the theater. The line was popcorn long, so the credits of the movie were already started when we got in. Our eyes weren’t fully adjusted yet, so the theater appeared pitch black. We were literally crawling up the steps and incline in the aisle, and tripping on the steps as we went along. We couldn’t see a thing! We even tried to sit on someone! We finally found empty seats, (which certainly wasn’t easy). We started watching the movie. After about 15 minutes or so, we glanced down at the aisle that we had such a hard time getting up and to out horror, it really wasn’t all that dark in the theater, we had really given the ¾ full theater a show as we stumbled up those steps and then trying to sit on people in what we thought was “dark”….it was all in clear view of the people whose eyes were used to the dark watching the spectacle!
Thanks again Monica for the great memories you brought back for a theater in my old hometown neighborhood.
Thanks Peter for a reminder of another Ridgewood landmark…Carl’s!

Bway
Bway commented about AMC Empire 25 on Apr 19, 2004 at 4:31 pm

Both the interior and exterior of the Eltinge theater are original. Both the exterior and interior of the theater were landmarked by the city. When AMC did the renovation, the Eltinge theater were moved 200 feet, and then the multiplex built around it. The 900 seat “legit” playhouse of Julian Eltinge is the lobby of the AMC multiplex. People use the old theater space to get to their theaters using some zigzaggng escalators from floor to floor. The former balcony areas were converted to a cafe. So yes, the exterior and interior auditorium of the former Eltinge (Empire theater) ARE in fact the lobby for the new AMC multiplex.

Bway
Bway commented about RKO Keith's Richmond Hill Theatre on Apr 16, 2004 at 1:10 pm

I think I can trace my interst in theaters to the RKO Keiths in Richmond Hill. When I was about 12, occasionally I used to go with my parents to the RKO Keiths in Richmond Hill for the Flea Markets in the mid 80’s. They would go looking at the stuff, and I would go off on my own and explore the theater. The “relic” condition of it fascinated me! The very opulent lobby with the mirrors, chandeliers, and plasterwork, sitting there filthy just fascinated me. Also all the chandeliers along the ceiling up in the balcony. The theater was sort of trashed, but so much of the theater’s glory days was there. Many of the old sconces were lit up on the walls back then, sitting there filthy.
One day during a flea market as a kid, I snuck up to the balcony. All that was stopping me was a chain across the stairs with the ornate railing. I ran up there when no one was looking, and really searched the nooks and crannies. Soot, and years of dust and cobwebs covered everything, including the draperies and crystal chandeliers. I also snuck behind the stage curtain on one trip there. The ornate curtain had been cut, and makeshift doorway put in it.
The ornate paintings and murals all survived way up on the ceiling of the theater, although all the walls were painted beige about halfway up to the ceiling. The proscenium arch was beige on the sides, and the top was still original with gold etching, and all different colors. The theater seemed so interesting because of all the old stuff sitting there, like a diamond in the rough.
I have not been back to the RKO Keith’s in probably at least 15 years, so have no idea what changes (or removal of old stuff) have taken place since back then.
I was sorry to hear that the museum plans fell through, it would have been nice to see the theater restored. At least around 15 years ago, so much of the old theater was still intact (aside from the seats on the main level), so it was very possible to save with restoration unlike so many other theaters. I hope that is still the case today.

Bway
Bway commented about RKO Madison Theatre on Apr 15, 2004 at 4:45 pm

To answer Robert’s question about the theater being intact or not, I don’t know what remains of the beautiful theater that was the Madison. What I do remember was that after being empty for quite a while, the Madison had become a “Consumers” store. Later, it became an “Odd Lot” store. I had visited both of those stores many times. You used to be able to see the outline of the balcony on the ceiling. They put in a “fake ceiling” in the main part of the theater, so don’t know what remained of the old theater as it was all covered. Some time around when it closed as a theater to when it opened as Consumers, the Madison burned, so I don’t know how much of the theater survived between neglect, time, the fire, and just conversion to stores.
The exterior had survived quite nicely. Although the marquee was removed around the time of the store conversion, the marble facade on Myrtle survived quite nicely, and was even cleaned and pointed. Unfortunately, the Liberty Dept store that now occupies the theater covered half the facade with their sign. Now covered are the ornate marble window surroundings that last and were even restored some years earlier.
Also if you stand on the Wyckoff Ave station platform of the M line el, you can just vaguely make out “Madison Theatre” in a rapidly fading painted sign showing a relic from the past.

Bway
Bway commented about Acme Theatre on Apr 15, 2004 at 12:48 pm

Robert, I don’t know too much else about the Acme aside from in it’s life as the catering hall, and even that, I only visited once, so don’t really remember the interior. I also vaguely remember that there was Social Security Office somewhere in the theater.
I wish there was website online somewhere that had photos of old theaters, either current or historical. They seem very hard to find.

Bway
Bway commented about Trylon Theater on Apr 15, 2004 at 11:26 am

I only had seen one movie in the Trylon, “A Stranger Among Us” much of which was actually filmed in Ridgewood, at the Forest Ave M station. I remember it usually playing “unusual” films.
I remember it being a really nice “old fashioned” theater that if I’m not mistaken, even opened and closed curtains in front of the screen still.

Bway
Bway commented about Acme Theatre on Apr 15, 2004 at 11:19 am

They were probably much more than 7 blocks apart (many of the numbers repeat themselves – 64th St, 64th Pl, etc). The Glenwood was actually about a block away from the trestle, and probably the theater Bob is thinking of. The Acme, aka the Victorian House caterers, was on the other side of the trestle, and many many blocks away, near St Pancras Church on Myrtle.

Bway
Bway commented about Belvedere Theatre on Apr 15, 2004 at 11:14 am

The clothes store that was located in the Belvedere was “Friedricks” Clothing store.

Bway
Bway commented about Glenwood Theatre on Apr 15, 2004 at 11:09 am

I never visited the Glenwood while it was a theater, so don’t know when it closed as a theater, but I did go to it a few times when it was a bowling alley. I was a small child when it was a bowling alley, so don’t know what if any ornamentation of it’s theater days survived the conversion. I do however remember the huge marquee with “Glenwood” on it very well. That was still all there in it’s bowling alley days. It was actually demolished in the mid-80’s to late 80’s (unlike the 90’s mentioned above), and the post office built on it’s site.

Bway
Bway commented about Oasis Theatre on Apr 15, 2004 at 11:02 am

Just to add to Warren’s great description. As far as I know the Oasis does in fact sit in Ridgewood, not Glendale, and it always had been Ridgewood.
I remember the Oasis well as a child visiting there. Most of the movies I had seen there were Disney movies with my mother. After closing to movies in the 70’s for a very short time before becoming a roller rink, they had sort or local bands or something playing there. That didn’t last long.
I remember the roller rink well, as I went there many times as a teenager. All the seats on the main level were removed and three pyranmids put in the middle (where you scated around, or you could sit to take a break). They put dancing neon Eqyptians in the former screen area, and the Proscenium survived intact. The concession stand area was in the same spot from when it was a theater.
All the chandeliers survived the conversion, as did the glass stained fixtures along the walls. The fancy fixtures on the ceiling under the balcony were still used and remained lit, although dimmed while the roller sessions were going on. The chandeliers and glass stained fixtures usually remained off during the roller skating sessions, although occasionally blinked on and off with some songs, and they usually lit them during the final song of the sessions, which was usually “New York, New York”. The music was always extremely loud in the Oasis Roller Rink.
The balcony, although totally unused in the Oasis Roller Rink days was entirely intact during it’s life as a roller rink. You could see the seats up above while skating.
The Oasis did sit empty for many years after the Oasis Roller World closed. The Oasis also burned during that time. The lobby area and the stores that use to face Fresh Pond Road were all demolished after the fire. The main auditorium remains as CVS. I don’t know what ornamentation still survived after the fire, or conversion to a CVS above the CVS ceiling. It’s unfortunate, because all the ornamentation and fancy lighting fixtures were still intact from it’s conversion from theater to roller rink.

Bway
Bway commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Apr 14, 2004 at 1:34 pm

Weezah, wow, you weren’t in too many neighborhoods in Brooklyn or Queens if you think the Ridgewood is in a “terrible” neighborhood. While the neighborhood certainly isn’t “heaven” it’s far from an “afraid to walk around” neighborhood.
Anyway, the Ridgewood is indeed in Queens, although Brooklyn is in fact on the other side of Myrtle Ave. The theater is literally across the street from Brooklyn, and even that side of Myrtle Ave becomes Brooklyn in about 2 or 3 blocks, so yes, it is close to Brooklyn on 2 sides, but is in Queens.
I remember the Ridgewood being on theater, and was a bit more run down than the other theaters in the area. Even after converting to 5 screens, it continued it’s decline. I have not been in the theater in over 10 years, but do remember the thater being much like weezah described (aside from the neighborhood itself being “terrible”. You did stick to the floor, filthy seats, and yes, mice. Looking up at the ceiling would show much of the old plaster work, even if “half circles” because they put up walls all over the original theater to cut it up. The exterior is also not all that inviting, and also a bit “seedy” looking. Hopefully, one day renovation will come. It is amazing that it is one of the oldest continuously operating theaters.

Bway
Bway commented about RKO Madison Theatre on Apr 14, 2004 at 11:45 am

Anyone know of a place where interior shots of this or other Brooklyn theaters could be seen?

Bway
Bway commented about RKO Bushwick Theatre on Apr 14, 2004 at 11:40 am

While it’s sad that the old Bushwick theater could not be preserved as a theater, and the interior was too far gone to have any relic remain, much thanks to “getz” and the city for at least preserving the exterior and the theater is not lost completely like so many others.