Another interesting thing about this theater is just how localized the movies were in this golden age of cinema – and how much more residential the surrounding community was during this era.
This part of Knickerbocker was really far from the main commercial strip and it is hard to believe that it could support an adequate audience base. But it did so for many years. It should also be noted that, during this time, far more people lived in the community situated just north of Flushing Ave. This community – which once also supported its own Catholic church – became devestated in the years following World War II, particularly after the 1961 zoning ordinance doomed it into a complete industrial zone. But the former existence of the New Modern provides and documents a link to it.
Did a pass-by today. Still no change. The problem is, the remainig shell will start to deteriorate – and has already begun to – if work does not commence soon.
Sorry for the double submission, but this seemed to occur automatically. It was not just that I was presenting something that cannot be stated too often! But, sorry anyway.
Since I had some free time today, I made a quick visit to the Ridgewood. I may have hit the jackpot!
While the marquee remains bare, one of the front doors was open and someone who described himelf as the manager of the renovation came out to talk to me and eventually invite me in. As one who grew up in Bushwick and held his graduation from JHS 291 here in the late 1970’s, he had very fond memories of the Ridgewood and was very enthusiastic about the plans to bring it back. Here are a few details:
The two theaters on the first floor will be converted into a large catering hall, which will feature the restoration of as much of the old ornaments and design as possible. In addition to doing the usual catering business, this facility will also schedule live events, like concerts. Given the far more radical alterations that other forms of retail use would have demanded, this is terrific news.
The entrance to the catering hall will be via the rear doors on Cypress Ave. This will enable the Myrtle Ave. entrance and the lobby to exclusively serve the movie-going audience.
The lobby will be renovated to bring back its former glory. The old rug will be removed, the underlying marble floor will be restored and a new chandelier installed.
The alterations that were made to the upper theaters – which will continue to show movies – will be stripped back and the underlying decorations restored to the extent possible.
The supervisor informed me that the restoration plan had been discussed with local Community Board 5 and been favorably received. He also noted that some funding streams had been tapped to further support the venture, but we did not have any time to discuss the specifics of this further.
Given the scope of the plan, the project will not become operational for at least another six months. (One year seems a more reasonable estimate, at least for full operation.) But, given the benefits to be gained here, ths delay will be more than worth it.
The supervisor also expressed interest in receiving any old pictures of the Ridgewood that anyone has so that they could be mounted in the lobby. I gave him the Cinema Treasures web page connection and also told him that I would ask the persons who possess the pictures to share them.
The highlight of the visit was a tour of the lobby and first floor theaters. The lobby has not been touched since the closing. While it obviously needs work, there is no reason why a full restoration cannot occur here. The partition separating theaters one and two has already been removed. Otherwise, everything is “as is”. It was very interesting to view two movie screens lined up side by side separated by – nothing!
While this is obviously not a done deal and disappoints can always occur, this seems to represent pretty solid evidence of a very positive turn for the best. So I am very happy to be the bearer of good news for a change!
PS. LM, I would not expect to see any new developments on the landmarking front until the fall, when the commission will vote on the proposal. But all developments in this endeavor have been positive – especially the stuff noted above – and no opposition whatsoever has emerged. So things look great here.
Since I had some free time today, I made a quick visit to the Ridgewood. I may have hit the jackpot!
While the marquee remains bare, one of the front doors was open and someone who described himelf as the manager of the renovation came out to talk to me and eventually invite me in. As one who grew up in Bushwick and held his graduation from JHS 291 here in the late 1970’s, he had very fond memories of the Ridgewood and was very enthusiastic about the plans to bring it back. Here are a few details:
The two theaters on the first floor will be converted into a large catering hall, which will feature the restoration of as much of the old ornaments and design as possible. In addition to doing the usual catering business, this facility will also schedule live events, like concerts. Given the far more radical alterations that other forms of retail use would have demanded, this is terrific news.
The entrance to the catering hall will be via the rear doors on Cypress Ave. This will enable the Myrtle Ave. entrance and the lobby to exclusively serve the movie-going audience.
The lobby will be renovated to bring back its former glory. The old rug will be removed, the underlying marble floor will be restored and a new chandelier installed.
The alterations that were made to the upper theaters – which will continue to show movies – will be stripped back and the underlying decorations restored to the extent possible.
The supervisor informed me that the restoration plan had been discussed with local Community Board 5 and been favorably received. He also noted that some funding streams had been tapped to further support the venture, but we did not have any time to discuss the specifics of this further.
Given the scope of the plan, the project will not become operational for at least another six months. (One year seems a more reasonable estimate, at least for full operation.) But, given the benefits to be gained here, ths delay will be more than worth it.
The supervisor also expressed interest in receiving any old pictures of the Ridgewood that anyone has so that they could be mounted in the lobby. I gave him the Cinema Treasures web page connection and also told him that I would ask the persons who possess the pictures to share them.
The highlight of the visit was a tour of the lobby and first floor theaters. The lobby has not been touched since the closing. While it obviously needs work, there is no reason why a full restoration cannot occur here. The partition separating theaters one and two has already been removed. Otherwise, everything is “as is”. It was very interesting to view two movie screens lined up side by side separated by – nothing!
While this is obviously not a done deal and disappoints can always occur, this seems to represent pretty solid evidence of a very positive turn for the best. So I am very happy to be the bearer of good news for a change!
PS. LM, I would not expect to see any new developments on the landmarking front until the fall, when the commission will vote on the proposal. But all developments in this endeavor have been positive – especially the stuff noted above – and no opposition whatsoever has emerged. So things look great here.
Michael, I’m glad you had such a great experience at the Kew Gardens. As an occasional patron of this place, my experience has been that it usually draws a lot of business. My guess is that you probably saw a film that was near the end of its run.
Interesting question Bway. A few thoughts come to mind.
Since it had become pretty rundown during its final years of existence, the physical plant may have been considered too deteriorated to be worth saving. Beyond that, there was certainly no organized “save the Greenpoint” group urging preservation at that time. (On landmarks issues accross the board, this was a very differebt era – especially in working class Greenpoint.)
Of greater significance was the fact that most of the Greenpoint was situated along Calyer St., which was and is commercial, and not Manhattan Ave. In developing the property for new commercial use, the easiest route to take involved tearing down the old building and then constructing two large stores – the A&P (now the gym) and the clothing store (originally Goodwins) – that had their main entrances on Calyer. (The Manhattan Ave. entrance to the clothing store is clearly a secondary point of entry.) Trying to adapt these new uses from the hulking old movie theater was probably considered to be a much less realistic alternative.
In contrast to the Greenpoint, most of the old Meserole lies along solidly residential Lorimer St. In ths case, it made far less sense to develop new commercial space fronting Lorimer St. via demolition and new construction, since this would conflict with Lorimer’s residential nature.
I just returned from a visit to England. During a trip to Richmond, I happily stumbled upon this wonderful facade. Walking up from the historic Richmond Bridge that traverses the Thames, the theater really dominates the streetscape and provides a terrific, and very well preserved, landmark on its own. I just wish I could have caught a film here – but time was not on my side. (And the Fanatical About Films sign was also terrific to see.)
Bway, the theater was situated at the NW corner of Knickerbocker and Stanhope, where the “Tip Top” and the “Tattoo” stores currently occupy the site. The theater might also have been located in the adjacent lot, where the Payless shoe store is currently situated.
Since the corner building (given its architectural qualities) seems to have been constructed prior to the mid 1910’s – the time when the Ridgewood Casino went out of business – I have opted for the corner building as being the site for what was a tiny and rather primitive nickelodeon-type movie house. But it is possible that the old theater was demolished and replaced by the current occupents of this site sometime in the 1910’s. In short, this has the makings of an interesting detective story, something hopefully more productive than the Ridgewood Follies!
Bway, I don’t think this is the old New Ideal. Instead, it is probably a “tax-payer” that took its place after the old movie house was demolished. But, who knows?
Blondie10, I referred to your recent post on the BushwickBk.Com web site, which is hopefully attached. Perhaps the owner may wish to reach out to this site.
Blondie10, this is interesting news. Do you think that the owner would be interested in selling – or leasing – this property to a group that could run the buildig for a theatrical purpose? A number of newly arrived Bushwick residents are involved in artistic pursuits and may be very interested in this site.
If the owner is responsive to this suggestion, please have him respond on this page.
Since it was converted into the catering hall soon thereafter, it seems pretty easy to assume that the movie house was closed by 1987.
By the way, some time last year, I noted that many years ago – no later than the late 1950’s – a bowling alley was situated in the basement of what I believe was the Drake. My parents bowled there as part of a league. The place closed rather suddenly, probably right after the Woodhaven Lanes opened. Does anyone remember the old bowling alley, and was it siuated in the Drake building or somewhere else? It would seem that only a building as large as the Drake could accommodate a bowling alley, but maybe not.
Thanks, Robert R. I guess is is how the American/Chopin looked in the mid-1970’s. Too bad it did not survive a few years longer, after Greenpoint became gentrified.
1986 makes absolutely no sense. First, the American closed in – at the latest – the early 1970’s, and only reopened as the Chopin several years later. Second, the building to the right, which was an American Legion Hall, was demolished in the early 1960’s – and replaced by the McDonald’s that currently occupies the space about 10 years later.
My guess is that 1956 makes a lot more sense than 1986. Still, it’s a terrific photo. So, thanks LM – and let the discussion begin!
Bway, my sense is that the Starbucks takes up more than the old lobby, which I vaguely remember as being a pretty modest affair, and probably includes a portion – but only a portion – of the old theater proper.
With regard to the club, this is located on the second floor in space that had independently functioned as a bingo hall.
My interpretation of the owner’s intent – or at least my hopeful reading – is somewhat more upscale – and more permanent – than the flea market that currently exists at the old Richmond Hill. I would also think that the Myrtle Ave. BID people would like to see higher quality, and more sales intense, uses established here. Such uses will be hopefully, provide a more positive cash flow that will better support the movie theaters. Well, at least we can hope for the best.
I think the number one priority here is to get a commitment from the owner to preserve the lobby by having it primarily serve as the entry way to the remaining theaters. If this occurs, interior landmarking can wait and may not even be necessary. Given the owner’s reported comments on future use, this seems to be eminently doable.
Yes, the Graham went “adult” before meeting its demise.
Graham Ave. is served by the B-43 bus, which used to be the B-62. The B-18 starts – or ends – its run at Graham and Metropolitan and then runs through Bushwick, Ridgewood and places south. It does pass by the old Graham near the end of its route.
The Graham Ave. bus passes many old movie sites along its course. Several of them – the Lindy, Public Palace, Garden and Midway – are pretty obscure – but also quite interesting and certainly worth a visit on their CT pages.
Montrose Ave. was the closest “L” – or, as we all referred to it, Canarsie – train stop.
Getting a little back to topic, Trinity was situated around the corner from the Rainbow Theatre, which had just concluded its cinematic life when my time there started and had turned into a church. I think it is still functioning as such, though I believe the owner is trying to market it for a more profitable use.
My route from Greenpoint to Trinity was the Graham Ave. bus, which took me passed the old Graham Ave. movie house. At that time, the Graham was showing third or fourth run triple bills and had yet to embark on its final – and far more seedy – cinematic career. It is now a medical clinic affiliated with Woodhull hospital. (About a year ago, I entered a few comments about the Graham that you might find interesting.)
Another interesting thing about this theater is just how localized the movies were in this golden age of cinema – and how much more residential the surrounding community was during this era.
This part of Knickerbocker was really far from the main commercial strip and it is hard to believe that it could support an adequate audience base. But it did so for many years. It should also be noted that, during this time, far more people lived in the community situated just north of Flushing Ave. This community – which once also supported its own Catholic church – became devestated in the years following World War II, particularly after the 1961 zoning ordinance doomed it into a complete industrial zone. But the former existence of the New Modern provides and documents a link to it.
Did a pass-by today. Still no change. The problem is, the remainig shell will start to deteriorate – and has already begun to – if work does not commence soon.
Sorry for the double submission, but this seemed to occur automatically. It was not just that I was presenting something that cannot be stated too often! But, sorry anyway.
Since I had some free time today, I made a quick visit to the Ridgewood. I may have hit the jackpot!
While the marquee remains bare, one of the front doors was open and someone who described himelf as the manager of the renovation came out to talk to me and eventually invite me in. As one who grew up in Bushwick and held his graduation from JHS 291 here in the late 1970’s, he had very fond memories of the Ridgewood and was very enthusiastic about the plans to bring it back. Here are a few details:
The two theaters on the first floor will be converted into a large catering hall, which will feature the restoration of as much of the old ornaments and design as possible. In addition to doing the usual catering business, this facility will also schedule live events, like concerts. Given the far more radical alterations that other forms of retail use would have demanded, this is terrific news.
The entrance to the catering hall will be via the rear doors on Cypress Ave. This will enable the Myrtle Ave. entrance and the lobby to exclusively serve the movie-going audience.
The lobby will be renovated to bring back its former glory. The old rug will be removed, the underlying marble floor will be restored and a new chandelier installed.
The alterations that were made to the upper theaters – which will continue to show movies – will be stripped back and the underlying decorations restored to the extent possible.
The supervisor informed me that the restoration plan had been discussed with local Community Board 5 and been favorably received. He also noted that some funding streams had been tapped to further support the venture, but we did not have any time to discuss the specifics of this further.
Given the scope of the plan, the project will not become operational for at least another six months. (One year seems a more reasonable estimate, at least for full operation.) But, given the benefits to be gained here, ths delay will be more than worth it.
The supervisor also expressed interest in receiving any old pictures of the Ridgewood that anyone has so that they could be mounted in the lobby. I gave him the Cinema Treasures web page connection and also told him that I would ask the persons who possess the pictures to share them.
The highlight of the visit was a tour of the lobby and first floor theaters. The lobby has not been touched since the closing. While it obviously needs work, there is no reason why a full restoration cannot occur here. The partition separating theaters one and two has already been removed. Otherwise, everything is “as is”. It was very interesting to view two movie screens lined up side by side separated by – nothing!
While this is obviously not a done deal and disappoints can always occur, this seems to represent pretty solid evidence of a very positive turn for the best. So I am very happy to be the bearer of good news for a change!
PS. LM, I would not expect to see any new developments on the landmarking front until the fall, when the commission will vote on the proposal. But all developments in this endeavor have been positive – especially the stuff noted above – and no opposition whatsoever has emerged. So things look great here.
Since I had some free time today, I made a quick visit to the Ridgewood. I may have hit the jackpot!
While the marquee remains bare, one of the front doors was open and someone who described himelf as the manager of the renovation came out to talk to me and eventually invite me in. As one who grew up in Bushwick and held his graduation from JHS 291 here in the late 1970’s, he had very fond memories of the Ridgewood and was very enthusiastic about the plans to bring it back. Here are a few details:
The two theaters on the first floor will be converted into a large catering hall, which will feature the restoration of as much of the old ornaments and design as possible. In addition to doing the usual catering business, this facility will also schedule live events, like concerts. Given the far more radical alterations that other forms of retail use would have demanded, this is terrific news.
The entrance to the catering hall will be via the rear doors on Cypress Ave. This will enable the Myrtle Ave. entrance and the lobby to exclusively serve the movie-going audience.
The lobby will be renovated to bring back its former glory. The old rug will be removed, the underlying marble floor will be restored and a new chandelier installed.
The alterations that were made to the upper theaters – which will continue to show movies – will be stripped back and the underlying decorations restored to the extent possible.
The supervisor informed me that the restoration plan had been discussed with local Community Board 5 and been favorably received. He also noted that some funding streams had been tapped to further support the venture, but we did not have any time to discuss the specifics of this further.
Given the scope of the plan, the project will not become operational for at least another six months. (One year seems a more reasonable estimate, at least for full operation.) But, given the benefits to be gained here, ths delay will be more than worth it.
The supervisor also expressed interest in receiving any old pictures of the Ridgewood that anyone has so that they could be mounted in the lobby. I gave him the Cinema Treasures web page connection and also told him that I would ask the persons who possess the pictures to share them.
The highlight of the visit was a tour of the lobby and first floor theaters. The lobby has not been touched since the closing. While it obviously needs work, there is no reason why a full restoration cannot occur here. The partition separating theaters one and two has already been removed. Otherwise, everything is “as is”. It was very interesting to view two movie screens lined up side by side separated by – nothing!
While this is obviously not a done deal and disappoints can always occur, this seems to represent pretty solid evidence of a very positive turn for the best. So I am very happy to be the bearer of good news for a change!
PS. LM, I would not expect to see any new developments on the landmarking front until the fall, when the commission will vote on the proposal. But all developments in this endeavor have been positive – especially the stuff noted above – and no opposition whatsoever has emerged. So things look great here.
Michael, I’m glad you had such a great experience at the Kew Gardens. As an occasional patron of this place, my experience has been that it usually draws a lot of business. My guess is that you probably saw a film that was near the end of its run.
Interesting question Bway. A few thoughts come to mind.
Since it had become pretty rundown during its final years of existence, the physical plant may have been considered too deteriorated to be worth saving. Beyond that, there was certainly no organized “save the Greenpoint” group urging preservation at that time. (On landmarks issues accross the board, this was a very differebt era – especially in working class Greenpoint.)
Of greater significance was the fact that most of the Greenpoint was situated along Calyer St., which was and is commercial, and not Manhattan Ave. In developing the property for new commercial use, the easiest route to take involved tearing down the old building and then constructing two large stores – the A&P (now the gym) and the clothing store (originally Goodwins) – that had their main entrances on Calyer. (The Manhattan Ave. entrance to the clothing store is clearly a secondary point of entry.) Trying to adapt these new uses from the hulking old movie theater was probably considered to be a much less realistic alternative.
In contrast to the Greenpoint, most of the old Meserole lies along solidly residential Lorimer St. In ths case, it made far less sense to develop new commercial space fronting Lorimer St. via demolition and new construction, since this would conflict with Lorimer’s residential nature.
It is now June 12. Has anything new occurred here, or is the site still vacant as described by Peter in his last post?
I just returned from a visit to England. During a trip to Richmond, I happily stumbled upon this wonderful facade. Walking up from the historic Richmond Bridge that traverses the Thames, the theater really dominates the streetscape and provides a terrific, and very well preserved, landmark on its own. I just wish I could have caught a film here – but time was not on my side. (And the Fanatical About Films sign was also terrific to see.)
Bway, the theater was situated at the NW corner of Knickerbocker and Stanhope, where the “Tip Top” and the “Tattoo” stores currently occupy the site. The theater might also have been located in the adjacent lot, where the Payless shoe store is currently situated.
Since the corner building (given its architectural qualities) seems to have been constructed prior to the mid 1910’s – the time when the Ridgewood Casino went out of business – I have opted for the corner building as being the site for what was a tiny and rather primitive nickelodeon-type movie house. But it is possible that the old theater was demolished and replaced by the current occupents of this site sometime in the 1910’s. In short, this has the makings of an interesting detective story, something hopefully more productive than the Ridgewood Follies!
Bway, I don’t think this is the old New Ideal. Instead, it is probably a “tax-payer” that took its place after the old movie house was demolished. But, who knows?
Blondie10, I referred to your recent post on the BushwickBk.Com web site, which is hopefully attached. Perhaps the owner may wish to reach out to this site.
http://bushwickbk.com/forum/index.php?
board=31;action=display;threadid=19658
Blondie10, this is interesting news. Do you think that the owner would be interested in selling – or leasing – this property to a group that could run the buildig for a theatrical purpose? A number of newly arrived Bushwick residents are involved in artistic pursuits and may be very interested in this site.
If the owner is responsive to this suggestion, please have him respond on this page.
Since it was converted into the catering hall soon thereafter, it seems pretty easy to assume that the movie house was closed by 1987.
By the way, some time last year, I noted that many years ago – no later than the late 1950’s – a bowling alley was situated in the basement of what I believe was the Drake. My parents bowled there as part of a league. The place closed rather suddenly, probably right after the Woodhaven Lanes opened. Does anyone remember the old bowling alley, and was it siuated in the Drake building or somewhere else? It would seem that only a building as large as the Drake could accommodate a bowling alley, but maybe not.
Thanks, Robert R. I guess is is how the American/Chopin looked in the mid-1970’s. Too bad it did not survive a few years longer, after Greenpoint became gentrified.
1986 makes absolutely no sense. First, the American closed in – at the latest – the early 1970’s, and only reopened as the Chopin several years later. Second, the building to the right, which was an American Legion Hall, was demolished in the early 1960’s – and replaced by the McDonald’s that currently occupies the space about 10 years later.
My guess is that 1956 makes a lot more sense than 1986. Still, it’s a terrific photo. So, thanks LM – and let the discussion begin!
Actually, the old girl looked pretty good, even near the end of its cinematic run! I would have envisioned a more seedy appearance by the mid 1960’s.
Am doing as well.
Bway, my sense is that the Starbucks takes up more than the old lobby, which I vaguely remember as being a pretty modest affair, and probably includes a portion – but only a portion – of the old theater proper.
With regard to the club, this is located on the second floor in space that had independently functioned as a bingo hall.
My interpretation of the owner’s intent – or at least my hopeful reading – is somewhat more upscale – and more permanent – than the flea market that currently exists at the old Richmond Hill. I would also think that the Myrtle Ave. BID people would like to see higher quality, and more sales intense, uses established here. Such uses will be hopefully, provide a more positive cash flow that will better support the movie theaters. Well, at least we can hope for the best.
I think the number one priority here is to get a commitment from the owner to preserve the lobby by having it primarily serve as the entry way to the remaining theaters. If this occurs, interior landmarking can wait and may not even be necessary. Given the owner’s reported comments on future use, this seems to be eminently doable.
Yes, the Graham went “adult” before meeting its demise.
Graham Ave. is served by the B-43 bus, which used to be the B-62. The B-18 starts – or ends – its run at Graham and Metropolitan and then runs through Bushwick, Ridgewood and places south. It does pass by the old Graham near the end of its route.
The Graham Ave. bus passes many old movie sites along its course. Several of them – the Lindy, Public Palace, Garden and Midway – are pretty obscure – but also quite interesting and certainly worth a visit on their CT pages.
Montrose Ave. was the closest “L” – or, as we all referred to it, Canarsie – train stop.
Getting a little back to topic, Trinity was situated around the corner from the Rainbow Theatre, which had just concluded its cinematic life when my time there started and had turned into a church. I think it is still functioning as such, though I believe the owner is trying to market it for a more profitable use.
My route from Greenpoint to Trinity was the Graham Ave. bus, which took me passed the old Graham Ave. movie house. At that time, the Graham was showing third or fourth run triple bills and had yet to embark on its final – and far more seedy – cinematic career. It is now a medical clinic affiliated with Woodhull hospital. (About a year ago, I entered a few comments about the Graham that you might find interesting.)
Talk soon.
It closed in 1972, four years after I graduated in 1968. MHT was situated in Williamsburg, on Montrose Ave. and Graham Ave. You do not remember it?
Peter, at least SFP still exists, albeit in a far removed – almost alien – location. At least allow me some retroactive bragging rights!