Hi, everybody! Although I don’t hail from Ridgewood, Brooklyn, or New York, generally, I read all the comments about the now-closed Ridgewood Theatre and all the memories of growing up in the Ridgewoiod community itself with much interest and enjoyment. The Ridgewood Theatre was yet another beautifully palatial-looking theatre. Sure wish they’d preserve more of these graceful old movie palaces instead of letting them go to seed, tearing them down, and then converting them to whatever they please just so they can fatten their wallets.
I hear what you’re saying, Patsy, and…yup….with rare exceptions, Tinsel town, plus today’s generation being hard to compete with, is absolutely correct.
Thank heavens there are afew movie palaces left here in the United States, though.
What a fabulous-looking theatre, inside and out. It seems to be in a class all by itself. Thanks for posting and sharing all the info with everybody here.
The Somerville Theatre’s big main screen and the Brattle Theatre, in Cambridge, MA, are the only two movie theatres in our area that have balconies. When West Side Story has played in both of these theatres, I’ve made it a point to sit in the balcony, because that’s the coolest part of the movie theatre from which to view a film like that.
The Wang Theatre, in Boston, used to have motion picture mondays, and WSS came there afew times. The balcony was cool there, too.
Even though I don’t live in that general area, the theatre looks like a fantastic theatre, which would be another perfect place to show great vintage movie classics in. Too bad they don’t do that anymore.
Wow!! What a vicious act that was!! Imagine beating somebody within an inch or so of their life for asking an innocous question such as what time it was! Here’s hoping the theatre owner got put behind bars.
I remember the Allston Theatre very well. It was a small, but comfy theatre. Back in the early 1980’s, during my last year of college, I lived in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner, very close to the Allston-Brookline border, and therefore within walking distance to that theatre. I recall seeing “West Side Story” and afew other films in that theatre.
Then, it eventually became a “Bollywood” Cinema before closing down completely (correct me if I’m wrong on this one, anybody)
That’s really too bad. Independent and/or non-profit movie theatres are an important part of the movie theatre landscape, so to speak, because they show films (i. e. independent films, older classics, foreign films, etc.) that the mainstream multiplex cinemas don’t. Whether many realize, or care to realize this or not, there are people who do appreciate the older classics, independent, and foreign films and wish to keep attending the movie theatre, instead of sitting home watching them on TV.
danpetitpas, your last sentence “Unless the indies can get access to programming the multiplexes can’t get or don’t want (maybe digital HD broadcasts?), the future doesn’t look too bright.” says it all in a nutshell. Thanks. You’re spot-on about that.
The last time I went to the Wang Theatre, back in the winter of 2003, they were still showing the Monday Night Classic Film series, but they were showing them for free, instead of the usual five dollars that they’d previously charged. West Side Story was showing that night, and when my friend who was accompanying me arrived, we secured our seats in the theatre and went downstairs, where the movie theatre served up some great evening snacks and desserts as a pre-theatre reception. It was a sweet night, and my friend and I both had a wonderful time.
AlAlvarez: I can identify with your feelings about the film “Grease” and your never getting tired of it, because I’ve seen the film “West Side Story” more often than I’ve seen other movies, both in the movie theatres and on TV, and I never get tired of it.
Cool stuff! Thanks for posting and sharing it. Wish I could’ve seen what the inside of the theatre looked like, but I wasn’t able to link onto that particular link. It looks like a gorgeous theatre, though.
Looks like a cool, cool theatre, both inside and out. Love the Marquee on the outside front, too, especially at night. Oh, how I wish there were more movie palaces left here in Boston and the United States generally.
Question: Considering the number of movies I’ve seen and loved, I admittedly know next to nothing about cinema and its workings. What is blue-ray release? It sounds new. is it? Just curious.
I first saw “How the West was Won” and “2001: A Space Odyssey” when they first came out, at the heyday of their popularity, as well as “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”, in 70mm, They were beautiful, and I saw the TV series of “How the West was Won” years later. I saw ‘2001" at the Charles Cinema in Boston on a couple of occasions, “How the West Was Won” at the West Newton Cinema, and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” at the old, vintage Embassy Theatre, on Waltham’s Moody Street. Those were, indeed, exuberant, exciting times for the movies, and those films were beautiful. “The Monster That Challenged The World” was good, too.
Hi, everybody! Although I don’t hail from Ridgewood, Brooklyn, or New York, generally, I read all the comments about the now-closed Ridgewood Theatre and all the memories of growing up in the Ridgewoiod community itself with much interest and enjoyment. The Ridgewood Theatre was yet another beautifully palatial-looking theatre. Sure wish they’d preserve more of these graceful old movie palaces instead of letting them go to seed, tearing them down, and then converting them to whatever they please just so they can fatten their wallets.
This theatre most definitely is a real attention-getter! Love that photo.
I hear what you’re saying, Patsy, and…yup….with rare exceptions, Tinsel town, plus today’s generation being hard to compete with, is absolutely correct.
Thank heavens there are afew movie palaces left here in the United States, though.
I love that outside design!!
What a fabulous-looking theatre, inside and out. It seems to be in a class all by itself. Thanks for posting and sharing all the info with everybody here.
Hi, HowardBaas.
The Somerville Theatre’s big main screen and the Brattle Theatre, in Cambridge, MA, are the only two movie theatres in our area that have balconies. When West Side Story has played in both of these theatres, I’ve made it a point to sit in the balcony, because that’s the coolest part of the movie theatre from which to view a film like that.
The Wang Theatre, in Boston, used to have motion picture mondays, and WSS came there afew times. The balcony was cool there, too.
What about Boston?
Hi, Warner Lady.
Even though I don’t live in that general area, the theatre looks like a fantastic theatre, which would be another perfect place to show great vintage movie classics in. Too bad they don’t do that anymore.
Wow!! What a vicious act that was!! Imagine beating somebody within an inch or so of their life for asking an innocous question such as what time it was! Here’s hoping the theatre owner got put behind bars.
I like the marquee in the front of the theatre.
I remember the Allston Theatre very well. It was a small, but comfy theatre. Back in the early 1980’s, during my last year of college, I lived in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner, very close to the Allston-Brookline border, and therefore within walking distance to that theatre. I recall seeing “West Side Story” and afew other films in that theatre.
Then, it eventually became a “Bollywood” Cinema before closing down completely (correct me if I’m wrong on this one, anybody)
Roadshows are an important part of the theatre experience. Glad to hear/read that they’re beginning to make a comeback.
That’s really too bad. Independent and/or non-profit movie theatres are an important part of the movie theatre landscape, so to speak, because they show films (i. e. independent films, older classics, foreign films, etc.) that the mainstream multiplex cinemas don’t. Whether many realize, or care to realize this or not, there are people who do appreciate the older classics, independent, and foreign films and wish to keep attending the movie theatre, instead of sitting home watching them on TV.
danpetitpas, your last sentence “Unless the indies can get access to programming the multiplexes can’t get or don’t want (maybe digital HD broadcasts?), the future doesn’t look too bright.” says it all in a nutshell. Thanks. You’re spot-on about that.
Yup—that I know, since I go to the Brookline Booksmith, which CinemaSmith is/was attached to.
The last time I went to the Wang Theatre, back in the winter of 2003, they were still showing the Monday Night Classic Film series, but they were showing them for free, instead of the usual five dollars that they’d previously charged. West Side Story was showing that night, and when my friend who was accompanying me arrived, we secured our seats in the theatre and went downstairs, where the movie theatre served up some great evening snacks and desserts as a pre-theatre reception. It was a sweet night, and my friend and I both had a wonderful time.
Ahhhhhh, nostalgia comes creeping in….mmmm.
What a spectacular-looking theatre, both inside and out. Love the marquee on the outside front, too.
AlAlvarez: I can identify with your feelings about the film “Grease” and your never getting tired of it, because I’ve seen the film “West Side Story” more often than I’ve seen other movies, both in the movie theatres and on TV, and I never get tired of it.
Cool stuff! Thanks for posting and sharing it. Wish I could’ve seen what the inside of the theatre looked like, but I wasn’t able to link onto that particular link. It looks like a gorgeous theatre, though.
Looks like a beautiful theatre!!
Looks like a cool, cool theatre, both inside and out. Love the Marquee on the outside front, too, especially at night. Oh, how I wish there were more movie palaces left here in Boston and the United States generally.
Sounds cool!
Thanks for the info, William.
Question: Considering the number of movies I’ve seen and loved, I admittedly know next to nothing about cinema and its workings. What is blue-ray release? It sounds new. is it? Just curious.
I first saw “How the West was Won” and “2001: A Space Odyssey” when they first came out, at the heyday of their popularity, as well as “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”, in 70mm, They were beautiful, and I saw the TV series of “How the West was Won” years later. I saw ‘2001" at the Charles Cinema in Boston on a couple of occasions, “How the West Was Won” at the West Newton Cinema, and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” at the old, vintage Embassy Theatre, on Waltham’s Moody Street. Those were, indeed, exuberant, exciting times for the movies, and those films were beautiful. “The Monster That Challenged The World” was good, too.
Oh, btw, thanks for the info, HowardBHaas. I wasn’t sure how large it was either, but I knew it was rather big.
I have fond memories of the Charles Cinema in Boston…and I miss it.