LuisV, I agree, and thank you for so saying. Unfortunately, I would not know where to begin looking for such a list. Perhaps Patrick Crowley and the other owners and managers of Cinema Treasures could be of some help.
I think they missed the Ridgewood Theater somehow.
I know about the Chopin, Variety PhotoPlay, and the Plaza, though I’ve never been to the Plaza. I must have passed the Edison thousands of times going to and fro my former church at 2726 Broadway, February 1980 through April 1985.
I’m glad to read that, leroyelliston, about the Jamaica Theater, and about you, and your work as an usher at the Valencia, then at the Astor, Victoria, and Paramount theaters in Times Square. Yes, a period of innocence when life seemed magical. I can well relate.
I understand that there were several theaters in Jamaica. Which one did you mean when you posted, “Also the Jamacia theater had vaudeville acts during the same period.”, three comments above ?
I know, Joe G., truth is stranger than fiction, re : small world.
I have “Sardonicus”, by Ray Russell, at home, in a paperback anthology of horror fiction that first appeared in Playboy, which also includes “Black Country”, by Charles Beaumont, his first published story, I think, and “Beelzebub” by Robert Bloch. Great stuff.
Joe G., Lisa, have you joined Bushwick Buddies yet ?
Jack Tomai, please join us on Bushwick Buddies. We’d love to have you. I mentioned you by name to BrooklynJim and frankie in connection with our having met at the Ridgewood Theatre on Saturday August 25th 2007 to see a movie at that old haunt, and to talk old times. I like your stories of going to the RKO Madison with a date to see “The Illustrated Man” in spring 1969, then going across Myrtle Avenue to the Madison Diner (now Montas Restaurant, where Jim and Frank and I ate after seeing “The Bourne Ultimatum” at the Ridgewood) for a burger and a coke.
Thanks for all these details, Warren. Speaking of competition, what about that small theater on Jamaica Avenue at 113th Street some of us had discussed awhile ago ?
Thank you all for all these wonderful details of your past lives, and of your old Cypress Hills neighborhood ! It looks like a strong Cypress Hills cyber-community is emerging on Cinema Treasures, on this Embassy Theatre page, just as a strong Ridgewood cyber-community emerged on the Ridgewood Theatre page 3 ½ years ago.
This kind of chat is good, because it draws people together, rather than pushing them apart.
Jack Tomai, you spelled Koletty’s correctly, but it was on the northeast corner of Myrtle Avenue and Palmetto St., not Madison St.
On the Bushwick Buddies website are discussions of the Triangle Ball Room, outings from “the Rink to the Sink” (Hillside roller rink to Jahn’s in Richmond Hill for the “kitchen sink”), and much more. A few beautiful full color photos of the old Fulton Street el have also just been posted.
Yes, Joe G., I remember those William Castle “gimmick” movies well. I didn’t see any of them in their initial release, but experienced them at Film Forum on Watts St. in lower Manhattan in September 1988 at their “Gimmick-o-Rama”, hard on the heels of their summer sci fi -fantasy – horror festival. Summer and fall 1988 were very rich that way.
“House On Haunted Hill” : bone-chilling Emergo !
“The Tingler” – spine-tingling Percepto !
“Mr. Sardonicus” – punishment poll ! Thumbs down : no mercy !
“Macabre” – ambulance parked outside theater : “You MUST have your blood pressure taken in the lobby before you see this film !”
The first William Castle flick I saw in its original release was “I Saw What You Did” at the RKO Madison, with Joan Crawford, as the murder-plot mistress, summer 1965.
Thanks for the details about “Day Of The Triffids” at the RKO Bushwick, and “The H-Man” at Loew’s Gates. They sound great !
leroyelliston, I remember “Smell-a-Vision”, and the old “3D” movies i.e. “House of Wax”, “They Came From Outer Space”, again, at Film Forum in the late 1980’s.
Thanks, Peter L, Warren and leroyelliston. I remember those great gushes of cool air coming out of the Ridgewood and the Madison, the two neighborhood theaters I grew up with. I’ll never forget that “movie theater smell” that went with them, just like I’ll never forget that “subway smell” of ozone, or whatever it is.
Thanks, Lost Memory.
Good idea, cypress. I hope you find that picture, too.
Thanks for your post, BrooklynJim. I’m glad you and your friends had a good time watching “The Believers”.
LuisV, I agree, and thank you for so saying. Unfortunately, I would not know where to begin looking for such a list. Perhaps Patrick Crowley and the other owners and managers of Cinema Treasures could be of some help.
Yes, Ed, the Ridgewood Theatre opened on Saturday, December 23, 1916. It had its 90-year anniversary on Saturday, December 23, 2006.
Perhaps Time Out New York magazine, Ed Solero.
I think they missed the Ridgewood Theater somehow.
I know about the Chopin, Variety PhotoPlay, and the Plaza, though I’ve never been to the Plaza. I must have passed the Edison thousands of times going to and fro my former church at 2726 Broadway, February 1980 through April 1985.
McGuinesses restaurant is unfortunately outside my experience.
I’m glad to read that, leroyelliston, about the Jamaica Theater, and about you, and your work as an usher at the Valencia, then at the Astor, Victoria, and Paramount theaters in Times Square. Yes, a period of innocence when life seemed magical. I can well relate.
Yes : it’s # 6528.
Thanks, leroyelliston. It looks like the Jamaica Theatre has its own page on Cinema Treasures.
Yes, Panzer65. I haven’t had much to say about movie theaters recently.
I understand that there were several theaters in Jamaica. Which one did you mean when you posted, “Also the Jamacia theater had vaudeville acts during the same period.”, three comments above ?
Thanks, leroyelliston. By “Jamaica theater” do you mean the Valencia ?
Where was the Broadway Arena ?
Thanks for this info, Warren. I hope the infamous “Curse Of The Little Rascals” didn’t descend upon the Hillside as a result !
Thanks, BabyBoomer !
Thank you, BabyBoomer !
I also like Ray Russell’s short story, “The Cage”, which I read in “Alfred Hitchcock Presents : Stories That Scared Even Me”.
There’s also Russell’s “Unholy Trinity”.
I know, Joe G., truth is stranger than fiction, re : small world.
I have “Sardonicus”, by Ray Russell, at home, in a paperback anthology of horror fiction that first appeared in Playboy, which also includes “Black Country”, by Charles Beaumont, his first published story, I think, and “Beelzebub” by Robert Bloch. Great stuff.
Joe G., Lisa, have you joined Bushwick Buddies yet ?
Jack Tomai, please join us on Bushwick Buddies. We’d love to have you. I mentioned you by name to BrooklynJim and frankie in connection with our having met at the Ridgewood Theatre on Saturday August 25th 2007 to see a movie at that old haunt, and to talk old times. I like your stories of going to the RKO Madison with a date to see “The Illustrated Man” in spring 1969, then going across Myrtle Avenue to the Madison Diner (now Montas Restaurant, where Jim and Frank and I ate after seeing “The Bourne Ultimatum” at the Ridgewood) for a burger and a coke.
Thanks for all these details, Warren. Speaking of competition, what about that small theater on Jamaica Avenue at 113th Street some of us had discussed awhile ago ?
Thanks, Peter L. What shocked you about Brando’s performance in “Streetcar” ?
“STELLA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Sorry, couldn’t resist that !
Thank you all for all these wonderful details of your past lives, and of your old Cypress Hills neighborhood ! It looks like a strong Cypress Hills cyber-community is emerging on Cinema Treasures, on this Embassy Theatre page, just as a strong Ridgewood cyber-community emerged on the Ridgewood Theatre page 3 ½ years ago.
This kind of chat is good, because it draws people together, rather than pushing them apart.
Jack Tomai, you spelled Koletty’s correctly, but it was on the northeast corner of Myrtle Avenue and Palmetto St., not Madison St.
On the Bushwick Buddies website are discussions of the Triangle Ball Room, outings from “the Rink to the Sink” (Hillside roller rink to Jahn’s in Richmond Hill for the “kitchen sink”), and much more. A few beautiful full color photos of the old Fulton Street el have also just been posted.
http://www.bushwickbuddies.com/
For ENY – Cypress Hills :
www.tapeshare.com
Yes, Joe G., I remember those William Castle “gimmick” movies well. I didn’t see any of them in their initial release, but experienced them at Film Forum on Watts St. in lower Manhattan in September 1988 at their “Gimmick-o-Rama”, hard on the heels of their summer sci fi -fantasy – horror festival. Summer and fall 1988 were very rich that way.
“House On Haunted Hill” : bone-chilling Emergo !
“The Tingler” – spine-tingling Percepto !
“Mr. Sardonicus” – punishment poll ! Thumbs down : no mercy !
“Macabre” – ambulance parked outside theater : “You MUST have your blood pressure taken in the lobby before you see this film !”
The first William Castle flick I saw in its original release was “I Saw What You Did” at the RKO Madison, with Joan Crawford, as the murder-plot mistress, summer 1965.
Thanks for the details about “Day Of The Triffids” at the RKO Bushwick, and “The H-Man” at Loew’s Gates. They sound great !
leroyelliston, I remember “Smell-a-Vision”, and the old “3D” movies i.e. “House of Wax”, “They Came From Outer Space”, again, at Film Forum in the late 1980’s.
Thanks, Peter L, Warren and leroyelliston. I remember those great gushes of cool air coming out of the Ridgewood and the Madison, the two neighborhood theaters I grew up with. I’ll never forget that “movie theater smell” that went with them, just like I’ll never forget that “subway smell” of ozone, or whatever it is.
No, Peter L, I don’t remember that. About what year would that have been ?