Thanks Warren. Those plans sure help my memory quite a bit. Do you know to what level of the theater those staircases reached? Mezzanine, Loge, Upper or lower balconies?
Thanks Warren, My memory must be poor cause I only remember the single staircase on the right side of the theater looking into the Lobby. More reasonably there were two staircases because they would have given a balanced appearance. I do remember the double staircases in the Loew’s Gates. They were not as high but were also quite grand. As you say the Staircase(s) came from high..at least four stories". Did you enter the staircases from the highest balcony seats in the theater? Oh boy how a plan or a photo could jog my memory.
When I attended the RKO Bushwick in the late 40s I sort of remember that it did not have a very large lobby. And although the exterior of the building was lovely, the lobby was quite small compared to the Loew’s Gates. There was one marble (I think) staircase that was on the Howard Ave side of the lobby building. I think that there might have been a candy concession on the left side of the lobby. I do remember that you could go down that staircase and immediately exit through the front doors.
Of course I do not know what the Monroe was called before 1922 but In my time, the 1940s & 50s, there was no Madison Theatre that I can remember in this neighborhood.
As I recall the Monroe was directly across the street from the RKO Bushwick on Howard Ave. An address or two from Broadway.
I lived in Bed Stuy during the 1940s and early 50s. Went to the Monroe, Empire, RKO Bushwick, and Loews Gates. As a matter of fact I ushered at the Loew’s Gates when I was about 15… I think I told them I was 16. When younger I loved to go to the Monroe (the Itch) for the Saturday Matinees. And boy that Matron in the White Dress sure had her work cut out for her. The Loew’s Gates I thought was the nicest of all the theatres including the RKO Bushwick. I sort of remember seeing Lana Turner on stage at the Gates where she must have been promoting a picture.
Went to PS26, Our Lady of Good Council, and Franklin K Lane HS (graduated in 1953). Does anyone remember a Bushwick Hospital that was on Howard Avenue near the RKO? At least I think it was there.
Thanks Warren. Those plans sure help my memory quite a bit. Do you know to what level of the theater those staircases reached? Mezzanine, Loge, Upper or lower balconies?
Thanks Warren, My memory must be poor cause I only remember the single staircase on the right side of the theater looking into the Lobby. More reasonably there were two staircases because they would have given a balanced appearance. I do remember the double staircases in the Loew’s Gates. They were not as high but were also quite grand. As you say the Staircase(s) came from high..at least four stories". Did you enter the staircases from the highest balcony seats in the theater? Oh boy how a plan or a photo could jog my memory.
When I attended the RKO Bushwick in the late 40s I sort of remember that it did not have a very large lobby. And although the exterior of the building was lovely, the lobby was quite small compared to the Loew’s Gates. There was one marble (I think) staircase that was on the Howard Ave side of the lobby building. I think that there might have been a candy concession on the left side of the lobby. I do remember that you could go down that staircase and immediately exit through the front doors.
Of course I do not know what the Monroe was called before 1922 but In my time, the 1940s & 50s, there was no Madison Theatre that I can remember in this neighborhood.
As I recall the Monroe was directly across the street from the RKO Bushwick on Howard Ave. An address or two from Broadway.
Peter.K Thanks for the website on bushwick buddies. Will ck it out.
Peter.K Thanks for the website on bushwick buddies. Will ck it out.
I lived in Bed Stuy during the 1940s and early 50s. Went to the Monroe, Empire, RKO Bushwick, and Loews Gates. As a matter of fact I ushered at the Loew’s Gates when I was about 15… I think I told them I was 16. When younger I loved to go to the Monroe (the Itch) for the Saturday Matinees. And boy that Matron in the White Dress sure had her work cut out for her. The Loew’s Gates I thought was the nicest of all the theatres including the RKO Bushwick. I sort of remember seeing Lana Turner on stage at the Gates where she must have been promoting a picture.
Went to PS26, Our Lady of Good Council, and Franklin K Lane HS (graduated in 1953). Does anyone remember a Bushwick Hospital that was on Howard Avenue near the RKO? At least I think it was there.