Thanks for the info on your move, anniegirl, but why did you and your family move to Kew Gardens ? If it’s none of my or anyone on CT’s business, it’s OK to say so.
Ed Solero, thanks for all the details of Laurelton. Yes, I remember those 8 mm projectors and excerpt reels. A Middle Village boyhood pal of mine had them : we watched Karloff in “Bride Of Frankenstein”.
Let’s hear it for William Castle gimmick movies ! It would have been fun duplicating the gimmicks ! Percepto, Emergo, Punishment Poll, ambulance waiting, blood pressure taken …
I’m reminded so much of Ridgewood and Bushwick in the ‘50’s, '60’s and '70’s.
“As pride of ownership went by the boards, the remaining white families moved out and a number of concerned black families followed suit.”
Blacks as well as whites : interesting !
That’s quite a front of opposition to the Laurelton Theater showing porno !
The community history from the Queens Library site reminds me of those excellent N Y Times articles about NYC neighborhoods :
“If You’re Thinking Of Living In Laurelton ….”
The only person I know from Laurelton is a Patricia Barnes, about 5 to 10 years my senior, an earlier baby boomer, born 1945-1950.
Hi, Ed. Here I am, here’s a “bro” hug for you, haven’t had a chance to read this page yet, carefully and in depth, but I will, on the way home this evening. As a Ridgewood boy, fresh from near the centroid of Brooklyn + Queens, “spoiled” by having lived in a “packing crate” over a major mass transit hub, it will be interesting to take a trip to a small neighborhood movie house (there’s that term “nabe” again, rearing its ugly head !)in deepest, darkest southeast Queens.
I’ve passed by Laurelton many times by car and on the LIRR but have never walked its streets.
Thanks, Warren. I saw some of that PBS documentary this past Saturday night around 11:30 PM, but missed the exterior photo of B.F. Keith’s Boro Park. It’s good to know it’s in that program, though.
Thank you for posting this, Panzer65. I tend to think of The Three Stooges as being on WPIX Channel 11 rather than WABC, but in 1959 they were also on Steve Allen’s Sunday night NBC variety show.
It just occurred to me that the RKO Bushwick is on Broadway, which many people regard as the Bushwick – Bed-Stuy border, just as the Ridgewood theater still is, and the RKO Madison was, near the Ridgewood-Bushwick, Queens-Brooklyn border.
You’re welcome, frankie. If I think of any more reasons why I think the Ridgewood has remained open and is still showing movies, I will post them here.
Thanks, Lost Memory. That’s as good an explanation as any as to why the Ridgewood has remained open to this day. I still can’t think of any more reasons besides what I’ve already posted.
Your friend Pam’s father WROTE “Forbidden Planet” ???? I’m thunderstruck !!!! Irving Block or Allen Adler ???? Cyril Hume ????
No, not too personal at all. My cousin John, a year younger than me, got the Emenee organ for Christmas 1967. I was sick that morning, but him playing it for me over the phone got me off the couch and got me to forget my nausea !
I borrowed it from him the following summer (1968). A friend of mine called me, and, once I mentioned that I had it, he wanted me to play him the music from the 1962 horror film “Carnival Of Souls” over the phone on it for him !
I was both flattered and burdened by his over-estimation of me.
Good to read you again on this page, frankie …. or any CT page, for that matter … and thanks for getting us centrally back on topic here …. four weeks ago tomorrow that you and I and Bklyn Jim met at the Ridgewood ….
Exactly WHAT has saved the Ridgewood ???? That’s the $ 64 million dollar question …. It’s still showing movies because it has continued to make money doing so … but that merely begs the question … perhaps the ever-increasing lack of other movie theaters nearby, starting with the closing of smaller nearby neighborhood theaters like the Parthenon, Glenwood, Rivoli, Evergreen, Ritz, Oasis, Grandview, Majestic, Wyckoff, etc. due to TV roughly half a century ago … then the closing and the burning of the RKO Madison, 1977-79, its becoming a store in 1980, combined with the continued demand for a movie theater in Ridgewood, despite TV and a burgeoning home video market. Perhaps the Ridgewood being smaller and less expensive to maintain than the Madison, roughly 2/3 the seating capacity. Perhaps its multiplexing, starting in 1980 …. although that didn’t save the UA Astoria from becoming a Duane Reade. Perhaps the Ridgewood’s ideal location on Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood’s main commercial strip, with the busy Q-55 bus outside, the hub, or “depot”, of B-13, B-18, B-20, B-26, B-38, B-54 and Q-58 bus lines, (did I omit any ?) and the L and M subway lines a few blocks away ? Something in common with Loew’s Plaza Corona and Jackson Theaters, assuming THEY’RE still open and showing movies ?
Marian …. glad you found the “double standard” funny … Jagger 1972 jumpsuit visual … inching the frontal zipper to the top of the codpiece …. or was it a mound of Venus ?
I remember “Mr Machine” and his theme song … a march ! … but not “Robert the Robot”, although Robby The Robot of “Forbidden Planet” is a household word with me … Christmas 1962 with me …. WhirlyBird Helicopter …. King Zor The Dinosaur ! The year before … Great Garloo … giant visitor from a far off world … also by Marx, I think.
I just called the Ridgewood Theater and got a recorded message of showtimes at the Ridgewood for “Halloween”, “War”, “Balls Of Fury”, “Mr. Bean’s Holiday” and “Return To Humor”.
Thanks, Ed Solero. Once my dad’s Aunt Suzie and Uncle Jimmy had moved to Hempstead from Bklyn (to accompany the Crane Plumbing Co.’s move there) in the late 1930’s, my dad rode out there from Bushwick, Bklyn on his bike. He preferred Merrick Blvd. to Sunrise Highway to bike out to Hempstead. He also rode his bike on Interboro Pkwy. before it was opened to automobiles. He loved the ride, but the rough unfinished under-pavement wore out the rubber of his bike tires awfully fast.
So, what was it like growing up in Laurelton, from 1965 onward ?
Thanks in advance, Marian, for the “Forbidden Planet” author name.
Thanks also for the mention of the ‘60’s toy store in Manhattan.
I remember both the Video Village board game and TV show. My late mother-in-law was a contestant on that show, and she won a prize !
I also remember discarding our Video Willage board game, and watching the garbage truck “eat it up” out our front window.
Venus Paradise Colored Pencils !
1 : Deep Yellow
2 : Sarasota Orange
3 : Poppy Red
13 : Ultramarine Blue
15 : Lawn Green
Not to be confused with Lorne Greene of “Bonanza” !
Thanks for the info on your move, anniegirl, but why did you and your family move to Kew Gardens ? If it’s none of my or anyone on CT’s business, it’s OK to say so.
Ed Solero, thanks for all the details of Laurelton. Yes, I remember those 8 mm projectors and excerpt reels. A Middle Village boyhood pal of mine had them : we watched Karloff in “Bride Of Frankenstein”.
Let’s hear it for William Castle gimmick movies ! It would have been fun duplicating the gimmicks ! Percepto, Emergo, Punishment Poll, ambulance waiting, blood pressure taken …
I’m reminded so much of Ridgewood and Bushwick in the ‘50’s, '60’s and '70’s.
“As pride of ownership went by the boards, the remaining white families moved out and a number of concerned black families followed suit.”
Blacks as well as whites : interesting !
That’s quite a front of opposition to the Laurelton Theater showing porno !
The community history from the Queens Library site reminds me of those excellent N Y Times articles about NYC neighborhoods :
“If You’re Thinking Of Living In Laurelton ….”
The only person I know from Laurelton is a Patricia Barnes, about 5 to 10 years my senior, an earlier baby boomer, born 1945-1950.
Hi, Ed. Here I am, here’s a “bro” hug for you, haven’t had a chance to read this page yet, carefully and in depth, but I will, on the way home this evening. As a Ridgewood boy, fresh from near the centroid of Brooklyn + Queens, “spoiled” by having lived in a “packing crate” over a major mass transit hub, it will be interesting to take a trip to a small neighborhood movie house (there’s that term “nabe” again, rearing its ugly head !)in deepest, darkest southeast Queens.
I’ve passed by Laurelton many times by car and on the LIRR but have never walked its streets.
OK, here I go …. (I’m sure Ed isn’t rabid, and doesn’t bite ….)
About to visit “A Man And His Movie Theater”, by Ed Solero …..
Thanks, Warren. I saw some of that PBS documentary this past Saturday night around 11:30 PM, but missed the exterior photo of B.F. Keith’s Boro Park. It’s good to know it’s in that program, though.
Thanks, Ed Solero and LuisV. I’ll read the CT Laurelton Theater page carefully, and keep the personal chat, private.
Thanks, Warren and kong1911.
kong1911, I’m glad you got out of what was left of the Bushwick, alive and unharmed, after your 1978 visit inside there.
I found it sad to read about the looters going in four days after the church had left the building.
You’re welcome, Panzer65, and thank you for pointing that out about The Three Stooges.
Yes, Lost Memory, unlike the Ridgewood, with its two floors above the entrance.
Thank you for posting this, Panzer65. I tend to think of The Three Stooges as being on WPIX Channel 11 rather than WABC, but in 1959 they were also on Steve Allen’s Sunday night NBC variety show.
It just occurred to me that the RKO Bushwick is on Broadway, which many people regard as the Bushwick – Bed-Stuy border, just as the Ridgewood theater still is, and the RKO Madison was, near the Ridgewood-Bushwick, Queens-Brooklyn border.
Anniegirl, why did you move to Kew Gardens in 1973 ?
Yes, they are.
That’s true, Lost Memory, but what about those one or two little stores in the RKO Madison building ?
You’re welcome, frankie. If I think of any more reasons why I think the Ridgewood has remained open and is still showing movies, I will post them here.
Thanks, Lost Memory. That’s as good an explanation as any as to why the Ridgewood has remained open to this day. I still can’t think of any more reasons besides what I’ve already posted.
You’re welcome, Warren. Sorry, that should have been “gee whiz”, not “whix”.
Your friend Pam’s father WROTE “Forbidden Planet” ???? I’m thunderstruck !!!! Irving Block or Allen Adler ???? Cyril Hume ????
No, not too personal at all. My cousin John, a year younger than me, got the Emenee organ for Christmas 1967. I was sick that morning, but him playing it for me over the phone got me off the couch and got me to forget my nausea !
I borrowed it from him the following summer (1968). A friend of mine called me, and, once I mentioned that I had it, he wanted me to play him the music from the 1962 horror film “Carnival Of Souls” over the phone on it for him !
I was both flattered and burdened by his over-estimation of me.
“Who has the time or patience to sift through more than 2,000 comments ?”
Well, gee whix, Warren, YOU must have, else how would you know that at least 1500 were “off-topic” ?!?!?!
Good to read you again on this page, frankie …. or any CT page, for that matter … and thanks for getting us centrally back on topic here …. four weeks ago tomorrow that you and I and Bklyn Jim met at the Ridgewood ….
Exactly WHAT has saved the Ridgewood ???? That’s the $ 64 million dollar question …. It’s still showing movies because it has continued to make money doing so … but that merely begs the question … perhaps the ever-increasing lack of other movie theaters nearby, starting with the closing of smaller nearby neighborhood theaters like the Parthenon, Glenwood, Rivoli, Evergreen, Ritz, Oasis, Grandview, Majestic, Wyckoff, etc. due to TV roughly half a century ago … then the closing and the burning of the RKO Madison, 1977-79, its becoming a store in 1980, combined with the continued demand for a movie theater in Ridgewood, despite TV and a burgeoning home video market. Perhaps the Ridgewood being smaller and less expensive to maintain than the Madison, roughly 2/3 the seating capacity. Perhaps its multiplexing, starting in 1980 …. although that didn’t save the UA Astoria from becoming a Duane Reade. Perhaps the Ridgewood’s ideal location on Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood’s main commercial strip, with the busy Q-55 bus outside, the hub, or “depot”, of B-13, B-18, B-20, B-26, B-38, B-54 and Q-58 bus lines, (did I omit any ?) and the L and M subway lines a few blocks away ? Something in common with Loew’s Plaza Corona and Jackson Theaters, assuming THEY’RE still open and showing movies ?
That’s all I can think of at the moment.
Marian …. glad you found the “double standard” funny … Jagger 1972 jumpsuit visual … inching the frontal zipper to the top of the codpiece …. or was it a mound of Venus ?
I remember “Mr Machine” and his theme song … a march ! … but not “Robert the Robot”, although Robby The Robot of “Forbidden Planet” is a household word with me … Christmas 1962 with me …. WhirlyBird Helicopter …. King Zor The Dinosaur ! The year before … Great Garloo … giant visitor from a far off world … also by Marx, I think.
Ridgewood Theater … 2146 comments, and still going strong !!!!
I just called the Ridgewood Theater and got a recorded message of showtimes at the Ridgewood for “Halloween”, “War”, “Balls Of Fury”, “Mr. Bean’s Holiday” and “Return To Humor”.
Thanks, Warren, for the Merrick Road-ology, as it were, and your description of the origin of Loew’s Valencia ! Way cool !
Thanks, Ed Solero. Once my dad’s Aunt Suzie and Uncle Jimmy had moved to Hempstead from Bklyn (to accompany the Crane Plumbing Co.’s move there) in the late 1930’s, my dad rode out there from Bushwick, Bklyn on his bike. He preferred Merrick Blvd. to Sunrise Highway to bike out to Hempstead. He also rode his bike on Interboro Pkwy. before it was opened to automobiles. He loved the ride, but the rough unfinished under-pavement wore out the rubber of his bike tires awfully fast.
So, what was it like growing up in Laurelton, from 1965 onward ?