Ridgewood Theatre
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
31 people
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There are two cinemas on the ground floor and three upstairs.
I had seen many movies in the 70’s in the Ridgewood when it was still one theater, with a balcony. I don’t remember exactly when they fist duplexed it (partitioning off the balcony), but I did see ET there in 1982, and the orchestra level was still one theater (although don’t know if the balcony was already another theater or two yet. The Ridgewood still had curtains yet, and they would open and close a few times before and after the previews, and before the main attraction.
I also saw a few movies years later in some of the balcony theaters, remember looking up at the ceiling, and seeing the part circle of the plasterwork ceiling. The added walls dividing the balcony and of course cutting the ceiling dome in pieces up above. The fancy balcony banister was still there right to the last time I was in the theater to see Friday the 13th Part 5 or 6. That was in the right balcony theater if you are facing front.
I can’t remember how the Ridgewood is divided up, is it two theaters downstairs, and three in the balcony? Since the Ridgewood was originally a legit theatre, the stage should be huge, and they could probably get at least another theater in there, and maybe two. Of course that would mean further cutting up of the orchestra level to allow for hallways to the “stage theater”. It’s interior is so cut up already, but much of the old features still are there, even if “cut up” a little.
You and me both. Perhaps now is the time to begin making our case to, and filing the paperwork with, the National Registry of Historic Places, on behalf of the Ridgewood Theater, to make it an official landmark. I think it has been an unofficial landmark for many years now.
The Ridgewood may have still been a single theater when I saw “Love At First Bite” there in May 1980. I know it still was when I saw the Langella “Dracula” there in September 1979, and the re-release of “Jaws” in July 1979.
When I was at the Ridgewood on Tuesday June 17, 1980 it was already a duplex. A boxing match was being shown on closed circuit TV on the lower, orchestra level, and “Friday the 13th” was playing on the balcony level. Bway has posted some recollections about the multiplexing of the Ridgewood above and earlier on this page.
Perhaps you should send your ideas to the owners of the Ridgewood Theater. They would probably want to know how to make more money.
The Ridgewood has always had an “actual second floor”, as it has always had a balcony. I know. I’ve been there. I was last up there late September 1988 for the atrocious film “Nightfall” (based in name only on the Isaac Asimov sci fi story of that name).
The Ridgewood’s original balcony used to have a beautiful elliptical lobby, with an ornate raised molding plaster ceiling, with central medallion and light fixture, with entrances to seating aisles in front, refreshment counter in back, stairs to the outer and inner lobbies to the sides. I was last there Tuesday June 17 1980.
Actually there is so much wasted space in the Ridgewood, where the stage and backstage was. It was plexed cheaply, but this did keep all of the original side walls intact. If they plexed it like the Meadows adding an actual second floor they could add many screens. They could also put theatres in the basement like The Center did.
Glad you liked my joke, Bway ! Maybe the holographic shark will draw customers in, like a sidewalk hawker !
Perhaps in 2104, if the “Friday the 13th” movies have kept up, more kids will know who Jason is, than know who was U.S. President on Friday, June 13, 1980, when the first “Friday the 13th” movie was released. (Hint : it was Jimmy Carter !)
I liked the MAD TV routine of “Apollo the 13th : Jason takes NASA ” :
“Houston, we have a problem !” as the hockey mask looms and the machete comes down, yet again.
Also, how much more “multiplexed” will the Ridgewood be then ? Will it be showing as many features as it has seats (about 2000) each seat having its own audio-visual headset, like the private-viewing cubicles in the Museum Of Television and Radio ?
Hahahaha! Peter, that is so funny! Yes, Let’s picture the “Back to the Future”-like fake looking Jaws in 3-D attacking pedestrians on the sidewalk in front of the theater in 2104.
Of course, if the theater is still “multiplexed” in 2104, let’s picture “Friday the 13th-Part 217-Jason Revenges Again” playing in one of the balcony theaters alongside “Jaws 43”.
Our dedicated young fan, Monica, may be of some help, as she still lives in Ridgewood, still attends the Ridgewood Theater, and has created a separate page for the Ridgewood on this very site !
The Ridgewood Theater, still there in a hundred years ? Certainly !
To borrow a joke from “Back To The Future III” :
It’s the year 2104, and the Ridgewood is showing “Jaws 43” in 5-D, but the shark STILL seems fake !
It would be a travesty if it closed. Come on people, this has got to be one of the most patronized threads on this site, the least some of us can do is take in a movie there to help support it. I am embarrassed to say I haven’t been in the theater in over 15 years. I was still a teenager or very early 20’s the last time I was in therethere!
I agree with Robert though, the theater does need some cleaning up, but it’s the “only theater” for miles around, so shouldn’t have too much trouble attracting people. Obviously, it’s biggest base must be the “young crowd” – teenagers and kids. If it still holds true, I know that even though I could walk to the Ridgewood when I lived there, as soon as I was old enough to ride the subway “without adults”, I abandoned the RIdgewood for other theaters, with just an occasional visit, before totally not going to it anymore….and then of course I moved, and a movie seen at the Ridgewood was just not to happen again….
This theatre could survive another hundred years. It needs a facelift, but is in a free booking zone and can book anything it wants.
I also heard thru the grapevine that the Ridgewood Theater was about to close due to slow business and money problems.
The reason the Ridgewood many times has no listings in the paper is they double book movies that should not be paired up. Many times you will call the tape for these theatres and they give out full schedules as if they have more screens then they do. In actuality they are doubling up films and reporting the split grosses to the respective film companies. Nothing will top the time the Commodore paired up one of the Batman movies then in its opening week with a Legal Weapon flick in like its third week. They normally played double features so they got away with it by leaving it out of the time schedules and having no tape. An in the know person called Warner Brothers who thought they had one movie on each screen and ratted them out. The other screen also had 2 blockbusters playing.
Bob D., it’s good to have you back. Thanks for mentioning the article about theaters in the current issue of BLOCK Magazine. Is there a way to get to it on-line (perhaps you can post a link ?)or will you be scanning it, and posting some of it, or a link to it, here ? Yet more thanks, if you plan to.
So the Ridgewood is “a contender for the second longest running cinema in the hemisphere” ? What is the longest-running cinema in the [Western] hemisphere ?
I would like to point out that there is a great article in the current issue of BLOCK Magazine (a Williamsburg based giveaway) on “The Tragic Tale of Brooklyn Theaters”. There is some interesting info on theaters in Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Ridgewood. The Ridgewood is mentioned as “the longest continuously running cinema in New York and a contender for the second longest in the hemisphere.” There is a photo captioned as “Unknown Theater on Havemeyer” that looks like it sais “Aster” on the markee.
Ah, another inept member of the infamous research team has returned. You shall fare much better under my leadership.
Well, another member of the “research team” is back from vacation. I must do much “catch-up” before I can continue the research…. I see a lot has been done since I have last viewed the site. I have to look in the “new theaters” section when I get some more time!
Well my friend I do not see a wealth of replies from your acclaimed research team. That would lead me to one conclusion only, you have been replaced by yours truly. Take your place with the other commoners as I lead the team forward. Another clue for your Lyric Theatre would be Menehan street.
Tsk,Tsk, are we having a ‘hissy-fit’ here! I find that your research team is lacking in many ways. Perhaps you should find more informed members for your team. Ah yes, there was a Lyric theatre in Ridgewood. Would you and your researchers like a hint??? Think of a block such as Woodward Avenue. Maybe more hints will follow, maybe not!
I dont believe the Ridgewood theater is closing. It sure could use some fixing up though!!!
Ah yes I do have an address my good man. I have taken it one step further and submitted the Folly theatre to this fine cinema site. No need to thank me as it was my pleasure. It might have taken you chaps much investigating before finding this theatre. I have saved you much work.
Did the Ridgewood close??? In the paper today in the movie listings The Ridgewood had “Call theatre for schedule”.
The Flatbush Pavilion, Kingsway, Marboro, etc. all had that listed when they closed. Hope this is not the case.
I have read many messages here. I noticed a mentioning of the Ridgewood Folly theatre. Indeed it was located on Myrtle avenue not far from Onderdonck avenue. Rumor has it as the first establishment for showing movies.
Ah, the Ridgewood Theatre! This was a very pleasant theatre to attend. Not on a par with the RKO Madison Theatre but still a wonderful theatre in its own right.
I love this site. as I grew up on palmetto st in late 50s early 60s
Bob