RKO Madison Theatre

Thanks, Bway. Then what about all those theaters like the Peerless and the Subway on Myrtle Avenue between Bway and Jay St. ?

Lost Memory, do you have adequate funding for your stem cell research on human memory loss ?

Here’s Variety’s dictionary of slanguage. Please note this lisitng:

nabe — a neighborhood theater; “The film has had a long midnight run at the Vista, a Los Angeles nabe.”

(No listing for stem or main stem.)

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=slanguage

Having only two categories makes sense to me, saps. Do you know why ‘stem’?

The rationale for the use of the term ‘stem’ escapes me.

Botanically speaking, I’d have used ‘trunk’ or ‘root’ to refer to the principal theater district of NYC, Broadway.

Shalom, ciao, and excelsior

Variety often differentiated in their reviews how something would play on the stem (Broadway) and in the nabes (neighborhoods.)

Warren…. What are the classsification(s) of cinemas which fall outside your definition of ‘nabes’?

What is “etcetera”?

Wad the Madison a first run nabe or an etcetera run nabe?

What about the Glenwood, Oasis, Belvedere, BAM Cinema, and Acme?

Keiths, Valencia, Radio City, and Sunrise Drivein?

Shalom, ciao, and excelsior

Good points, all : Ed Solero : interior architectural details. I prefer “debate” to “pissing contest”; “professional disagreement” seems a bit too pompous.

‘Tonino : ticket price would be a factor.

Warren : “nabe” as in “neighborhood”. I get it. Thanks.

Going into “The City” : a friend of mine from Cypress Hills had a similar experience, with relatives visiting from a rural area, who had said they’d gone into “the city” by themselves. At first, my friend thought they meant Manhattan, but all they’d done was head east on Jamaica Avenue to Woodhaven Boulevard.

What is a reference for movie theater distribution circuit ranking
? Hopefully by decade from 1930 to 1960?

Going to the Madison as a kid, was equivalent to what I would call going into “The City” when I grew older.

Definitely not a ‘nabe’ for a kid from Glendale from 1945 to 1955.

Just a simple country boy.

Shalom, ciao, and excelsior

I think what’s lost in this debate is the level of architectural detail and craftsmanship that went into erecting these local houses of the 1920’s. Many nabes similar in splendor to the Madison were built throughout the boroughs – and even in the suburbs beyond City limits. That such lavish appointments were afforded a “mere nabe” is astonishing to consider in these days of banal multiplex drones. Of course, as the construction of nabes into the 1930’s increased in number – and as live shows (and therefore the need for stage facilities) became obsolete – the theaters became smaller in size and less elaborate in design. Changing architectural tastes also impacted the look of these theaters – as the classic Adamesque and other roccoco styles were phased out in favor of the more streamlined Art Deco and Art Moderne movements.

I think when we are presented with the handsome appointments and intricate decor of a large theatre like the Madison, we find it hard to reconcile its ranking in the distribution circuit as just another nabe – like the relatively plain 600-seat neighborhood itch.

“Leaving our local areas for a flick in Ridgewood’s Madison was definitely a treat – especially in summer: AC instead of a couple of three-bladed rotating fans.”

• Brooklyn Jim

Agreed, BklynJim, and thank you. Perhaps you can recall some details of past live entertainment at the RKO Madison, and post them here for our amusement and edification.

Great pictures of the Capitol Panzer65. Whereas my parents took me to the Glenwood or Oasis 2 to 3 times a month, and I went to the Acme or Belvedere weekly, I never went to the Madison more than once every year or two. Going to the Madison as a kid, was equivalent to what I would call going into “The City” when I grew older.

The Madsion became something of a ‘nabe’ to me when I sold at Ripleys, next door. Elegant, yes, but simpler thsn the Capitol.

Warren. thanks for further describing its architecture and identifying that its architect, Eugene DeRosa, was a disciple of Thomas Lamb.

Shalom, ciao, and excelsior

Thanks, Warren. I was thinking also of Al Jolson, perhaps, Ed Sullivan’s introduction of the film “Pinky”, Shakespeare, The Dave Clark Five, the mystic, “Zelaine”, Bob Johnstone, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, to name a few live appearances at the Madison that come quickly to mind.

“People who lived to the east could just as easily go to RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill and those to the west to the RKO Bushwick.”

Just as easily go to RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill ? Still, a rather long trolley ride, or walk, on Myrtle Avenue. Further than Atlas Park is now. And what about all the smaller theaters between the RKO Madison and the RKO Bushwick, and the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill, like the Parthenon, Rivoli, Wyckoff, Mozart, to the west, and Evergreen, Glenwood, Belvedere and Acme to the east ? Were the movies shown by those smaller theaters that different from the movies playing at the RKO Bushwick, Madison and Keith’s Richmond Hill ?