Based on the films named on the marquee, I think the later pic was taken in 1965 or 1966. Odd how the marquee obscures the Roman arch motif of the front of the building itself.
Probably, movie534. Bway would know more. Given the looting and fires on Bway after the July 13 1977 blackout, I don’t blame Loew’s for walking away, and never returning.
Thanks, Bway, I’ve seen a dead-on photo of that building with the cupola at the southeast corner of Myrtle and Wyckoff, where the subway entrance and Optimo Cigar store is now, and ever shall be, Ridgewood without end, amen !
It’s on Bushwick Buddies, which, I see, also has some great old photos of the Parthenon, the Majestic, the interior of the Bushwick, etc. If it’s your work, thanks !
Thanks, Bway. That’s got to be one of the best, if not THE best, image of the Parthenon Theatre that I’ve ever seen.
The news stand at the lower right corner of the image is still there, and I think will always be there, but the buildings on Myrtle Avenue visible under the el and to the left of the trolley car do not look familiar.
BrooklynJim and Lost Memory, thanks for your input and detective work.
That’s Woodbine Street, Bway. That’s a great old shot of the RKO Madison showing “The Locket”. I think it dates to 1948. Thanks for posting the link to it. I’ve seen a larger, or at least a “landscape”, version of it with a glowing pink tinge to it, showing a trolley car. I think you or someone else like Richard Lewis posted it on Bushwick Buddies.
I remember Dubby’s Jewel Box still being open in the fall of 1969. Don’t think I ever went in there, though. The second floor window in the Madison’s facade next to Dubby’s was the men’s room window. I WAS in there, for the last time, in June or July of 1976, when I went to the Madison to see “Lipstick”.
Also, not to compare the fate of the Ridgewood Theatre with the fate of the USA after the Civil War, but, how many minutes did it take Abraham Lincoln to deliver his immortal Gettysburg Address ?
No offense, taken, LuisV. Please feel free to be cute. I’ve always enjoyed the good humor on these CT pages. Yes, here’s to said person … Michael Perlman, perhaps.
Yes, ECR, it IS like a court arraignment, because, though the Ridgewood Theatre has done nothing wrong, except, of course, fail to make money for its owners, it’s as though it’s on trial for its life here.
I walked by the Ridgewood Theatre the morning of Friday February 13th 2009. No change in its appearance since I had last walked by on Friday January 16th 2009.
That’s good to know, Bway. Thanks.
Based on the films named on the marquee, I think the later pic was taken in 1965 or 1966. Odd how the marquee obscures the Roman arch motif of the front of the building itself.
Thanks, ziggy. I’ll tell my dad what Norton said. My dad still pronounces Loew’s as “Loweez”, too, same as Ed Norton.
J.F.Lundy, Liberty Avenue is still there. I’m not sure about Watkins Street. This may be a clue to another (to me) mystery :
Where was Liberty Pool ? I only know it was somewhere in Brownsville or East New York.
Great pix, Bway. Thanks.
Probably, movie534. Bway would know more. Given the looting and fires on Bway after the July 13 1977 blackout, I don’t blame Loew’s for walking away, and never returning.
Thanks, Bway, I’ve seen a dead-on photo of that building with the cupola at the southeast corner of Myrtle and Wyckoff, where the subway entrance and Optimo Cigar store is now, and ever shall be, Ridgewood without end, amen !
It’s on Bushwick Buddies, which, I see, also has some great old photos of the Parthenon, the Majestic, the interior of the Bushwick, etc. If it’s your work, thanks !
Thanks, Bway. Great pic. “The Clean Heart”, starring Percy Marmont, was released in 1924, according to the IMDb.
Thanks, Bway. That’s got to be one of the best, if not THE best, image of the Parthenon Theatre that I’ve ever seen.
The news stand at the lower right corner of the image is still there, and I think will always be there, but the buildings on Myrtle Avenue visible under the el and to the left of the trolley car do not look familiar.
BrooklynJim and Lost Memory, thanks for your input and detective work.
Correction : The second floor window in the Madison’s facade DIRECTLY ABOVE the Dubby’s sign was the men’s room window.
That’s Woodbine Street, Bway. That’s a great old shot of the RKO Madison showing “The Locket”. I think it dates to 1948. Thanks for posting the link to it. I’ve seen a larger, or at least a “landscape”, version of it with a glowing pink tinge to it, showing a trolley car. I think you or someone else like Richard Lewis posted it on Bushwick Buddies.
I remember Dubby’s Jewel Box still being open in the fall of 1969. Don’t think I ever went in there, though. The second floor window in the Madison’s facade next to Dubby’s was the men’s room window. I WAS in there, for the last time, in June or July of 1976, when I went to the Madison to see “Lipstick”.
Thanks, John D., for your encouragement and direction.
Hi, MPol. Thanks for the good wishes for saving the Ridgewood, and Godspeed to you, too !
Thanks, Joe From Florida, for posting your Bklyn memories.
Thanks, Jayar1 and Bway for the links.
Bway, that’s a great shot of the Empire. I’ve seen it before.
Thanks, Joe Bush Jr. That’s a great story !
Welcome, jgbohm, and thank you for posting here !
The Ridgewood Savings Bank main office building at 71-02 Forest Avenue in Ridgewood is still Ridgewood Savings Bank.
You’re welcome, Mike, and thank you, MPol for the best wishes.
Thanks, Bway, for the reminder that the Ridgewood Theatre was the longest continuous operating theater in the COUNTRY!
Glad you liked it, LuisV, and didn’t think it was forced or corny !
… so that, cinema of the people, for the people, and by the people of a neighborhood, and a community, does not perish from the face of New York City.
Also, not to compare the fate of the Ridgewood Theatre with the fate of the USA after the Civil War, but, how many minutes did it take Abraham Lincoln to deliver his immortal Gettysburg Address ?
No offense, taken, LuisV. Please feel free to be cute. I’ve always enjoyed the good humor on these CT pages. Yes, here’s to said person … Michael Perlman, perhaps.
Yes, ECR, it IS like a court arraignment, because, though the Ridgewood Theatre has done nothing wrong, except, of course, fail to make money for its owners, it’s as though it’s on trial for its life here.
Much that is important can be said in five minutes by the right person, with the needed eloquence, conviction and passion.
Let us all hope for the best.
Thanks, LuisV. From Sunday morning fervor and faith to Saturday Night Fever.
There was also the church turned disco in the 1992 film “Basic Instinct”.
Speaking of sacrilege, the RKO Bushwick became a fictional “church” of the Santeria cult when “The Believers” was filmed there in 1986-87.
Thanks for the good news, Mike.
I walked by the Ridgewood Theatre the morning of Friday February 13th 2009. No change in its appearance since I had last walked by on Friday January 16th 2009.
Thanks, YM. Must have been 1991, because it was in business at its present location, 209 W. Houston, in August 1991.