The plainer, flat-topped horizontal marquee that was there until the theater closed was there as early as August 1947, based on older photos of the Madison that I’ve seen.
On my last visit to the Liberty Dept. Store that was once the RKO Madison Theatre, this past Friday, September 7th, I looked inside the store to where the grand staircase would have been, at the far end of the inner lobby. Beyond a low wall, I saw an enclosed staircase going diagonally up from right to left, and, on the right side of that low wall, a large dark gray metal door, which I did not walk up to, nor attempt to open.
If there’s anything left of the grand staircase still inside there, it must be behind that large dark gray metal door, and / or perhaps within that enclosed staircase.
Walking further back inside the store, then looking back out to the entrance on Myrtle Avenue, and looking up to the ceiling, I saw the curved change in elevation of the drop ceiling, marking the edge of the former balcony.
Perhaps the removal and sale of much of the RKO Madison Theatre’s original elaborate baroque interior decor generated enough income to help keep it open and in business as a movie theater for as long as it was, as such.
Does anyone know when the original vertical marquee was removed, and when the original horizontal marquee, with the “Keith-Albee vaudeville” curved top, became the plainer, flat-topped horizontal marquee that was there until the theater closed ?
No, I now live in Dobbs Ferry, a near northern suburb of NYC in lower Westchester County. I still visit Ridgewood every one to two months, though. I am a civil engineer by profession.
I also remember a church, Victory House, at the Acme in the latter 1980’s, its name apparently based on its predecessor, Victorian House Caterers. I have never been inside the supermarket that is there now, though.
Thanks, Panzer65, you’re most welcome. I’ll visit the Acme page next. Haven’t been there for awhile. My latest business there was late 1997, early 1998, Social Security Office, my dad’s business.
Excuse me : that should have been “Forty Carats”, srarring Deborah Raffin, that I saw at the Haven, along with “The Conversation”, at the Haven, late August 1974.
Gene Hackman also starred in “I Never Sang With My Father”, in which older long-time star Melvyn Douglas played his father.
I also saw “Five Easy Pieces” at the Haven, early 1971, perhaps on a double bill with “I Never Sang With My Father”, because both share the theme of children coming home to aid or be with ailing parents.
Excuse me : that should have been “Forty Carats”, srarring Deborah Raffin, that I saw at the Haven, along with “The Conversation”, at the Haven, late August 1974.
Gene Hackman also starred in “I Never Sang With My Father”, in which older long-time star Melvyn Douglas played his father.
Rite Aid / Eckerd – former Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust Bank : Cornelia Street side, across Cornelia St. from Bushwick High Annex : that beautiful gray granite outside wall, now covered in silver-paint “masterpiece” size graffiti, a doorway now cut through it …. UGH !!!! as fond as I am of my old neighborhood, when I see things like that, they make me GLAD I don’t live there any more !
An interesting building to compare the former Madison to would be the Rite Aid / Eckerd – former Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust Bank at the southwest corner of Cypress and Myrtle : inside it’s a well-lit store, but still looks like a bank, because of the preservation of the original high ceiling, and the fact that you can still look out those original high windows. It felt very strange to me, being in there, April through June of 1997, going on 10 ½ years ago, because 1) I had last been in it, fall 1967, when it was still a bank and 2) at floor and eye level, it was a retail store, but, looking up and out through those high windows at lifelong-familiar scenery, including my old home block of Cornelia Street, it felt as though the extremely familiar space and sights of my old home block had been turned inside-out.
A vertical sign, then, Warren. Do you know when the Madison’s original vertical sign was removed, and the Ridgwwood’s ?
The plainer, flat-topped horizontal marquee that was there until the theater closed was there as early as August 1947, based on older photos of the Madison that I’ve seen.
On my last visit to the Liberty Dept. Store that was once the RKO Madison Theatre, this past Friday, September 7th, I looked inside the store to where the grand staircase would have been, at the far end of the inner lobby. Beyond a low wall, I saw an enclosed staircase going diagonally up from right to left, and, on the right side of that low wall, a large dark gray metal door, which I did not walk up to, nor attempt to open.
If there’s anything left of the grand staircase still inside there, it must be behind that large dark gray metal door, and / or perhaps within that enclosed staircase.
Walking further back inside the store, then looking back out to the entrance on Myrtle Avenue, and looking up to the ceiling, I saw the curved change in elevation of the drop ceiling, marking the edge of the former balcony.
Perhaps the removal and sale of much of the RKO Madison Theatre’s original elaborate baroque interior decor generated enough income to help keep it open and in business as a movie theater for as long as it was, as such.
Does anyone know when the original vertical marquee was removed, and when the original horizontal marquee, with the “Keith-Albee vaudeville” curved top, became the plainer, flat-topped horizontal marquee that was there until the theater closed ?
How did RKO become attached to Bushwick, Warren ?
The RKO Bushwick Theatre opened 96 years ago today, September 11, 1911.
You’re welcome, Panzer65.
The comment that sticks in my mind about the new vs. the old Penn Station in Manhattan is :
“We used to come into the city like gods. Now, we crawl in like rats !”
Muzer, congratulations on your well-loved retirement !
“Women’s Prison Massacre” was indeed released in the USA in 1985.
Here’s the link to the IMDb page, if you wish to read it, to perhaps jog your memory :
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085250/
I think it played on a double bill with “Reform School Girls”.
Fortunately, Grand Central Station did not suffer the same disgraceful fate as the old Penn Station did. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Agreed, except that the facade of the RKO Madison resembles a Greek temple rather than a Gothic cathedral.
Muzer :
No, I now live in Dobbs Ferry, a near northern suburb of NYC in lower Westchester County. I still visit Ridgewood every one to two months, though. I am a civil engineer by profession.
How about you ?
Thank you, Panzer65, for your answer.
I would be SO disheartened if Ridgewood Savings Bank ever went out of business, and the Ridgewood Branch became a store, like Rite Aid / Eckerd !!!!
Thanks, Panzer65.
“Women’s Prison Massacre”, perhaps ? That title comes quickly to mind, along with “Reform School Girls”, from 1985 or so.
Panzer65, what year did you graduate St. Pancras ?
I graduated St. Brigid in Ridgewood in June 1969.
I also remember a church, Victory House, at the Acme in the latter 1980’s, its name apparently based on its predecessor, Victorian House Caterers. I have never been inside the supermarket that is there now, though.
Thanks, Panzer65, you’re most welcome. I’ll visit the Acme page next. Haven’t been there for awhile. My latest business there was late 1997, early 1998, Social Security Office, my dad’s business.
Excuse me : that should have been “Forty Carats”, srarring Deborah Raffin, that I saw at the Haven, along with “The Conversation”, at the Haven, late August 1974.
Gene Hackman also starred in “I Never Sang With My Father”, in which older long-time star Melvyn Douglas played his father.
I also saw “Five Easy Pieces” at the Haven, early 1971, perhaps on a double bill with “I Never Sang With My Father”, because both share the theme of children coming home to aid or be with ailing parents.
Excuse me : that should have been “Forty Carats”, srarring Deborah Raffin, that I saw at the Haven, along with “The Conversation”, at the Haven, late August 1974.
Gene Hackman also starred in “I Never Sang With My Father”, in which older long-time star Melvyn Douglas played his father.
To Muzer :
My graduation dates :
St. Brigid : Friday June 6, 1969.
St. Francis Prep : Friday June 8, 1973.
Cooper Union : Wednesday May 30 1979.
Rite Aid / Eckerd – former Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust Bank : Cornelia Street side, across Cornelia St. from Bushwick High Annex : that beautiful gray granite outside wall, now covered in silver-paint “masterpiece” size graffiti, a doorway now cut through it …. UGH !!!! as fond as I am of my old neighborhood, when I see things like that, they make me GLAD I don’t live there any more !
Good points all, Bway. Thank you.
An interesting building to compare the former Madison to would be the Rite Aid / Eckerd – former Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust Bank at the southwest corner of Cypress and Myrtle : inside it’s a well-lit store, but still looks like a bank, because of the preservation of the original high ceiling, and the fact that you can still look out those original high windows. It felt very strange to me, being in there, April through June of 1997, going on 10 ½ years ago, because 1) I had last been in it, fall 1967, when it was still a bank and 2) at floor and eye level, it was a retail store, but, looking up and out through those high windows at lifelong-familiar scenery, including my old home block of Cornelia Street, it felt as though the extremely familiar space and sights of my old home block had been turned inside-out.
Next stop : The Twilight Zone !
Ning NING ning ning …..
Agreed, Bway. Well-put.
Thanks, Lost Memory. You seem to have remarkable access to NYC Department of Buildings resources. Please keep up all your fine work !