Thank you Bway and Warren for this terrific vintage picture. I just can’t believe that such a significant theater existed on this corner. I just have two additional comments to add:
When one reads – or re-reads – “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” – one can really think of The Folly as a place where the principal characters of this wonderful novel went to enjoy a silent film and/or a stage performance on a Saturday night. Perhaps Jimmy Nolan even performed here. This was clearly one of the crown jewels of the “Ghetto Street”.
It is interesting to think that the very stately Folly was situated just down the block from the far more mundane Lindy Theater. But I guess that’s how things were those days.
TT, what is happening at the Queens and the old Bellerose are two entirely separate actions. I am sorry for having confused the two.
In front of the old Queens, which is under extensive renovation, is a sign containing the name of a church, which could be either the existing occupant of the site or an entirely new one. (The intent of the sign is to show what will be here after the renovations have taken place.) In any event, this site will clearly continue to function as a church after the renovations are complete.
The old Bellerose is, as I noted earlier today, currently functioning as an existing retail karate store about half a mile to the east of the Queens.
I hope this helps to clear this matter up – and, once again, I am sorry for having muddied the waters.
A major mea culpa on my part. Yesterday, I passed by the Bellorose and found that I made a big mistake in my previous post. The Karate store is not only still there but has apparently now opened for retail business. (I think this is a very recent development.)
What I had confused for the Bellerose was a former theater situated far closer to Springfield Blvd. Since I very much try to get things right on this site, I truely regret having provided inaccurate information.
The Times Weekly (the Old Ridgewood Times)also ran an article on the visit referenced in the Daily News article noted above. It should go on-line in a week or so. I will post it when it is available.
The article provides positive news as it indicates that the politically serious entities in Ridgewood – the elected officials and the leaders of the major community groups – are aggressively exploring, in conjunction with the owners, posible new – and aesthetically positive – uses for the old theater house. This is great news, since, with all due respect to us movie enthusiasts and landmarks preservation advocates, these are the persons who can actually make this thing work. Hopefully, they will be able to generate the needed funding to move this project along and also attract a coalition of cinematic and theatrical groups that could help make this a going venture.
On the other hand, it appears that the owners, despite their clearly articulated – and, in my view, sincere – good intentions, are looking to turn their considerable investment into a profit making entity. Thus, if a revival of the Ridgewood does not pan out in a reasonable period of time, they will definitely look elsewhere. Only time will tell.
Yes Bway, one can only wonder what the poltergeists of Union Cemetary have wrecked on both the students of old Bushwick High and the users of the Irving Library! (It seems, however, that their bite has been far less ominous than their bark!)
More seriously, a closer look at the map indicates that at least a portion of the old Madison Theatre may have been situated in Brooklyn before the lines were changed. Because, however, the realignment had occurred before 1927 – the year of the Madison’s birth – this was always an unambigously Queens venue when the Madison opened. But an item like this may have complicated the Madison’s construction schedule.
Thanks so much for this really wonderful vintage picture. By looking at what remains, you would never realize what an opulent place the old Alhambra once was. It is quite surprising that a Lamb theater could be built in what was hardly the center of town. But again, I guess a real effort was made to make Irving Square a really classy place a century ago.
If you scroll up to the pictures above TT’s attachment, you will find several interesting vintage pictures of the old community. Also, if you go up to picture number 71, you wil see a fascinating circa 1898 map of the old neighborhood. At that time, the county line between Brooklyn and Queens was not what it currently is, and it is really fascinating to review the differences.
Thanks TT – and have fun in reviewing the attachments.
In a comment regarding the Brooklyn Paramount, Tinseltoes provides a fine picture of the old theater. However, when I scrolled down to the other pictures on this thread, I stumbled over the attached map that provides fascinating information about the old Parthenon.
Specifically, when this theater was established, it was clearly situated in Brooklyn. When you review the map and trace where Palmetto Street meets Wyckoff Ave. (the Parthenon’s location) – the old Parthenon was clearly – or at least mostly – situated in the Borough of Churches. When, however, the county lines were re-drawn in the 1920’s, the Parthenon was cast into Queens County. Thus – unlike the Madison, Ridgewood, Oasis and who knows what other Queens theaters that were, over the years, told by the newspapers that they were in Brooklyn – the Parthenon actually was situated in Brooklyn – until they changed the boundary lines.
Yes, I did mean the Bellerose! This lapse probably requires treatment at Bellevue, if not at the mose assessable Creedmore!
By the way, does anyone know the name of the Bellerose’s architect? Since the facade is – even now – quite impressive, it may very well have been designed by an architect of note. But who was it?
Finally Kitnoir, I clearly hope you are wrong about the impact of the Fire Dept’s. practice at this site.
I enjoyed reading this terrific thread – and receiving a very detailed geography lesson – or lessons.
I passed by the old Bellevue earlier today and have a lot to report. Specifically, the old building is – once again – under renovation and apparently will soon host a church. (Since my bus passed by before I could write it down, I can’t provide the name of the congregation. Hopefully, someone will also visit the site and retrieve this information.)
As we know, conversion to a church represents one of the most benign re-uses that former movie palaces can experience. So, unless the interveening users totally trashed the old theater’s interior architecture, we may find that a lot has been preserved. Or at least we can so hope.
Earlier today, my wife and I had lunch at a restaurant about a block west of the old Floral. It was really a treat seeing the very well preserved facade. The pictures previously posted of the upper ballroom were also pretty terrific.
Given the fact that this was a highly regarded theater, I am surprised that the architect has yet to be identified. Can anyone out there help fill in this gap?
In addition, the extensive use of Roman arches on the facade also indicates at least a neo-Romanesque influence.
Where did you get the information that the City Council had reneged on the landmark designation – or are you just making an assertion? As far as I am aware, City Council approval seems very likely, with both local Council Members on board and no apparent opposition in sight.
I just hope that certain comments raising the possibility of the eventual designation of the Ridgewood’s interior is not giving the owner pause to reconsider his passed support.
I was able to make it over here yesterday, and the situation is as Bway described. One thing that I did observe was the fact that the building permits pasted on the fence expired last November. This is obviously not a good sign for the future prospects of what remains of the Eagle.
I was able to visit the Ridgewood yesterday and saw something that was disturbing. Specifically, there is now a sign on the markee advertising a telephone number – 917-578-7701 – for those interested in using the building. When I called the number, I was informed that the owner is interested in considering ANY use – and certainly did not say anything about preserving the lobby or maintaining movie theaters on the second floor. This seems very much like the situation that existed right after the Ridgewood closed. While I hope this is not the case, the prognosis is not good.
Michael, have you gleaned any recent change in the owner’s position on this point?
One other observation, the projector noted above and featured in a video has now been removed.
Went by this site today, and it is just as Bway described it. Also, none of the Buildings Dept. permite are current; they all elapsed last November. Thus, the chances of this theater to rise from ite ashes are pretty slim.
By the way, if a “Driggs Theater” did exist at or near the Graham Ave. intersection, the address would have been in the 200-220 Driggs Ave. range. Identifying a precise site will, however, be difficult since, in the late 1950’s, much of this area was demolished to make way for what is now McGuinnes Blvd.
I don’t think Cinema Warsaw fills the bill here. The building hosting it was and continues to be the Polish National Hall. During my days in Greenpoint, and I only moved to Forest Hills in 2001, this was exclusively a concert, theater and party venue. Cinema did not play a role at all. “Cinema Warsaw” was only established here recently, and films are only shown on a very periodic basis. Currently, the Polish National Hall is far better known as a venue for cutting edge rock concerts. There is even a debate on Cinema Warsaw’s CT page over whether or not it should be listed here. (In a close call, I favor inclusion.)
So, if an old “Driggs Theater” did exist, it either has not yet been identified in Cinema Treasures or it may have been the previously mentioned Public Palace, which, by the way, was once also known as the Sacks Theater.
I look forward to hearing from you – and your father – very soon.
Baby Boomer, thank you for your terrific comments. Your father clearly has a wonderful memory.
I definitely remember the Chopin when it was the American – it now hosts a Starbucks coffee house! The Eagle was most “recently” known as the Midway. It closed around 1950, was then used as a factory and is now a vacant lot. (Under the Midway, it has a page on this site.)The old Nassau is indeed the current Princess Manor. It closed in the 1950’s. The movie theater that now hosts the Met Foodstore at Driggs and Russell used to be the Winthrop, or as we used to call it, the Winnie. I was there on its last day of operation in 1959!
Your father’s reference to the “Driggs” theater near the corner of Driggs and Graham is especially interesting. While there is no current documentation of a theater situated right on the corner in Cinema Treasures, a movie house caled the Public Palace did exist – until the late 1920’s – up the block on Graham between Engert Ave. and Broome St. Perhaps this is what your father had in mind. If not, you might have identified yet another “forgotten theater” that needs further investigation. (Please check out the Public Palace page, which has a current picture, on CT.)
One last – and somewhat off-topic – question. Does your father remember a post office being located next – or at least near to – the Garden Theater, the movie house once situated across the street from the Meserole?
Hope this does not prove to be too big of a set back for this wonderful theater.
Being a Brooklyn boy, I only made it to the Paradise on one occasion. It was during the mid-1970’s, when I was dating a women from Inwood and Fordham Road was still a lively place on a Saturday night. By that time, the Paradise had already been divided, and would probably close soon thereafter. While I do not at all remember the movie that we saw, I was definitely dazzled by the sheer opulence of the place, even in its less than pristine state. Since the film we saw was being screened in the theater situated in the balcony, we also had a birds eye view of the beautiful ceiling.
So I hope the Paradise will soon rebound from this setback, and I hope to make it back some day.
Passed by the site yesterday. It now appears that any effort to construct anything here has been abandoned. While there was still a current building permit on display during my pervious visit, which occurred almost exactly a year ago, the fence was entirely bare today. In addition, a quick look through the fence clearly indicated that absolutely no work had been done during the past year. My guess is that this will continue to be an abandoned vacant lot for a very long time to come.
While the Huffington Post article is wonderful – and reminds me that this is where I had my first date – it makes one small error. The Meserole was never called the Garden Theatre. That theater was situuated across the street and just down the block. It did not survive the end of the silent era – probably because of the Meserole’s competition – and became a bar/catering hall. It is now an Indian restaurant.
The Garden has a brief though interesting page on CT that is worth a look.
Great piece regarding the movie house where I had my first date.
There is one correction in the attachment that should be noted. The Mrserole was never known as the Garden Theatre. That movie house was located across the street and just down the block. Due to, in large measure, the competition provided by the Meserole, the Garden did not survive the silent era, and was converted into a catering hall and bar. It is now an Indian Restaurant.
I would take the picture at its word; it was a “Sanitary Market”, whatever that was. (Well, I guess at a time when ice boxes were the state of the art, being sanitary was very important.)
I actually think I remember this site during the early 1970’s, when it hosted another business – but definitely not a movie house.
I just saw the You Tube pieces regarding the old projector and the Ridgewood community. They were great! I really wonder what that old projector is doing in the lobby?
Anyhow, by this time tomorrow, the City Planning Commission will have approved the Landmarks sesignation for this great old theater. Then it is on the a very supportive City Council for final designation!
Thank you Bway and Warren for this terrific vintage picture. I just can’t believe that such a significant theater existed on this corner. I just have two additional comments to add:
When one reads – or re-reads – “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” – one can really think of The Folly as a place where the principal characters of this wonderful novel went to enjoy a silent film and/or a stage performance on a Saturday night. Perhaps Jimmy Nolan even performed here. This was clearly one of the crown jewels of the “Ghetto Street”.
It is interesting to think that the very stately Folly was situated just down the block from the far more mundane Lindy Theater. But I guess that’s how things were those days.
TT, what is happening at the Queens and the old Bellerose are two entirely separate actions. I am sorry for having confused the two.
In front of the old Queens, which is under extensive renovation, is a sign containing the name of a church, which could be either the existing occupant of the site or an entirely new one. (The intent of the sign is to show what will be here after the renovations have taken place.) In any event, this site will clearly continue to function as a church after the renovations are complete.
The old Bellerose is, as I noted earlier today, currently functioning as an existing retail karate store about half a mile to the east of the Queens.
I hope this helps to clear this matter up – and, once again, I am sorry for having muddied the waters.
A major mea culpa on my part. Yesterday, I passed by the Bellorose and found that I made a big mistake in my previous post. The Karate store is not only still there but has apparently now opened for retail business. (I think this is a very recent development.)
What I had confused for the Bellerose was a former theater situated far closer to Springfield Blvd. Since I very much try to get things right on this site, I truely regret having provided inaccurate information.
The Times Weekly (the Old Ridgewood Times)also ran an article on the visit referenced in the Daily News article noted above. It should go on-line in a week or so. I will post it when it is available.
The article provides positive news as it indicates that the politically serious entities in Ridgewood – the elected officials and the leaders of the major community groups – are aggressively exploring, in conjunction with the owners, posible new – and aesthetically positive – uses for the old theater house. This is great news, since, with all due respect to us movie enthusiasts and landmarks preservation advocates, these are the persons who can actually make this thing work. Hopefully, they will be able to generate the needed funding to move this project along and also attract a coalition of cinematic and theatrical groups that could help make this a going venture.
On the other hand, it appears that the owners, despite their clearly articulated – and, in my view, sincere – good intentions, are looking to turn their considerable investment into a profit making entity. Thus, if a revival of the Ridgewood does not pan out in a reasonable period of time, they will definitely look elsewhere. Only time will tell.
Yes Bway, one can only wonder what the poltergeists of Union Cemetary have wrecked on both the students of old Bushwick High and the users of the Irving Library! (It seems, however, that their bite has been far less ominous than their bark!)
More seriously, a closer look at the map indicates that at least a portion of the old Madison Theatre may have been situated in Brooklyn before the lines were changed. Because, however, the realignment had occurred before 1927 – the year of the Madison’s birth – this was always an unambigously Queens venue when the Madison opened. But an item like this may have complicated the Madison’s construction schedule.
Thanks so much for this really wonderful vintage picture. By looking at what remains, you would never realize what an opulent place the old Alhambra once was. It is quite surprising that a Lamb theater could be built in what was hardly the center of town. But again, I guess a real effort was made to make Irving Square a really classy place a century ago.
If you scroll up to the pictures above TT’s attachment, you will find several interesting vintage pictures of the old community. Also, if you go up to picture number 71, you wil see a fascinating circa 1898 map of the old neighborhood. At that time, the county line between Brooklyn and Queens was not what it currently is, and it is really fascinating to review the differences.
Thanks TT – and have fun in reviewing the attachments.
In a comment regarding the Brooklyn Paramount, Tinseltoes provides a fine picture of the old theater. However, when I scrolled down to the other pictures on this thread, I stumbled over the attached map that provides fascinating information about the old Parthenon.
Specifically, when this theater was established, it was clearly situated in Brooklyn. When you review the map and trace where Palmetto Street meets Wyckoff Ave. (the Parthenon’s location) – the old Parthenon was clearly – or at least mostly – situated in the Borough of Churches. When, however, the county lines were re-drawn in the 1920’s, the Parthenon was cast into Queens County. Thus – unlike the Madison, Ridgewood, Oasis and who knows what other Queens theaters that were, over the years, told by the newspapers that they were in Brooklyn – the Parthenon actually was situated in Brooklyn – until they changed the boundary lines.
Hope you find this as interesting as I did.
View link
Yes, I did mean the Bellerose! This lapse probably requires treatment at Bellevue, if not at the mose assessable Creedmore!
By the way, does anyone know the name of the Bellerose’s architect? Since the facade is – even now – quite impressive, it may very well have been designed by an architect of note. But who was it?
Finally Kitnoir, I clearly hope you are wrong about the impact of the Fire Dept’s. practice at this site.
I enjoyed reading this terrific thread – and receiving a very detailed geography lesson – or lessons.
I passed by the old Bellevue earlier today and have a lot to report. Specifically, the old building is – once again – under renovation and apparently will soon host a church. (Since my bus passed by before I could write it down, I can’t provide the name of the congregation. Hopefully, someone will also visit the site and retrieve this information.)
As we know, conversion to a church represents one of the most benign re-uses that former movie palaces can experience. So, unless the interveening users totally trashed the old theater’s interior architecture, we may find that a lot has been preserved. Or at least we can so hope.
Let’s hope for the best!
Earlier today, my wife and I had lunch at a restaurant about a block west of the old Floral. It was really a treat seeing the very well preserved facade. The pictures previously posted of the upper ballroom were also pretty terrific.
Given the fact that this was a highly regarded theater, I am surprised that the architect has yet to be identified. Can anyone out there help fill in this gap?
In addition, the extensive use of Roman arches on the facade also indicates at least a neo-Romanesque influence.
Where did you get the information that the City Council had reneged on the landmark designation – or are you just making an assertion? As far as I am aware, City Council approval seems very likely, with both local Council Members on board and no apparent opposition in sight.
I just hope that certain comments raising the possibility of the eventual designation of the Ridgewood’s interior is not giving the owner pause to reconsider his passed support.
I was able to make it over here yesterday, and the situation is as Bway described. One thing that I did observe was the fact that the building permits pasted on the fence expired last November. This is obviously not a good sign for the future prospects of what remains of the Eagle.
I was able to visit the Ridgewood yesterday and saw something that was disturbing. Specifically, there is now a sign on the markee advertising a telephone number – 917-578-7701 – for those interested in using the building. When I called the number, I was informed that the owner is interested in considering ANY use – and certainly did not say anything about preserving the lobby or maintaining movie theaters on the second floor. This seems very much like the situation that existed right after the Ridgewood closed. While I hope this is not the case, the prognosis is not good.
Michael, have you gleaned any recent change in the owner’s position on this point?
One other observation, the projector noted above and featured in a video has now been removed.
Went by this site today, and it is just as Bway described it. Also, none of the Buildings Dept. permite are current; they all elapsed last November. Thus, the chances of this theater to rise from ite ashes are pretty slim.
Here is the concise report from the City Planning Commission approving the Ridgewood’s landmarks designation.
Now it is on to the City Council for final approval.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/cpc/100222.pdf
By the way, if a “Driggs Theater” did exist at or near the Graham Ave. intersection, the address would have been in the 200-220 Driggs Ave. range. Identifying a precise site will, however, be difficult since, in the late 1950’s, much of this area was demolished to make way for what is now McGuinnes Blvd.
I don’t think Cinema Warsaw fills the bill here. The building hosting it was and continues to be the Polish National Hall. During my days in Greenpoint, and I only moved to Forest Hills in 2001, this was exclusively a concert, theater and party venue. Cinema did not play a role at all. “Cinema Warsaw” was only established here recently, and films are only shown on a very periodic basis. Currently, the Polish National Hall is far better known as a venue for cutting edge rock concerts. There is even a debate on Cinema Warsaw’s CT page over whether or not it should be listed here. (In a close call, I favor inclusion.)
So, if an old “Driggs Theater” did exist, it either has not yet been identified in Cinema Treasures or it may have been the previously mentioned Public Palace, which, by the way, was once also known as the Sacks Theater.
I look forward to hearing from you – and your father – very soon.
Baby Boomer, thank you for your terrific comments. Your father clearly has a wonderful memory.
I definitely remember the Chopin when it was the American – it now hosts a Starbucks coffee house! The Eagle was most “recently” known as the Midway. It closed around 1950, was then used as a factory and is now a vacant lot. (Under the Midway, it has a page on this site.)The old Nassau is indeed the current Princess Manor. It closed in the 1950’s. The movie theater that now hosts the Met Foodstore at Driggs and Russell used to be the Winthrop, or as we used to call it, the Winnie. I was there on its last day of operation in 1959!
Your father’s reference to the “Driggs” theater near the corner of Driggs and Graham is especially interesting. While there is no current documentation of a theater situated right on the corner in Cinema Treasures, a movie house caled the Public Palace did exist – until the late 1920’s – up the block on Graham between Engert Ave. and Broome St. Perhaps this is what your father had in mind. If not, you might have identified yet another “forgotten theater” that needs further investigation. (Please check out the Public Palace page, which has a current picture, on CT.)
One last – and somewhat off-topic – question. Does your father remember a post office being located next – or at least near to – the Garden Theater, the movie house once situated across the street from the Meserole?
Great talking to you.
Hope this does not prove to be too big of a set back for this wonderful theater.
Being a Brooklyn boy, I only made it to the Paradise on one occasion. It was during the mid-1970’s, when I was dating a women from Inwood and Fordham Road was still a lively place on a Saturday night. By that time, the Paradise had already been divided, and would probably close soon thereafter. While I do not at all remember the movie that we saw, I was definitely dazzled by the sheer opulence of the place, even in its less than pristine state. Since the film we saw was being screened in the theater situated in the balcony, we also had a birds eye view of the beautiful ceiling.
So I hope the Paradise will soon rebound from this setback, and I hope to make it back some day.
Passed by the site yesterday. It now appears that any effort to construct anything here has been abandoned. While there was still a current building permit on display during my pervious visit, which occurred almost exactly a year ago, the fence was entirely bare today. In addition, a quick look through the fence clearly indicated that absolutely no work had been done during the past year. My guess is that this will continue to be an abandoned vacant lot for a very long time to come.
While the Huffington Post article is wonderful – and reminds me that this is where I had my first date – it makes one small error. The Meserole was never called the Garden Theatre. That theater was situuated across the street and just down the block. It did not survive the end of the silent era – probably because of the Meserole’s competition – and became a bar/catering hall. It is now an Indian restaurant.
The Garden has a brief though interesting page on CT that is worth a look.
Great piece regarding the movie house where I had my first date.
There is one correction in the attachment that should be noted. The Mrserole was never known as the Garden Theatre. That movie house was located across the street and just down the block. Due to, in large measure, the competition provided by the Meserole, the Garden did not survive the silent era, and was converted into a catering hall and bar. It is now an Indian Restaurant.
I would take the picture at its word; it was a “Sanitary Market”, whatever that was. (Well, I guess at a time when ice boxes were the state of the art, being sanitary was very important.)
I actually think I remember this site during the early 1970’s, when it hosted another business – but definitely not a movie house.
Thanks for making the trip and taking the updated picture. I had intended to visit the site myself but just could not make it.
well, at least the shell has not visibly disintegrated during the interim.
I just saw the You Tube pieces regarding the old projector and the Ridgewood community. They were great! I really wonder what that old projector is doing in the lobby?
Anyhow, by this time tomorrow, the City Planning Commission will have approved the Landmarks sesignation for this great old theater. Then it is on the a very supportive City Council for final designation!