Madison Theater

That’s what I meant. It was for live shows, not film.

Yes, I couldn’t believe it either. However, I have actually also seen this theater on an old Brooklyn tax map, showing this theater next to the oppulant RKO Bushwick. They probably both survived, as the tiny Madison was a film theater, and the RKO Bushwick originally a legit theater.

Geez! Every person that has posted in this section has gotten it mixed up with the RKO Madison….including Warren! I just found this theater here today!
We talked about this theater a while back, but never knew it was added. Anyway, it must have been a REALLY small theater, as it’s location, next to the RKO Bushwick Theater is a very small triangle parcel of land, that currently is a flagpole area for the Acorn High School that is housed in the old RKO Bushwick Theater. I will get a photo of the lot one day when I am in Bushwick.

It’s good Lost Memory posted the link to the “real” Madison Theater in Ridgewood, because I think a lot of people will/have gotten confused….

The time was the summer of 1960. A older neighbor who was a big fan of Hitchcock’s, but who couldn’t read the paper correctly for movie showing times, treated me to “Psycho” at the RKO Madison. As soon as we parted the black curtain to get to our seats, that awful sound effect from the shower scene greeted us. To this day I’ve never been able to watch that movie on VHS or DVD from its proper start to finish!
I have a tape of some transit films from Sunday River Productions taken from the Myrtle El in Ridgewood in the mid-‘50s that clearly shows the RKO Madison and its colorful self advertisement painted on the side of the theater as those old gate cars swung left toward Seneca Ave. Today the ad has faded to the point of being barely visible, and I think the building itself is currently a discount appliance outlet.
The Ridgewood Theatre was very close by, just off of Myrtle, but I read while in NY last March that it is slated to close soon, the victim of a another yet-to-be-built multiplex. Progress, my sweet butt…

I was born in Bushwick and as a kid in the late 50’s remember going to see movies at the Madison. Could it have been reopened? I can still remember going to the RKO Bushwick,the Lowe’s Gates and the Madison. It had shown features that were past there first run status and seemed like a poor cousin to the other grander theatres.

Operated by B. F. Keiths,The Bushwick was a top vaudeville house in 1910s. There is a large ad in The Weekly Chat for September 26, 1914 listing “the only theatres in Brooklyn owned and operated by the B.F. Keith Co.”. At the very bottom corner is the Madison, Broadway & Madison, “magnificent theatre devoted to photoplays, the best in films and high grade features.” Basically Keith’s had just opened a small movie house in back of their Bushwick.
In the The Weekly Chat for March 13th, 1915 there an article on the Madison with a photo. The most impressive thing about this two story theatre is the electric signage on front. The Bushwick can be seen looming in the background. The article gives the location of the Madison as “Broadway and Madison Street, adjoining the Bushwick."
In addition;” The beautiful little house is devoted to the highest class photoplays and the marvelous clearness and softness of the pictures shown proves the value and success of the gold fibre screen used in this house.“
B.F. Keith’s seems to have sold this theatre by the end of 1915. It still advertises but not as a B.F. Keith’s house. In the summer of 1916 it was given a complete renovation. The Madison is listed as closed in 1924