Movie534: I can’t explain the Ritz situation. Nor can I explain why the Loews Paradise in The Bronx, after a stunning milti million dollar renovation is just sitting there unused. There is an ocassional eccentric owner out there, but it also proves my point. Someone spent all that money and is still not getting any income from it! It’s crazy! Certainly, if they were trying they could book events, but would it be enough to have it be a going concern to a typical investor.
As much as I love movie palaces, if I had $25MM, would I restore the Loews Kings myself? Probably not, because I too would need to see a return on my investment. I would, however, be willing to put in some money as part of a much larger group as long as it had a proper business plan on how it would be able to operate on its own without subsidy.
Regarding the Paradise, I’m hoping that the city eventually forecloses on it for lack of paying property taxes and resells it to someone who will put it to work as a performing arts center for the entire Bronx which so richly deserves it.
ECR: Some of the old theaters di have great sight lines, but many did not; especially the large ones. I remember when I went on the tour of the Kings in Brooklyn I was amazed at how small the screen was relative to the size of the auditorium. That is my point. The screen seemed big if you were up close, but if you were way on the side or way in the balcony or far back in the orchestra, it was tiny.
In the multiplexes, the screen sizes in the best of them, are very large relative to the size of the theater which means you feel like you’re watching a bigger screen than you think. When you combine the more comfortable chairs and leg room and cup holder and sound etc…the new theaters have the advantage.
Even at The Ziegfeld, which is one of my favorite theaters, i like to sit no more than a third of the way from the screen in the center to get the true feeling of its big screen.
Yes, some of the old palaces have been able to replace their seating and reduce total seats but that is the exception to the rule. The sad reality is that movie palaces of yore (for the most part) cannot make it on movies alone. There are very few exceptions to this rule.
Also, I agree about the Loews Astor Plaza. It had the largest screen in New York (or at least the 2nd largest). It was a great place to see a movie. But, it couldn’t support itself with movies. The seats were ripped out and it is now a concert hall which I have yet to visit.
We have lost probably thousands of movie palaces over the years. The sad reality is that a great many of them could not have been saved. The were technically and functionally obsolete in today’s world. The movie going public requires seating, sight lines and screen sizes that most older theaters were unable to compete with, to say nothing of the fact that almost all of the older theaters were just too big to be economical to operate.
Having said that, every effort should be made to save those that can be reused in a manner that pays for its renovation and continued operation unless a municipal entity agrees to provide either grants for renovations or operating subsidies for its continuing operations.
It is not enough to say “oh, they should renovate it and operate it as a theater again” Who is “They?” People are in business to make money. Governments are strapped for cash. These are very dificult times. It is very gratifying to see that The Beacon Theatre in Manhattan is about to reopen after a sparkling renovation. Who paid for it?; the huge conglomerate Cablevision. How is it paying for itself? By using its stage as a concert venue. There are no current plans to show movies (though I think that would be a great idea).
I don’t see anyone stepping forward with the resources of a company like Cablevision to save the Ridgewood and if there was such a company, I would much rather they apply their money and attention to the renovation and re-opening of the Loews Kings or The Brooklyn Paramount than the Ridgewood. Brooklyn and the city would be much better served with those palaces restored. Alas, we can’t save them all. We should focus on those most worth keeping.
In a bad recession, shows will close earlier than usual and fewer new shows will open, but prices, per se, will not come down. There are plenty of discounts available for the great majority of shows especially if you are felxible with the day of the week and where you prefer to sit. I saw Boeing Boeing for just $20 last fall and it was one of the best comedies I’ve ever seen on Broadway.
In bad times, movies tend to do better and that bodes well for the Ziegfeld.
I know this is stating the obvious, but “how much more beautiful is the original marquee that the current one?!” This is almost always the case. The two that jump out at me right away are the Loews Jersey and the Loews Kings, but it is probably fair to say that very few of the new marquees erected over the years to “modernize” the theater and bring it up to date were actually an improvement over the original. It certainly wasn’t in this case.
Thanks Tim for the photo. It’s actually from 1935! I love how you can see the signs for “Chop Suey” and also the Hebrew lettering on another store front. The melting pot in action!
It’s frustrating that no other information has come forward about this theater, its condition, its current ownership or its potential future, but if i find out any additional infor, I will be sure to post it here.
I just got back from a visit to Richmond Hill and have the following updates:
All letering making any reference to the RKO Keiths on the Marquee have been removed.
The plastic lettering advertising the flea market is curling up and will fall off soon as well. I just don’t see how this theater makes money as a flea market. Granted, I haven’t seen the turnout for Bingo but how many people play Bingo?
Jahn’s next door is still under renovation for its new stint as the Mexican restaurant “Montezuma”. I actually saw them working and the entire interior has been gutted. The Jahn’s sign remains on the exterior….for now.
The Triangle Hofbrau, which on my last visit a few months ago, was medical offices on one side and a pool hall on the other is now just a pool hall! Leo’s Billiards and Restaurant! Not sure what the restaurant serves but you can be sure it ain’t Haute Cuisine! :–)
The parking lot behind the Keiths that was referenced in a prior post is now the site of some butt ugly multi-family housing. Man, it is ugly.
The Richmond Hill Savings Bank that was on the corner of 118th Street and Jamaica Avenue is also closed and “for rent”.
To summarize, I’m more pessimistic than ever about this theater and the area being able to support a renovated theater and it does pain me to say that.
The playing of WSS at the Ziegfeld would be a wonderful complement to the stage production coming soon to the Palace. One generates interest in the other. The success of Hairspray and Chicago are but 2 examples.
Regarding the high price of Broadway, it’s too simplistic to just say prices should be lower. Don’t you think they would do that if the realistically could. About 80% of Broadway shows do not recoup the money that investors put in. That’s a really scary number and yet, people do risk their money because of a love of the art of theater and the promise, that if you have a big hit, you can make a lot of money in return.
I attend about 8-10 broadway shows a year. Sometimes I pay full price, other times I get discount codes or go to TKTS. Yes , I think tickets are expensive, but I still think that, for certain shows, they are worth it. For those that I am not sure about, I will get discount tickets. If people boycott, as has been suggested above, the prices won’t come down. There will just be fewer and fewer productions and those that come to Broadway will be focussed more and more on those shows most likely to draw the most audiences; mostly revivals. Many say that that is already happening, but there are still wonderful shows on Broadway that are different like “In the Heights”, “Avenue Q”, and “Spring Awakening”.
p.s. In the Heights has just been optioned for a film version and what better place for it to open than at The Ziegfeld where all the big recent musicals like Chicago, Dreamgirls and Hairspray have premiered. But…….How fabulous would it be to have the premiere of “In The Hights” at Loew’s 175th Street which really is in the heights! I will post this thought on that theater’s page though I’m not sure that the screen still exists.
I’m a little confused by the photos posted by spectrum on 12/23/08. Some of the photos show the theater in deplorable condition where others dated 9/08 show the theater being in remarkably good condition. What is the reference to a movie set? Was the old theater used to film a movie of some sort? This theater appears to be remarkable and much has been made of Bridgeport’s attempt to reinvigorate itself. What beter way to do it than through a performing Arts Center created from one of the country’s most beautiful remaining Movie Palaces?
Cineast…Thank you for your comments. I was equally saddened by what I saw at the Paramount because, as you said, that was the same story at the Matienzo. I don’t understand the logic unless the interiors are just too far gone for a restoration. My only hope is that any reconstruction would be of a design that would be considered landmark quality 40 years from now. However, with the current state of Puerto Rico’s budget crisis, it is unlikely that will happen. I’m afraid that the the facade will be standing with an empty lot behind it for years to come.
On another matter, since you seem to knowledgable about PR theaters, I was wondering if you have any knowledge about the abandoned theater that I saw in Ponce whose marquee had the name of Victoria?
Cineast….Yes, that is the story at the theaters that you mentioned, in addition to the Paramount and the Fox Delicias in Ponce. But it is terribly unfair to paint all of Puerto Rico with that attitude. As I mentioned on the above post, The Teatro Yaguez is a spectacular restoration and they should be very proud of it. There also are fully restored theaters in Vega Baja, Guayama and several other towns across the island and, while La Perla theater in Ponce and the The Teatro Tapia in Old San Juan don’t qualify as movie palaces because they did not show films, they are two of the Western Hemisphere’s most historic theaters and both have been recently and beautifully restored.
Perhaps, Ponce will have the next success with The Victoria. If you have a chance to visit Puerto Rico you will see that the island, as a whole, has a spectacular record in the restoration of historic buildings. But there will always be buildings that are lost. No state has a perfect record and I would say that, as a whole, Puerto Rico has one of the best records in saving and restoring historic structures.
Hi JSA, if the theater your mother refers to was located on Calle Comerico then it was not the theater I saw. It was defintely about two blocks West of Plaza Las Delicias. I just looked on google maps and there actually is a Calle Victoria so it is possible that this theater borders that street. Oh how I wish I had paid beter attention to where I was! I’m hoping that someone who knows Ponce will eventualy read this and provide us with the missing info.
The theater is absolutely there! It is on the North East corner of the intersection with a big marquee with the word Victoria on it. The marquee has some broken glass in it. I have no idea of the interior condition. It looks like it’s been closed for a few years.
Wow..ECR…I’m with you on everything you said! I also don’t understand why people like Streisand don’t do anything at all to give back to the borough where it all happended for them.
I also have to say that I am incredibly disappointed in Markowitz. At one time, I really did feel that he was doing everything he could to get the Kings going, but now we hear nothing but cricket noises!
BAM did announce that they were doing a resotration of the Strand? next door to the Majestic. Apparently, the interior had been gutted years ago to house retail so I’m not sure what the new theater will look like but it’s always great to get a theater back in business whether it is for films or, as in this case, for live performances.
That is much easier said than done ECR. There is only room for so many Performing Arts Centers.
But in your discussion of theaters that could be restored to public use you have not mentioned the two most prominent closed theaters in all of New York City and possibly the entire country – The Loews Kings and The Brooklyn Paramount! (the only other contender would be the Uptown in Chicago)
The Kings is stunning even in its decay. Read my posts on that theater’s page. I have been on two tours there. That theater is totally salvagable and would make an amazing Performing Arts Center. The Brooklyn Paramount is also stunning and still mostly there and could be easily restored. All it would take is…….MONEY! Brooklyn, a city of 2.6MM people, has only The Brooklyn Academy of Music (and the associated Majestic theater) and the Brooklyn College Performing Arts Center to serve that huge poplation. Surely, a population this large could support a theater like The Kings and/or The Paramount restored to their former opulence and glory. Yet, it hasn’t happended, though the city is still “technically” working on the Kings and LIU is “considering” a restoration now that the gym has been moved to a new facility.
The Ridgewood, by comparison……is a historic local theater that has a lot of meaning to neighborhood residents but not much appeal to the outside world.
If you are looking to restore a theater for Performing Arts purposes there are only two theaters that should be considered: The Loew’s Kings and The Brooklyn Paramount!
Thank you John for your thorough post above. I actually wasn’t sure whether the Academy of Music had protection or not but it does make sense now that we have discovered that it does not. That is why it is so critical that the designation be obtained to have any real hope of salvaging the Ridgewood. It would also explain why I had no real memory of the landmark fight when NYU decided to tear the theater down. It was because there was no such designation! Thanks again.
Here is the actual posting from Queen Crap web site:
From the Times Ledger:
Ridgewood’s embattled historic movie house may get a reprieve from the wrecking ball as the city Landmarks Preservation Commission will soon decide whether to consider the 92âˆ'yearâˆ'old theater for landmark status, a Landmarks official said.
No date has been set yet, but a discussion of the theater was expected to be on the calendar for a meeting in the near future, the official said.
News of the pending decision buoyed Forest Hills resident Michael Perlman, an avid preservationist who founded the Friends of the Ridgewood Theatre and advocated for its preservation last year.
“I was feeling elated,†he said. “Official landmark status would be the crown to a landmark in the eyes of the majority [of neighbors]. It would ensure a rare survivor’s longevity for future generations to cherish.â€
To empahsize the importance of Landmark Legislation: The Ridgewood will have a greater chance to survive with the designation than without.
East Coast Rocker….I appreciate your enthusiasm in saving theaters. We’re all on the same page, but it is simply incorrect to say that landmark laws are ineffective. MANY theaters have been saved through landmark protection. Virtually all broadway theaters are now landmarked in addition to theaters like The Beacon, Radio City and The Hollywood. (Hopefully, The Ziegfeld will be added to the list when it is eligible – I believe this year it celebrates its 40th anniversary which is the minimum age requirement for landmark status).
Sometimes, the landmark laws don’t work because it is determined that the new use is more important than saving the theater. That is what happended when the three landmark Broadway houses (The Morosco, The Helen Hayes and the Bijou) were torn down in the 80’s for the Marriott Marquis Hotel. This will be debated forever, but the reality is that Times Square was a cesspool at that time and this hotel, whatever you have to say about its architecture, was an incredibly important catalyst in the rebirth of Times Square. Broadway was dying, many theaters were vacant. Something had to be done.
I don’t know the details of NYU’s situation with the Academy of Music, but their argument for tearing down the building would have been the same. I too, wish an accomodation could have been reached to use the theater as a Center for the Performing Arts. Alas, it was not to be.
Back to the Ridgewood, regardless as to our respective opinions as to the effectivneess of Landmark protection, I think we can both agree that it is more likely that the Ridgewood will be saved WITH Landmark designation, than without.
I agree with Bway. One of the things that I’ve noticed in many of the palaces that I’ve been to are that the seating is inferior to the newer theaters as is the sound. The screen sizes (relative to the space) are also significantly smaller. The seats don’t have cup holders, the don’t recline, the armrests don’t go up. That is one reason why the old theaters became obsolete for showing films.
The old theaters wouldn’t or couldn’t adapt to the new technologies and new viewing patterns of the modern audiences and so they closed in droves. Some have been saved by returning to Legitimate Theater. Others have been transformed into their town’s performing arts centers. Still others have been turned into clubs/restaurants catering halls or other retail spaces, but a very select few, have been able to survive on movies alone. That is why we have lost so many beautiful theaters.
And not just theaters. Remember the beautiful Banking Halls that used to be everywhere? Huge Corinthian Colums, marble everywhere, Walnut panelling and brass railings and the halls themselves were usually at least 2 stories high! Very few of these remain. At one time they were fairly common but, like theaters, they outlived their intended purposes. Today, New York has the great fortune to have Both Bowery Savings Bank Buildings (one at 42nd St. and the other on the Bowery itself), The Greenwich Bank on 36th & Broadway and the grand Citbank at 55 Wall all preserved beautifully as Event/Catering Halls. A few are still around as actual banks such as the stunning Apple Bank building at 74th and Broadway, but they are relics of the past.
That is why it is so important to keep what we can. They are not building these kinds of buildings this way ever again! And, yes, the Landmarks Laws are the best single weapon we have to do that.
Been away for a few days, but I had to repond to comments made above about Landmark Status not meaning “squat”. It is an incredibly ignorant statement. The list of buildings protected by landmark status in New York is longer than the Ridgewood Page and YES it does have a significant impact in saving a threatened structure.
Does it work 100% of the time? Of course not! But it is an incredibly valuable tool to help save buildings in danger of being lost. I agree that the loss of the Acadamy of Music was painful. Every palace that is lost is, but landmarking is a powerful tool nonetheless. Especially in New York!
Yes, Peter. The Keiths Richmond Hill does not have the orchestra seats nor the screen, but I believe the balcony seats are still there. More importantly, almost all of the decorative elements are still there; they are just whitewashed with a cream color paint. This theater is remarkably intact and could be beautifully restored. The Ridgewood, on the other hand, doesn’t appear to have ever been elaborately decorated and, having been cut up into five screens has probably experienced a lot more damage.
As for the the popularity of the actual page, it is not due to the theater itself. This page became a neighborhood bulletin board with many posts having to do with Ridgewood – The Neighborhood, not Ridgewood, The Theatre. I had to stop receiving comment updates from this page because almost all of the posts were about “the ice cream parlor down the street” or the owner of the barber shop around the corner, etc…….
The Ridgewood, while much beloved as a neighborhood institution, does not hold a candle to New York’s other Palaces.
Thanks Warren. That’s a great answer and it jibes with my observation that this theater, while old, does not have the same decorative importance as theaters like the RKO Keiths Flushing & Richmond Hill, The Elmwood or The Valencia, all proper Queens palaces.
Bway, you mention that the interior is still intact at The Ridgewood. Is this really true? From the photos that I remember seeing on prior posts the interior still appears to have some detail in it but appears rather bland as if most of the decoration had already been stripped. Maybe it’s just been painted over, but I don’t believe that this theater’s interior compares with that of Lamb’s other storied venues. Of course, I could be wrong, but I think the RKO Keiths Richmond Hill has a much better interior worth salvaging. I’m intersted in hearing other’s opinions.
p.s. I don’t mean to imply that this is an either/or proposition. It would be wonderful to save both, but I believe that there is more to work with at the Keiths Richmond Hill.
Thanks JSA! I have submitted the Victoria as a new theater based solely on my sighting of it. Unfortunately, all I had to provide was the name and approximate location. Any information from your family would be greatly appreciated.
Movie534: I can’t explain the Ritz situation. Nor can I explain why the Loews Paradise in The Bronx, after a stunning milti million dollar renovation is just sitting there unused. There is an ocassional eccentric owner out there, but it also proves my point. Someone spent all that money and is still not getting any income from it! It’s crazy! Certainly, if they were trying they could book events, but would it be enough to have it be a going concern to a typical investor.
As much as I love movie palaces, if I had $25MM, would I restore the Loews Kings myself? Probably not, because I too would need to see a return on my investment. I would, however, be willing to put in some money as part of a much larger group as long as it had a proper business plan on how it would be able to operate on its own without subsidy.
Regarding the Paradise, I’m hoping that the city eventually forecloses on it for lack of paying property taxes and resells it to someone who will put it to work as a performing arts center for the entire Bronx which so richly deserves it.
ECR: Some of the old theaters di have great sight lines, but many did not; especially the large ones. I remember when I went on the tour of the Kings in Brooklyn I was amazed at how small the screen was relative to the size of the auditorium. That is my point. The screen seemed big if you were up close, but if you were way on the side or way in the balcony or far back in the orchestra, it was tiny.
In the multiplexes, the screen sizes in the best of them, are very large relative to the size of the theater which means you feel like you’re watching a bigger screen than you think. When you combine the more comfortable chairs and leg room and cup holder and sound etc…the new theaters have the advantage.
Even at The Ziegfeld, which is one of my favorite theaters, i like to sit no more than a third of the way from the screen in the center to get the true feeling of its big screen.
Yes, some of the old palaces have been able to replace their seating and reduce total seats but that is the exception to the rule. The sad reality is that movie palaces of yore (for the most part) cannot make it on movies alone. There are very few exceptions to this rule.
Also, I agree about the Loews Astor Plaza. It had the largest screen in New York (or at least the 2nd largest). It was a great place to see a movie. But, it couldn’t support itself with movies. The seats were ripped out and it is now a concert hall which I have yet to visit.
We have lost probably thousands of movie palaces over the years. The sad reality is that a great many of them could not have been saved. The were technically and functionally obsolete in today’s world. The movie going public requires seating, sight lines and screen sizes that most older theaters were unable to compete with, to say nothing of the fact that almost all of the older theaters were just too big to be economical to operate.
Having said that, every effort should be made to save those that can be reused in a manner that pays for its renovation and continued operation unless a municipal entity agrees to provide either grants for renovations or operating subsidies for its continuing operations.
It is not enough to say “oh, they should renovate it and operate it as a theater again” Who is “They?” People are in business to make money. Governments are strapped for cash. These are very dificult times. It is very gratifying to see that The Beacon Theatre in Manhattan is about to reopen after a sparkling renovation. Who paid for it?; the huge conglomerate Cablevision. How is it paying for itself? By using its stage as a concert venue. There are no current plans to show movies (though I think that would be a great idea).
I don’t see anyone stepping forward with the resources of a company like Cablevision to save the Ridgewood and if there was such a company, I would much rather they apply their money and attention to the renovation and re-opening of the Loews Kings or The Brooklyn Paramount than the Ridgewood. Brooklyn and the city would be much better served with those palaces restored. Alas, we can’t save them all. We should focus on those most worth keeping.
In a bad recession, shows will close earlier than usual and fewer new shows will open, but prices, per se, will not come down. There are plenty of discounts available for the great majority of shows especially if you are felxible with the day of the week and where you prefer to sit. I saw Boeing Boeing for just $20 last fall and it was one of the best comedies I’ve ever seen on Broadway.
In bad times, movies tend to do better and that bodes well for the Ziegfeld.
Thanks Waren, I guess it’s the theatre that refuses to die!
I know this is stating the obvious, but “how much more beautiful is the original marquee that the current one?!” This is almost always the case. The two that jump out at me right away are the Loews Jersey and the Loews Kings, but it is probably fair to say that very few of the new marquees erected over the years to “modernize” the theater and bring it up to date were actually an improvement over the original. It certainly wasn’t in this case.
Thanks Tim for the photo. It’s actually from 1935! I love how you can see the signs for “Chop Suey” and also the Hebrew lettering on another store front. The melting pot in action!
It’s frustrating that no other information has come forward about this theater, its condition, its current ownership or its potential future, but if i find out any additional infor, I will be sure to post it here.
I just got back from a visit to Richmond Hill and have the following updates:
All letering making any reference to the RKO Keiths on the Marquee have been removed.
The plastic lettering advertising the flea market is curling up and will fall off soon as well. I just don’t see how this theater makes money as a flea market. Granted, I haven’t seen the turnout for Bingo but how many people play Bingo?
Jahn’s next door is still under renovation for its new stint as the Mexican restaurant “Montezuma”. I actually saw them working and the entire interior has been gutted. The Jahn’s sign remains on the exterior….for now.
The Triangle Hofbrau, which on my last visit a few months ago, was medical offices on one side and a pool hall on the other is now just a pool hall! Leo’s Billiards and Restaurant! Not sure what the restaurant serves but you can be sure it ain’t Haute Cuisine! :–)
The parking lot behind the Keiths that was referenced in a prior post is now the site of some butt ugly multi-family housing. Man, it is ugly.
The Richmond Hill Savings Bank that was on the corner of 118th Street and Jamaica Avenue is also closed and “for rent”.
To summarize, I’m more pessimistic than ever about this theater and the area being able to support a renovated theater and it does pain me to say that.
The playing of WSS at the Ziegfeld would be a wonderful complement to the stage production coming soon to the Palace. One generates interest in the other. The success of Hairspray and Chicago are but 2 examples.
Regarding the high price of Broadway, it’s too simplistic to just say prices should be lower. Don’t you think they would do that if the realistically could. About 80% of Broadway shows do not recoup the money that investors put in. That’s a really scary number and yet, people do risk their money because of a love of the art of theater and the promise, that if you have a big hit, you can make a lot of money in return.
I attend about 8-10 broadway shows a year. Sometimes I pay full price, other times I get discount codes or go to TKTS. Yes , I think tickets are expensive, but I still think that, for certain shows, they are worth it. For those that I am not sure about, I will get discount tickets. If people boycott, as has been suggested above, the prices won’t come down. There will just be fewer and fewer productions and those that come to Broadway will be focussed more and more on those shows most likely to draw the most audiences; mostly revivals. Many say that that is already happening, but there are still wonderful shows on Broadway that are different like “In the Heights”, “Avenue Q”, and “Spring Awakening”.
p.s. In the Heights has just been optioned for a film version and what better place for it to open than at The Ziegfeld where all the big recent musicals like Chicago, Dreamgirls and Hairspray have premiered. But…….How fabulous would it be to have the premiere of “In The Hights” at Loew’s 175th Street which really is in the heights! I will post this thought on that theater’s page though I’m not sure that the screen still exists.
I’m a little confused by the photos posted by spectrum on 12/23/08. Some of the photos show the theater in deplorable condition where others dated 9/08 show the theater being in remarkably good condition. What is the reference to a movie set? Was the old theater used to film a movie of some sort? This theater appears to be remarkable and much has been made of Bridgeport’s attempt to reinvigorate itself. What beter way to do it than through a performing Arts Center created from one of the country’s most beautiful remaining Movie Palaces?
Nevermind. A prior post above notes that the level under the balcony contained two theaters when it it divided into a multiplex.
Cineast…Thank you for your comments. I was equally saddened by what I saw at the Paramount because, as you said, that was the same story at the Matienzo. I don’t understand the logic unless the interiors are just too far gone for a restoration. My only hope is that any reconstruction would be of a design that would be considered landmark quality 40 years from now. However, with the current state of Puerto Rico’s budget crisis, it is unlikely that will happen. I’m afraid that the the facade will be standing with an empty lot behind it for years to come.
On another matter, since you seem to knowledgable about PR theaters, I was wondering if you have any knowledge about the abandoned theater that I saw in Ponce whose marquee had the name of Victoria?
Cineast….Yes, that is the story at the theaters that you mentioned, in addition to the Paramount and the Fox Delicias in Ponce. But it is terribly unfair to paint all of Puerto Rico with that attitude. As I mentioned on the above post, The Teatro Yaguez is a spectacular restoration and they should be very proud of it. There also are fully restored theaters in Vega Baja, Guayama and several other towns across the island and, while La Perla theater in Ponce and the The Teatro Tapia in Old San Juan don’t qualify as movie palaces because they did not show films, they are two of the Western Hemisphere’s most historic theaters and both have been recently and beautifully restored.
Perhaps, Ponce will have the next success with The Victoria. If you have a chance to visit Puerto Rico you will see that the island, as a whole, has a spectacular record in the restoration of historic buildings. But there will always be buildings that are lost. No state has a perfect record and I would say that, as a whole, Puerto Rico has one of the best records in saving and restoring historic structures.
Hi JSA, if the theater your mother refers to was located on Calle Comerico then it was not the theater I saw. It was defintely about two blocks West of Plaza Las Delicias. I just looked on google maps and there actually is a Calle Victoria so it is possible that this theater borders that street. Oh how I wish I had paid beter attention to where I was! I’m hoping that someone who knows Ponce will eventualy read this and provide us with the missing info.
The theater is absolutely there! It is on the North East corner of the intersection with a big marquee with the word Victoria on it. The marquee has some broken glass in it. I have no idea of the interior condition. It looks like it’s been closed for a few years.
Wow..ECR…I’m with you on everything you said! I also don’t understand why people like Streisand don’t do anything at all to give back to the borough where it all happended for them.
I also have to say that I am incredibly disappointed in Markowitz. At one time, I really did feel that he was doing everything he could to get the Kings going, but now we hear nothing but cricket noises!
BAM did announce that they were doing a resotration of the Strand? next door to the Majestic. Apparently, the interior had been gutted years ago to house retail so I’m not sure what the new theater will look like but it’s always great to get a theater back in business whether it is for films or, as in this case, for live performances.
That is much easier said than done ECR. There is only room for so many Performing Arts Centers.
But in your discussion of theaters that could be restored to public use you have not mentioned the two most prominent closed theaters in all of New York City and possibly the entire country – The Loews Kings and The Brooklyn Paramount! (the only other contender would be the Uptown in Chicago)
The Kings is stunning even in its decay. Read my posts on that theater’s page. I have been on two tours there. That theater is totally salvagable and would make an amazing Performing Arts Center. The Brooklyn Paramount is also stunning and still mostly there and could be easily restored. All it would take is…….MONEY! Brooklyn, a city of 2.6MM people, has only The Brooklyn Academy of Music (and the associated Majestic theater) and the Brooklyn College Performing Arts Center to serve that huge poplation. Surely, a population this large could support a theater like The Kings and/or The Paramount restored to their former opulence and glory. Yet, it hasn’t happended, though the city is still “technically” working on the Kings and LIU is “considering” a restoration now that the gym has been moved to a new facility.
The Ridgewood, by comparison……is a historic local theater that has a lot of meaning to neighborhood residents but not much appeal to the outside world.
If you are looking to restore a theater for Performing Arts purposes there are only two theaters that should be considered: The Loew’s Kings and The Brooklyn Paramount!
Thank you John for your thorough post above. I actually wasn’t sure whether the Academy of Music had protection or not but it does make sense now that we have discovered that it does not. That is why it is so critical that the designation be obtained to have any real hope of salvaging the Ridgewood. It would also explain why I had no real memory of the landmark fight when NYU decided to tear the theater down. It was because there was no such designation! Thanks again.
Here is the actual posting from Queen Crap web site:
From the Times Ledger:
Ridgewood’s embattled historic movie house may get a reprieve from the wrecking ball as the city Landmarks Preservation Commission will soon decide whether to consider the 92âˆ'yearâˆ'old theater for landmark status, a Landmarks official said.
No date has been set yet, but a discussion of the theater was expected to be on the calendar for a meeting in the near future, the official said.
News of the pending decision buoyed Forest Hills resident Michael Perlman, an avid preservationist who founded the Friends of the Ridgewood Theatre and advocated for its preservation last year.
“I was feeling elated,†he said. “Official landmark status would be the crown to a landmark in the eyes of the majority [of neighbors]. It would ensure a rare survivor’s longevity for future generations to cherish.â€
To empahsize the importance of Landmark Legislation: The Ridgewood will have a greater chance to survive with the designation than without.
East Coast Rocker….I appreciate your enthusiasm in saving theaters. We’re all on the same page, but it is simply incorrect to say that landmark laws are ineffective. MANY theaters have been saved through landmark protection. Virtually all broadway theaters are now landmarked in addition to theaters like The Beacon, Radio City and The Hollywood. (Hopefully, The Ziegfeld will be added to the list when it is eligible – I believe this year it celebrates its 40th anniversary which is the minimum age requirement for landmark status).
Sometimes, the landmark laws don’t work because it is determined that the new use is more important than saving the theater. That is what happended when the three landmark Broadway houses (The Morosco, The Helen Hayes and the Bijou) were torn down in the 80’s for the Marriott Marquis Hotel. This will be debated forever, but the reality is that Times Square was a cesspool at that time and this hotel, whatever you have to say about its architecture, was an incredibly important catalyst in the rebirth of Times Square. Broadway was dying, many theaters were vacant. Something had to be done.
I don’t know the details of NYU’s situation with the Academy of Music, but their argument for tearing down the building would have been the same. I too, wish an accomodation could have been reached to use the theater as a Center for the Performing Arts. Alas, it was not to be.
Back to the Ridgewood, regardless as to our respective opinions as to the effectivneess of Landmark protection, I think we can both agree that it is more likely that the Ridgewood will be saved WITH Landmark designation, than without.
I agree with Bway. One of the things that I’ve noticed in many of the palaces that I’ve been to are that the seating is inferior to the newer theaters as is the sound. The screen sizes (relative to the space) are also significantly smaller. The seats don’t have cup holders, the don’t recline, the armrests don’t go up. That is one reason why the old theaters became obsolete for showing films.
The old theaters wouldn’t or couldn’t adapt to the new technologies and new viewing patterns of the modern audiences and so they closed in droves. Some have been saved by returning to Legitimate Theater. Others have been transformed into their town’s performing arts centers. Still others have been turned into clubs/restaurants catering halls or other retail spaces, but a very select few, have been able to survive on movies alone. That is why we have lost so many beautiful theaters.
And not just theaters. Remember the beautiful Banking Halls that used to be everywhere? Huge Corinthian Colums, marble everywhere, Walnut panelling and brass railings and the halls themselves were usually at least 2 stories high! Very few of these remain. At one time they were fairly common but, like theaters, they outlived their intended purposes. Today, New York has the great fortune to have Both Bowery Savings Bank Buildings (one at 42nd St. and the other on the Bowery itself), The Greenwich Bank on 36th & Broadway and the grand Citbank at 55 Wall all preserved beautifully as Event/Catering Halls. A few are still around as actual banks such as the stunning Apple Bank building at 74th and Broadway, but they are relics of the past.
That is why it is so important to keep what we can. They are not building these kinds of buildings this way ever again! And, yes, the Landmarks Laws are the best single weapon we have to do that.
Been away for a few days, but I had to repond to comments made above about Landmark Status not meaning “squat”. It is an incredibly ignorant statement. The list of buildings protected by landmark status in New York is longer than the Ridgewood Page and YES it does have a significant impact in saving a threatened structure.
Does it work 100% of the time? Of course not! But it is an incredibly valuable tool to help save buildings in danger of being lost. I agree that the loss of the Acadamy of Music was painful. Every palace that is lost is, but landmarking is a powerful tool nonetheless. Especially in New York!
Yes, Peter. The Keiths Richmond Hill does not have the orchestra seats nor the screen, but I believe the balcony seats are still there. More importantly, almost all of the decorative elements are still there; they are just whitewashed with a cream color paint. This theater is remarkably intact and could be beautifully restored. The Ridgewood, on the other hand, doesn’t appear to have ever been elaborately decorated and, having been cut up into five screens has probably experienced a lot more damage.
As for the the popularity of the actual page, it is not due to the theater itself. This page became a neighborhood bulletin board with many posts having to do with Ridgewood – The Neighborhood, not Ridgewood, The Theatre. I had to stop receiving comment updates from this page because almost all of the posts were about “the ice cream parlor down the street” or the owner of the barber shop around the corner, etc…….
The Ridgewood, while much beloved as a neighborhood institution, does not hold a candle to New York’s other Palaces.
Thanks Warren. That’s a great answer and it jibes with my observation that this theater, while old, does not have the same decorative importance as theaters like the RKO Keiths Flushing & Richmond Hill, The Elmwood or The Valencia, all proper Queens palaces.
Bway, you mention that the interior is still intact at The Ridgewood. Is this really true? From the photos that I remember seeing on prior posts the interior still appears to have some detail in it but appears rather bland as if most of the decoration had already been stripped. Maybe it’s just been painted over, but I don’t believe that this theater’s interior compares with that of Lamb’s other storied venues. Of course, I could be wrong, but I think the RKO Keiths Richmond Hill has a much better interior worth salvaging. I’m intersted in hearing other’s opinions.
p.s. I don’t mean to imply that this is an either/or proposition. It would be wonderful to save both, but I believe that there is more to work with at the Keiths Richmond Hill.
Thanks JSA! I have submitted the Victoria as a new theater based solely on my sighting of it. Unfortunately, all I had to provide was the name and approximate location. Any information from your family would be greatly appreciated.