Yes, 55 TBird, many thanks for posting your photo. From your photo’s balcony viewpoint, it looks like it’s still a theater, with a play taking place on the larger-than-usual stage, a play that makes use of lots of furniture, maybe a play that takes place in the furniture dept. of a large department store.
It looks as much like it’s still a theater as does the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill, much more so than the former RKO Madison, in which the most prominent former theater feature still visible, is the curve of the front of the balcony, as a change in elevation of the drop ceiling.
It would also be appropriate for me to see “I Am Legend” at the Ridgewood, because I saw “The Omega Man” at the Ridgewood in spring 1972, and that is the second film version of the novel by Richard Matheson. The first was the 1964 AIP film “The Last Man On Earth” with Vincent Price.
Jim, enjoy ! Good to read you on this board again ! If we HAD gotten a group together, “I Am Legend” is the film I would have wanted to see, because I have heard that it is a good film, and also because I have known and loved the novel of the same title it is based on, for thirty-three years now. It was first published in 1954.
Phone temporarily disconnected ?!?! What a way (not) to run a business, indeed !
Thanks, Jim. May you enjoy your holidays and family as well.
I hope your trip to NYC went well, and that you have a good and safe trip back to Southern Cal.
Yes, westsidegirl, I vaguely remember that A & P at Bway and 68th being on the east, or Columbus Avenue, side. Thanks for complimenting my ex-girlfriend’s taste in coffee : Eight O'Clock, Bokar, whatever A & P Coffee.
Yes, ‘Tonino, the terms 'safe’, ‘vibrant’ and ‘full of life’ are relative terms and can be matters of opinion.
Thanks, kong1911, for the information about Loew’s Gates Theater. I hadn’t known that it continued to show movies up until the blackout of July 13, 1977.
Archaeonut, I don’t mind the correction. If I’m wrong, I want to know. I did the best, and came as close as I could, with the images that I knew about, and which were available to me. I hope we get a link to an image of the theater posted here.
In 1990 I dated a gal who was living in South Richmond Hill (103-15 110th Street) and she mentioned Paki-bashing by the earlier Italian residents of that neighborhood.
Thanks for these details, LuisV. Some of my best memories will also always be in Queens (Ridgewood, where I grew up, but also Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Richmond Hill, Forest Park, South Richmond Hill, Forest Hills, and Kew Gardens).
I can well relate to your fears of devastation, and your desire to live in a safe and non-arson-threatened environment, growing up and living in Ridgewood, adjacent to Bushwick at its worst in the 1970’s.
Good thoughts, LuisV. The comeback of Bushwick was especially noteworthy, I thought, because, at its worst, the devastation resembled the cities of western Europe right after WW II, as remarked by tourists from Europe bussed into Bushwick in the late 1970’s to gawk at the devastation there.
Thanks for these details, LuisV and J.D. Except for the near-exception of the Oasis Theater in Ridgewood, near the border with Maspeth, becoming a roller rink and concert venue, I hadn’t thought in terms of movie theaters surviving as dance palaces.
“the old "ask a random adult to get us into an R-rated movie” trick" : I remember reading about that in Reader’s Digest in late 1968 or early 1969 when the G M R X system got started. I think the title of the article was, “GMRX : An Alternative To Movie Censorship ?”
I know what you mean, bkj.
Thanks for your recommendation of “I Am Legend”, Jim. I will definitely keep it in mind.
Thanks for mentioning your mentioning of the Ridgewood’s 91st birthday to the two staff members there, last Saturday.
Thanks, Lost Memory.
BrooklynJim, I hope you enjoyed “I Am Legend” at the Ridgewood Theatre this past Saturday, December 22nd, in lieu of another movie get-together.
Hopefully, the Ridgewood Theatre has passed its 91st anniversary (this past Sunday, December 23rd, 2007) successfully, and is still showing movies.
Thanks, herby, for your post. I hope to read more of you here.
Yes, 55 TBird, many thanks for posting your photo. From your photo’s balcony viewpoint, it looks like it’s still a theater, with a play taking place on the larger-than-usual stage, a play that makes use of lots of furniture, maybe a play that takes place in the furniture dept. of a large department store.
It looks as much like it’s still a theater as does the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill, much more so than the former RKO Madison, in which the most prominent former theater feature still visible, is the curve of the front of the balcony, as a change in elevation of the drop ceiling.
It would also be appropriate for me to see “I Am Legend” at the Ridgewood, because I saw “The Omega Man” at the Ridgewood in spring 1972, and that is the second film version of the novel by Richard Matheson. The first was the 1964 AIP film “The Last Man On Earth” with Vincent Price.
Jim, enjoy ! Good to read you on this board again ! If we HAD gotten a group together, “I Am Legend” is the film I would have wanted to see, because I have heard that it is a good film, and also because I have known and loved the novel of the same title it is based on, for thirty-three years now. It was first published in 1954.
Phone temporarily disconnected ?!?! What a way (not) to run a business, indeed !
Thanks, Jim. May you enjoy your holidays and family as well.
I hope your trip to NYC went well, and that you have a good and safe trip back to Southern Cal.
Sounds likely about A & P = Food Emporium, Warren … it happened one village south of where I live, in Hastings-On-Hudson NY …
Yes, westsidegirl, I vaguely remember that A & P at Bway and 68th being on the east, or Columbus Avenue, side. Thanks for complimenting my ex-girlfriend’s taste in coffee : Eight O'Clock, Bokar, whatever A & P Coffee.
Thanks for this information, Warren.
Thanks, metz. It reads like you had lots of fun at those movies !
Thanks for the link to the ad, Warren !
Yes, ‘Tonino, the terms 'safe’, ‘vibrant’ and ‘full of life’ are relative terms and can be matters of opinion.
Thanks, kong1911, for the information about Loew’s Gates Theater. I hadn’t known that it continued to show movies up until the blackout of July 13, 1977.
Archaeonut, I don’t mind the correction. If I’m wrong, I want to know. I did the best, and came as close as I could, with the images that I knew about, and which were available to me. I hope we get a link to an image of the theater posted here.
Welcome, psindone. Thanks, Bluesman. Good to read you again, Muzer.
I’m glad to read more personal stuff here, of the type that brings people together.
Thanks, J.D.
In 1990 I dated a gal who was living in South Richmond Hill (103-15 110th Street) and she mentioned Paki-bashing by the earlier Italian residents of that neighborhood.
kong1911, which Loews on Broadway was still showing movies until the lights went out, July 13 1977 ?
I think Bushwick is in much better condition now than the day before the July 13 1977 blackout. You can check it out for yourself at :
View link
Good for you, LuisV. I commend you.
Thanks for these details, LuisV. Some of my best memories will also always be in Queens (Ridgewood, where I grew up, but also Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Richmond Hill, Forest Park, South Richmond Hill, Forest Hills, and Kew Gardens).
I can well relate to your fears of devastation, and your desire to live in a safe and non-arson-threatened environment, growing up and living in Ridgewood, adjacent to Bushwick at its worst in the 1970’s.
Good thoughts, LuisV. The comeback of Bushwick was especially noteworthy, I thought, because, at its worst, the devastation resembled the cities of western Europe right after WW II, as remarked by tourists from Europe bussed into Bushwick in the late 1970’s to gawk at the devastation there.
Last August there was an exhibit about Bushwick called “Up From Flames” at the Brooklyn Historical Society in downtown Brooklyn.
Although it still has a ways to go, Bushwick is definitely making a comeback.
Thanks for these details, LuisV and J.D. Except for the near-exception of the Oasis Theater in Ridgewood, near the border with Maspeth, becoming a roller rink and concert venue, I hadn’t thought in terms of movie theaters surviving as dance palaces.
“the old "ask a random adult to get us into an R-rated movie” trick" : I remember reading about that in Reader’s Digest in late 1968 or early 1969 when the G M R X system got started. I think the title of the article was, “GMRX : An Alternative To Movie Censorship ?”
Thanks for the insights on Ozone Park and South Ozone Park, vs. Jamaica, in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, LuisV.
J.D., I never knew there was a post-Star Wars re-release of “Barbarella”. Makes sense, though. More power to your teen-aged libido.
I think this coming Sunday December 16th 2007 is the 30-year anniversary of the opening of the film “Saturday Night Fever”.
I wouldn’t say ruined, J.D., but much diminished from its former splendor, to say the least.
The last film I saw at the Elmwood before it closed was “Snake Eyes” in August 1998.