I had a feeling this was happening. I drove by the theater this past Wednesday, and the place certainly didn’t look like an operating theater…..and feared the worst. Now that has been confirmed. Thanks for informing us.
As I mentioned on some of these Hollywood Blvd Theaters, I don’t understand what kind of strange thinking (or lack thereof) makes someone decide it’s a good idea to plant a tree right in front of a marquee. It makes no sense whatsoever. I love trees, but this is one time I think the ones in question should be cut down. What were they thinking?
Moondog. I am sure graffiti may hit the theater sometimes, as with any building, which may have been what happened when the google maps people went by, but its usually removed promptly. I have been by the building as recently as this past November, and there was no graffiti on it, and am by almost monthly, and really never noticed any. That’s not to say it never happens, but is usually removed soon after.
But that all being said, the street view images are great, and I estimate them to be from last Autumn and Summer for most of Bushwick’s streets, and that grafitti is most definitely not there anymore. It seems that some kids had gotten on top of the scafolding there.
But anyway, here’s a ground level photo that I took this past March 27, 2008 of the RKO Bushwick Location. This is AFTER the google street view images were taken, which were taken August-October 2007:
Yeah, I have no problem getting out of the car in Bushwick. It’s not the neighborhood it was in the 1980’s, or even the 1990’s.
As for the theater, I have gotten out here many of times, as sometimes when I am in the area, I often grab a quick lunch the McDonalds next to the theater. the condition of the theater is good, it looks just as good on ground level as it does on the upper levels seen here. There’s no graffiti or anything on it, or even near it.
It probably hasn’t looked as good as it does now since the 50’s….but of course, it’s interior is all gone.
I don’t know if this was ever linked here before, but the Trans Siberian Orchestra filmed their “Christmas Canon” video here, and it’s a sight to behold, with the beautiful Jersey’s interiro clearly seen:
Oh, and by the way, those fixtures survived into the roller rink days, and also were purple lighted. I think the bathrooms were in the same place as when it was a theater.
Also, the large stained glass fixtures high at the level of the ceiling in the auditorium remained into the roller rink days. I remember them being dimmed to just a slight glow when watching a movie, and then lit up again at the end of the movie.
They were usually completely off when the skating sessions were going on….but they would light them up at the end when they played the last song when the skating sessions ended, “New York, New York” was almost always the last song….those stained glass fixtures would be on then, along with the flashing strobe lighting, and they would brighten up when the session was over. The purple backlit fixtures were usually on the whole time, even during the skating sessions.
flamatt, yes, I also remember those purple lights in the fixtures. They were also in the round large fixtures under the balcony. They were interesting, as the fixtures were solid material. large, and round, and the light was sort of a “backlighting” behind them, which highlighted the roundness.
Interestingly, while the marquee looked different by the time the Oasis closed (it had orange flashing lights in the letters “Oasis”), and didn’t have the circular desert oasis on the marque, interestingly after the Oasis was converted into a roller rink, the marquee was covered over and said “Oasis Roller World”. The “O” in Oasis was large, and a round desert oasis scene, such as this one.
Also, when you were giving the round chip to reclaim your shoes after renting skates, they would give you the round chip which also was the same desert oasis emblem that was seen on the marquee outside in the “O” in Oasis.
Well it sounds like the stores are having more trouble than the theater or the restaurants in there….. “People come to see a movie and to eat, and bypass the stores”.
Well one kiss of death is that you have to pay for parking. That right away shuts out “just lookers”, who often leave with buying something.
Yes, and the marquee was still there in the Believer’s footage too. You can also get a quick glimpse of some of the interior, which was already in pretty rough shape by 1979 when the film was made. The seats were still there though. They may have also “roughed” the interior up a bit for the scene too. It was a scene where there was a human sacrifice on the stage of the RKO Bushwick, when the cops arrive.
I don’t know if it’s been posted here before, but I have seen that image. I believe that is a photo from after it closed as a theater, but also may be from just after the Pilgrim Church also left the theater after it’s very short use of the building. The Pilgrim Church for some reason left the RKO Bushwick when the Loews Gates Theater became available, and they remain in the Loews Gates to this day, which has been restored. Perhaps they got a better deal on the Loews Gates…who knows….but either way, once they left, it sealed the fate of the RKO Buhwick, which began it’s nearly 3 decade progression into shambles before being gutted and converted to the school it is now around 2003.
I wish there was a photo of the lobby of the Bushwick available somewhere. There are no shortage of exterior photos of the Bushwick on the net, but interior shots are hard to come by.
Ken MC, that is a curious photo of Disney’s MGM Studios in Florida. While the original view up “Hollywood Blvd” there did allow this view, the view has been obstructed by a huge Merlin hat for the last 7-8 years. I wonder if that photo is a new photo (meaning they finally took that hat away), or if it’s an old photo from before they put that hat up. I hope it’s the former, that they finally took that hat away.
I don’t know how big that area between the bank and the theater was. It could have been along the whole property, or it may just have been a few feet in from the sidewalk to an emergency exit or something. But in any event, chances are slim that the first floor of the supermarket is the first floor of the Evergreen. If anything, it could be, as well as the basement, but there’s no way to tell for sure.
Was this the theater that had the roof cave in in a snowstorm? Wasn’t there also a fire?
The Madison Theater was closed by the 1920’s already, it didn’t even last into the 30’s. The building may have remained, but of course would have been used as something else. It was not a large theater, only a 500 seat silent movie theater, nothing too elaborate.
I am sure there are people that don’t even remember the Schubert/Century Theater right next to the Monroe, as that too closed in the 1930’s, and that building was hard to miss as it was monstrorous, and lasted into the 1970’s, even though not as a theater. So it would have been very easy to “miss” the small Madison Theater which was closed by the 1920’s.
No, this was a seperate theater. I remember before it was added, there was a whole controversy, but it was heavily researched, and I have seen it confirmed in publication, as well as it’s address on Broadway., and that this was right next to the RKO Bushwick, to it’s left facing the Bushwick. It was a silent movie house, and didn’t last long, and was closed by the 1920’s already.
The Monroe is on the other side of Howard Ave, and doesn’t front Broadway at all, as it’s at the corner of Howard and Monroe.
No, the Madison was a seperate theater. I remember before it was added, there was a whole controversy, but it was heavily researched, and I have seen it confirmed in publication, as well as it’s address on Broadway., and that the Madison was right next to the RKO Bushwick, to it’s left facing the Bushwick. It was a silent movie house, and didn’t last long, and was closed by the 1920’s already.
The Monroe is on the other side of Howard Ave, and doesn’t front Broadway at all, as it’s at the corner of Howard and Monroe
I had a feeling this was happening. I drove by the theater this past Wednesday, and the place certainly didn’t look like an operating theater…..and feared the worst. Now that has been confirmed. Thanks for informing us.
As I mentioned on some of these Hollywood Blvd Theaters, I don’t understand what kind of strange thinking (or lack thereof) makes someone decide it’s a good idea to plant a tree right in front of a marquee. It makes no sense whatsoever. I love trees, but this is one time I think the ones in question should be cut down. What were they thinking?
Mpol, I can’t speak for all urban areas, but In the NYC area there are plenty of “modern” multiplexes.
Moondog. I am sure graffiti may hit the theater sometimes, as with any building, which may have been what happened when the google maps people went by, but its usually removed promptly. I have been by the building as recently as this past November, and there was no graffiti on it, and am by almost monthly, and really never noticed any. That’s not to say it never happens, but is usually removed soon after.
But that all being said, the street view images are great, and I estimate them to be from last Autumn and Summer for most of Bushwick’s streets, and that grafitti is most definitely not there anymore. It seems that some kids had gotten on top of the scafolding there.
But anyway, here’s a ground level photo that I took this past March 27, 2008 of the RKO Bushwick Location. This is AFTER the google street view images were taken, which were taken August-October 2007:
Click Here for March 2008 Image
Yeah, I have no problem getting out of the car in Bushwick. It’s not the neighborhood it was in the 1980’s, or even the 1990’s.
As for the theater, I have gotten out here many of times, as sometimes when I am in the area, I often grab a quick lunch the McDonalds next to the theater. the condition of the theater is good, it looks just as good on ground level as it does on the upper levels seen here. There’s no graffiti or anything on it, or even near it.
It probably hasn’t looked as good as it does now since the 50’s….but of course, it’s interior is all gone.
A pretty good view of the RKO Bushwick Theater can be seen in this photo taken from the elevated Gates Ave station:
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?89370
I don’t know if this was ever linked here before, but the Trans Siberian Orchestra filmed their “Christmas Canon” video here, and it’s a sight to behold, with the beautiful Jersey’s interiro clearly seen:
View link
Pretty neat! Thanks! I walked under that marquee so many times when I was in college….
Robert I look forward to your photos.
Wow, it seemed very long, unless that’s just the type of lens that was used. If not, the screen would have been awfully far away!
Oh, and by the way, those fixtures survived into the roller rink days, and also were purple lighted. I think the bathrooms were in the same place as when it was a theater.
Also, the large stained glass fixtures high at the level of the ceiling in the auditorium remained into the roller rink days. I remember them being dimmed to just a slight glow when watching a movie, and then lit up again at the end of the movie.
They were usually completely off when the skating sessions were going on….but they would light them up at the end when they played the last song when the skating sessions ended, “New York, New York” was almost always the last song….those stained glass fixtures would be on then, along with the flashing strobe lighting, and they would brighten up when the session was over. The purple backlit fixtures were usually on the whole time, even during the skating sessions.
flamatt, yes, I also remember those purple lights in the fixtures. They were also in the round large fixtures under the balcony. They were interesting, as the fixtures were solid material. large, and round, and the light was sort of a “backlighting” behind them, which highlighted the roundness.
Did they cut two of their theaters in half to go from 15 to 17?
Interestingly, while the marquee looked different by the time the Oasis closed (it had orange flashing lights in the letters “Oasis”), and didn’t have the circular desert oasis on the marque, interestingly after the Oasis was converted into a roller rink, the marquee was covered over and said “Oasis Roller World”. The “O” in Oasis was large, and a round desert oasis scene, such as this one.
Also, when you were giving the round chip to reclaim your shoes after renting skates, they would give you the round chip which also was the same desert oasis emblem that was seen on the marquee outside in the “O” in Oasis.
I thought the Hofbrau was medical offices….I guess a pool hall is better than it being medical offices!
Well it sounds like the stores are having more trouble than the theater or the restaurants in there….. “People come to see a movie and to eat, and bypass the stores”.
Well one kiss of death is that you have to pay for parking. That right away shuts out “just lookers”, who often leave with buying something.
Yes, and the marquee was still there in the Believer’s footage too. You can also get a quick glimpse of some of the interior, which was already in pretty rough shape by 1979 when the film was made. The seats were still there though. They may have also “roughed” the interior up a bit for the scene too. It was a scene where there was a human sacrifice on the stage of the RKO Bushwick, when the cops arrive.
I don’t know if it’s been posted here before, but I have seen that image. I believe that is a photo from after it closed as a theater, but also may be from just after the Pilgrim Church also left the theater after it’s very short use of the building. The Pilgrim Church for some reason left the RKO Bushwick when the Loews Gates Theater became available, and they remain in the Loews Gates to this day, which has been restored. Perhaps they got a better deal on the Loews Gates…who knows….but either way, once they left, it sealed the fate of the RKO Buhwick, which began it’s nearly 3 decade progression into shambles before being gutted and converted to the school it is now around 2003.
I wish there was a photo of the lobby of the Bushwick available somewhere. There are no shortage of exterior photos of the Bushwick on the net, but interior shots are hard to come by.
So does this mean it’s open again? Showing movies? In all 5 theaters? Or in just the 3 balcony theaters?
Ken MC, that is a curious photo of Disney’s MGM Studios in Florida. While the original view up “Hollywood Blvd” there did allow this view, the view has been obstructed by a huge Merlin hat for the last 7-8 years. I wonder if that photo is a new photo (meaning they finally took that hat away), or if it’s an old photo from before they put that hat up. I hope it’s the former, that they finally took that hat away.
I don’t know how big that area between the bank and the theater was. It could have been along the whole property, or it may just have been a few feet in from the sidewalk to an emergency exit or something. But in any event, chances are slim that the first floor of the supermarket is the first floor of the Evergreen. If anything, it could be, as well as the basement, but there’s no way to tell for sure.
Was this the theater that had the roof cave in in a snowstorm? Wasn’t there also a fire?
The Madison Theater was closed by the 1920’s already, it didn’t even last into the 30’s. The building may have remained, but of course would have been used as something else. It was not a large theater, only a 500 seat silent movie theater, nothing too elaborate.
I am sure there are people that don’t even remember the Schubert/Century Theater right next to the Monroe, as that too closed in the 1930’s, and that building was hard to miss as it was monstrorous, and lasted into the 1970’s, even though not as a theater. So it would have been very easy to “miss” the small Madison Theater which was closed by the 1920’s.
No, this was a seperate theater. I remember before it was added, there was a whole controversy, but it was heavily researched, and I have seen it confirmed in publication, as well as it’s address on Broadway., and that this was right next to the RKO Bushwick, to it’s left facing the Bushwick. It was a silent movie house, and didn’t last long, and was closed by the 1920’s already.
The Monroe is on the other side of Howard Ave, and doesn’t front Broadway at all, as it’s at the corner of Howard and Monroe.
No, the Madison was a seperate theater. I remember before it was added, there was a whole controversy, but it was heavily researched, and I have seen it confirmed in publication, as well as it’s address on Broadway., and that the Madison was right next to the RKO Bushwick, to it’s left facing the Bushwick. It was a silent movie house, and didn’t last long, and was closed by the 1920’s already.
The Monroe is on the other side of Howard Ave, and doesn’t front Broadway at all, as it’s at the corner of Howard and Monroe