I don’t remember if it had one on the Parthenon, but it DEFINITELY has one of the Majestic on Seneca as a theater. I know, as I instantly thought of you when I saw it….
Is this true?? I did drive by the Ridgewood last Wednesday evening at about 8:00, and all the lights were on, and it looked like they were cleaning the lobby. It didn’t look any different, like anything was damaged or anything. I forgot to mention that here.
I wondered what they were doing, but now this rumor that Warren mentioned is intriguing.
Lost and Peter, I did manage to get a copy of that Ridgewood Times suppliment, and have the photo of the Evergreen, Majestic, and a bunch of other area theaters. I just have been SO busy lately, that I haven’t had the time to deal with it.
The Bank is was there already next to the Evergreen. The Evergreen looked nothing like I expected it to! There are also old photos of the RKO Bushwick (which there are no shortage of), old ones we have seen before of the Ridgewood and Madison, the Whitney on Fresh Pond Rd, the Wyckoff, and some others too.
It must be a major undertaking, as I have been a member of this site since 2003, and it wasn’t working then already. Yes, it would be nice to have a photo, or photos at the top of so many of these theater pages. And yes, I agree, the introduction of the Madison here leaves MUCH to be desired.
There had been railroad tracks on the street level of New Utrect Ave since 1894. The Brooklyn Rapid Transit company took over those tracks and operated at street level on New Utrect Ave starting in 1901. The current Elevated structure was built in 1917. I don’t know when the older photo was taken, as I don’t know when the Boro Park Theatre was built.
Personally, I feel if they were taking the whole building down, they would have been so careful about keeping the two extreme sides up without damaging them. Those parts with the windows on either side would have been ripped more jagged I would assume if they were taking the whole thing down.
That being said, I haven’t a clue what they could be doing with the building.
I noticed the same thing. I drove by the Elmwood about 3 weeks ago. The loss of the terra cotta is a travesty, but at least the building does remain, I guess it could have been worse.
What a shame. The “renovations” are already falling apart. Sickening. They could have saved the beautiful mosaics of the lobby and ticket booth area for their use. Why did they have to destroy it?
I remember fondly the trylon, it was quite well preserved in the early 90’s yet when “Ironically”, I saw “A Stranger Among Us” there…… I say ironically because that move stars Melanie Grifith as she goes undercover to Williamsburg in the Hasidic Jewish community to try and solve a murder…..of course sort of fitting I guess for what the theater is now…..
By Lost’s Oct 27th article (which is from July), does that mean that the status should be made to say “open”, since it’s being used as a theater again? Or is it only “open” when it is open as a movie theater?
While the old single screen theaters, and even the older multiplexes (or cut up theaters) may be hurting, the “movie industry” doesn’t seem to be dying. At my local multiplex, which is new, has like 20-something screens, state of the art auditoriums, stadium seating, etc, etc, etc, the place is MOBBED on any given night. People didn’t stop going to or watching movies, the way they do it though has….
Actually, thinking about this a little more, it was probably the 3rd floor windows I looked into many times on the Broadway side. The 2nd floor part of those windows may or may not have been open to the lobby.
Yes. At least on the Broadway side, those large windows on the 2nd and third floors were rooms. They may have opened up over the lobby on the Howard Ave side, but don’t know.
As for the windows, I remember riding by on J trains, and looking in. The windows were all smashed on the Bway side, and you could look in. They were rooms. I don’t know what kind of rooms, but you could see plaster everywhere that had collapsed. of course, you could only get a quick glimpse inside as the trains went by.
Warren, I didn’t know that was that photo. I think that photo was emailed to me by JF Lundy some time ago (I really don’t remember). It came from some sort of a book, as the photo next to it was an exterior photo, with a description on the Bushwick. That photo is also linked above by “someone” some years ago.
Warren, I don’t know why the link isn’t working for you, it does work when I click the link.
if it still doesn’t work, try this link, which will bring you to a thumbnail page you can click on:
Actually, if this Mini-Madison closed by 1925, that would have been just before the RKO Madison in Ridgewood opened, the large one we all know.
If I am not mistaken though, when they were planning the RKO Madison in Ridgewood, it was originally going to be called the Beacon Theater. Perhaps that is because this Madison was still open when the RKO Madison was being designed? The two Madisons never opperated at the same time.
I don’t remember if it had one on the Parthenon, but it DEFINITELY has one of the Majestic on Seneca as a theater. I know, as I instantly thought of you when I saw it….
Is this true?? I did drive by the Ridgewood last Wednesday evening at about 8:00, and all the lights were on, and it looked like they were cleaning the lobby. It didn’t look any different, like anything was damaged or anything. I forgot to mention that here.
I wondered what they were doing, but now this rumor that Warren mentioned is intriguing.
Lost and Peter, I did manage to get a copy of that Ridgewood Times suppliment, and have the photo of the Evergreen, Majestic, and a bunch of other area theaters. I just have been SO busy lately, that I haven’t had the time to deal with it.
The Bank is was there already next to the Evergreen. The Evergreen looked nothing like I expected it to! There are also old photos of the RKO Bushwick (which there are no shortage of), old ones we have seen before of the Ridgewood and Madison, the Whitney on Fresh Pond Rd, the Wyckoff, and some others too.
It must be a major undertaking, as I have been a member of this site since 2003, and it wasn’t working then already. Yes, it would be nice to have a photo, or photos at the top of so many of these theater pages. And yes, I agree, the introduction of the Madison here leaves MUCH to be desired.
There had been railroad tracks on the street level of New Utrect Ave since 1894. The Brooklyn Rapid Transit company took over those tracks and operated at street level on New Utrect Ave starting in 1901. The current Elevated structure was built in 1917. I don’t know when the older photo was taken, as I don’t know when the Boro Park Theatre was built.
Wow, thanks for that link. This is a stunning theater.
When did it stop showing movies and go back to live performance? How long did it show film?
Personally, I feel if they were taking the whole building down, they would have been so careful about keeping the two extreme sides up without damaging them. Those parts with the windows on either side would have been ripped more jagged I would assume if they were taking the whole thing down.
That being said, I haven’t a clue what they could be doing with the building.
I noticed the same thing. I drove by the Elmwood about 3 weeks ago. The loss of the terra cotta is a travesty, but at least the building does remain, I guess it could have been worse.
Panzer65, you don’t have an email address listed on the site. Email me, myrtlebway at hot mail dot com
What a shame. The “renovations” are already falling apart. Sickening. They could have saved the beautiful mosaics of the lobby and ticket booth area for their use. Why did they have to destroy it?
I remember fondly the trylon, it was quite well preserved in the early 90’s yet when “Ironically”, I saw “A Stranger Among Us” there…… I say ironically because that move stars Melanie Grifith as she goes undercover to Williamsburg in the Hasidic Jewish community to try and solve a murder…..of course sort of fitting I guess for what the theater is now…..
By Lost’s Oct 27th article (which is from July), does that mean that the status should be made to say “open”, since it’s being used as a theater again? Or is it only “open” when it is open as a movie theater?
While the old single screen theaters, and even the older multiplexes (or cut up theaters) may be hurting, the “movie industry” doesn’t seem to be dying. At my local multiplex, which is new, has like 20-something screens, state of the art auditoriums, stadium seating, etc, etc, etc, the place is MOBBED on any given night. People didn’t stop going to or watching movies, the way they do it though has….
Are there any remnants inside of the store of it’s theater days?
Actually, thinking about this a little more, it was probably the 3rd floor windows I looked into many times on the Broadway side. The 2nd floor part of those windows may or may not have been open to the lobby.
Yes. At least on the Broadway side, those large windows on the 2nd and third floors were rooms. They may have opened up over the lobby on the Howard Ave side, but don’t know.
As for the windows, I remember riding by on J trains, and looking in. The windows were all smashed on the Bway side, and you could look in. They were rooms. I don’t know what kind of rooms, but you could see plaster everywhere that had collapsed. of course, you could only get a quick glimpse inside as the trains went by.
Warren, I didn’t know that was that photo. I think that photo was emailed to me by JF Lundy some time ago (I really don’t remember). It came from some sort of a book, as the photo next to it was an exterior photo, with a description on the Bushwick. That photo is also linked above by “someone” some years ago.
Thanks John!
John, very interesting (and thanks for the email telling me about this too!). Do you have a photo?
Lost, do you have a link to this page in the almanac or how to find it?
Warren, I don’t know why the link isn’t working for you, it does work when I click the link.
if it still doesn’t work, try this link, which will bring you to a thumbnail page you can click on:
View link
Here’s a photo of the Gotham from the NY Public Library site:
Click here for photo
Ooops, I just noticed Ken just linked to the same photo…
Here’s a photo of the interior of the Metropolitan:
Click here for photo
Actually, if this Mini-Madison closed by 1925, that would have been just before the RKO Madison in Ridgewood opened, the large one we all know.
If I am not mistaken though, when they were planning the RKO Madison in Ridgewood, it was originally going to be called the Beacon Theater. Perhaps that is because this Madison was still open when the RKO Madison was being designed? The two Madisons never opperated at the same time.