Non-theater Ridgewood chat : please include your private e-mail address in your “contact information”, and I will get in touch with you.
You might be interested in the “Bushwick Buddies” site :
Just send Eleanor an e-mail at the above address, introducing yourself, and she’ll help you get started.
The Alhambra has its own page on the Cinema Treasures site.
The Ridgewood probably DID have “dish nights”. They were before my time, and my dad experienced them in Bushwick movie theaters like the Colonial, which page please see on this site.
Grover Cleveland High had graduations at the RKO Madison Theater in 1965 and 1972. I do not know about 1958 or 1959.
Perhaps Warren can, or has, come up with a link to a newspaper ad showing that “The Robe” played at the Ridgewood Theater. Yes, it did star Richard Burton and Victor Mature, also Michael Rennie and Dean Jagger. I think “King Of Kings” was shown there in 1961 or 1962.
Jackie Gleason may have appeared at the Alhambra. It used to be on the eastern corner of Knickerbocker Avenue and Halsey St. I have read that Gleason attended amateur nights as a boy with his father, as a member of the audience, at the Halsey Theater, on Halsey Street just east of Saratoga Avenue, and went on to perform on amateur night there. The Halsey Theater is no longer there, but has a page on this site.
I have also read that some of Gleason’s characters and routines, like Joe The Bartender, Mr. Dunahey, and Crazy Guggenheim (Frank Fontaine) came from Proces' Bar in Bushwick. Perhaps other people on this site, or at Bushwick Buddies, could elaborate.
The Great One was a Bushwick boy. The “Honeymooners”, the Kramdens and Nortons, lived at 329 Chauncey Street, yet I think the address on Gleason’s mother’s death certificate was 358 Chauncey Street. Both addresses are between Bway and Fulton Street. I have also read that Gleason attended public schools, yet took Catholic instruction at Our Lady Of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church on Aberdeen Street between Bway and Bushwick Avenue.
They called it “Bensonhurst”, not “Bushwick”, yet when Ed Norton mentioned “that vacuum cleaner place on DeKalb Avenue”, well, we know that was a real street in our old neighborhood.
I was born in 1955 at the hospital that used to be at Bway and Chauncey Street. My parents and I lived on Cornelia Street in Ridgewood, close to St. Matthias, yet I attended St. Brigid, and graduated there in June 1969. My mother and oldest aunt attended Bushwick High School. My parents used to live on Weirfield St. two houses away from St. Martin Of Tours R C Church.
Thanks, mikemovies. I didn’t know about the 1994 Johnny Legend documentary. The original Richard Matheson novel, “I Am Legend”, was first published in 1954, forty years earlier.
“Unfortunately, this could be one of those rare times where the good guy gets killed off at the end of the movie. Stay Tuned!”
Yes ! Just like one of my favorite sci-fi + horror novels, “I Am Legend”, by Richard Matheson, and its two film versions, “The Last Man On Earth” (1964) with Vincent Price, and “The Omega Man” (1971) with Charlton Heston, which I saw at the Ridgewood Theater, spring 1972, along with “The Cowboys”, starring John Wayne and Bruce Dern.
The good guy also gets killed at the end of “Night Of The Living Dead” (1968), loosely based on “I Am Legend”.
Before I saw the original 1960 Hitchcock classic “Psycho” at the BAM Rose Cinema this past Saturday July 15th, I watched the movie trivia slides that were on the screen while the house lights were still up. Mention was made of four or five more or less current films that were remakes of earlier films of several decades ago.
This reinforces Bway’s point above : “All they know how to do is make movies based on old TV shows, remakes”
Thanks, KenRoe. I’ve seen an Idle Hour Theatre listed in Cinematour in Queens. Problem is, with these old listings, one has to figure out what those older Queens street names have now changed to. I think Grand Avenue becomes Grand Street when it crosses Newtown Creek into Brooklyn.
It is EXTREMELY worthwhile to view. It was in theaters before I could see it there. I saw it on WOR Channel 9, fall 1968. It has a surprise ending that gets the viewer unexpectedly involved.
“Anyone remember that horrible old flick – shown on Channel 11, I think, in only the grainiest prints – that had to do with that walking tree that had a knife stuck in its heart?!?”
I remember it, but am not sure about the title. “From Hell It Came”, perhaps ?
It didn’t come from Oz after throwing its apples at Dorothy and The Scarecrow.
mikemovies, I only knew the answers to 1 and 2, and was confused, because the questions were numbered 1, 2, 4 and 5, and the answers, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
I think King saw the shorter (64 minute) version, because I think he made a reference to it being about that length, in his non-fiction work, “Danse Macabre” (1980). Another factor in nearly laughing himself into a hernia was, by his own admission, the generous quantity of marijuana he had smoked, prior to, and while, viewing the film.
Black bar across the top of her (almost) bare bosom ? But I waited through 64 minutes of bubble-machine tuning to see that ! That’s not fair !
I’m reminded of Hazel Court nearly falling out of the top of her dress in “The Raven” (1964).
George S, the Elco was a bar, not a person. Are you referring to one of the owners, Herman Walther or Freddy Zaigar ?
George S : Great seeing you here ! Welcome !
Non-theater Ridgewood chat : please include your private e-mail address in your “contact information”, and I will get in touch with you.
You might be interested in the “Bushwick Buddies” site :
Just send Eleanor an e-mail at the above address, introducing yourself, and she’ll help you get started.
The Alhambra has its own page on the Cinema Treasures site.
The Ridgewood probably DID have “dish nights”. They were before my time, and my dad experienced them in Bushwick movie theaters like the Colonial, which page please see on this site.
Grover Cleveland High had graduations at the RKO Madison Theater in 1965 and 1972. I do not know about 1958 or 1959.
Perhaps Warren can, or has, come up with a link to a newspaper ad showing that “The Robe” played at the Ridgewood Theater. Yes, it did star Richard Burton and Victor Mature, also Michael Rennie and Dean Jagger. I think “King Of Kings” was shown there in 1961 or 1962.
Jackie Gleason may have appeared at the Alhambra. It used to be on the eastern corner of Knickerbocker Avenue and Halsey St. I have read that Gleason attended amateur nights as a boy with his father, as a member of the audience, at the Halsey Theater, on Halsey Street just east of Saratoga Avenue, and went on to perform on amateur night there. The Halsey Theater is no longer there, but has a page on this site.
I have also read that some of Gleason’s characters and routines, like Joe The Bartender, Mr. Dunahey, and Crazy Guggenheim (Frank Fontaine) came from Proces' Bar in Bushwick. Perhaps other people on this site, or at Bushwick Buddies, could elaborate.
The Great One was a Bushwick boy. The “Honeymooners”, the Kramdens and Nortons, lived at 329 Chauncey Street, yet I think the address on Gleason’s mother’s death certificate was 358 Chauncey Street. Both addresses are between Bway and Fulton Street. I have also read that Gleason attended public schools, yet took Catholic instruction at Our Lady Of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church on Aberdeen Street between Bway and Bushwick Avenue.
They called it “Bensonhurst”, not “Bushwick”, yet when Ed Norton mentioned “that vacuum cleaner place on DeKalb Avenue”, well, we know that was a real street in our old neighborhood.
I was born in 1955 at the hospital that used to be at Bway and Chauncey Street. My parents and I lived on Cornelia Street in Ridgewood, close to St. Matthias, yet I attended St. Brigid, and graduated there in June 1969. My mother and oldest aunt attended Bushwick High School. My parents used to live on Weirfield St. two houses away from St. Martin Of Tours R C Church.
I like Monica H and her home page too.
Yes, frankie, some of us meeting at the Ridgewood theater in the near future WOULD be a good idea.
How is it “getting kinda creepy on this site” ?
Whom should we e-mail, mikemovies ? Bryan, the owner / editor of the site ?
I just checked my profile page. I don’t think it’s been tampered with.
mikemovies, what can we do to help Lost Memory get reinstated here ?
Thanks, mikemovies. I didn’t know about the 1994 Johnny Legend documentary. The original Richard Matheson novel, “I Am Legend”, was first published in 1954, forty years earlier.
“Unfortunately, this could be one of those rare times where the good guy gets killed off at the end of the movie. Stay Tuned!”
Yes ! Just like one of my favorite sci-fi + horror novels, “I Am Legend”, by Richard Matheson, and its two film versions, “The Last Man On Earth” (1964) with Vincent Price, and “The Omega Man” (1971) with Charlton Heston, which I saw at the Ridgewood Theater, spring 1972, along with “The Cowboys”, starring John Wayne and Bruce Dern.
The good guy also gets killed at the end of “Night Of The Living Dead” (1968), loosely based on “I Am Legend”.
Good work, mikemovies. Thank you. Lost Memory, you have my empathy and support.
I agree with frankie about Lost Memory.
Yes. I can still remember that photo he provided 2 ½ years ago of the Majestic Theater at Seneca and Greene Avenues in Ridgewood.
mikemovies, I agree with you about Lost Memory, but he can always re-join with a new screen name.
I intend to see “Hollywoodland”, once it’s out, though probably not at the Ridgewood Theater.
Before I saw the original 1960 Hitchcock classic “Psycho” at the BAM Rose Cinema this past Saturday July 15th, I watched the movie trivia slides that were on the screen while the house lights were still up. Mention was made of four or five more or less current films that were remakes of earlier films of several decades ago.
This reinforces Bway’s point above : “All they know how to do is make movies based on old TV shows, remakes”
“Psycho” itself was remade, released in 1998.
Thanks, Warren. Interesting about the 3000 seats in those old newspaper ads vs. the 1950 seats listed for the Ridgewood at the top of this page.
Yes, that’s what I meant about “Beerfest” playing at the Ridgewood Theater. Yes, Zum Stammtisch is an excellent restaurant !
There is also Von Westernhagen, two blocks to the northeast, at the southeast corner of Cooper Avenue and 71st Street. Both are in Glendale.
Could there have been an Idle Hour Theatre franchise, or are these two names merely a coincidence ?
“Whew … thank God, it’s only syphilis !”
“Glued to the seat” … watch out for needles on theater seats with notes on them reading, “Congratulations ! You are now HIV positive !”
Cartoon I saw once, man getting up to leave a porno movie :
“Pardon me, this is where I came !”
“Beerfest” playing at the Ridgewood is probably the closest thing to a German restaurant Ridgewood now has.
Thanks, KenRoe. I’ve seen an Idle Hour Theatre listed in Cinematour in Queens. Problem is, with these old listings, one has to figure out what those older Queens street names have now changed to. I think Grand Avenue becomes Grand Street when it crosses Newtown Creek into Brooklyn.
Link to IMDb page for “Creation Of The Humanoids” :
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055872/
It is EXTREMELY worthwhile to view. It was in theaters before I could see it there. I saw it on WOR Channel 9, fall 1968. It has a surprise ending that gets the viewer unexpectedly involved.
Well-said, robbie dupree and EdSolero. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
EdSolero wrote :
“Anyone remember that horrible old flick – shown on Channel 11, I think, in only the grainiest prints – that had to do with that walking tree that had a knife stuck in its heart?!?”
I remember it, but am not sure about the title. “From Hell It Came”, perhaps ?
It didn’t come from Oz after throwing its apples at Dorothy and The Scarecrow.
mikemovies, I only knew the answers to 1 and 2, and was confused, because the questions were numbered 1, 2, 4 and 5, and the answers, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Or was it because they ate yogurt ?
I think King saw the shorter (64 minute) version, because I think he made a reference to it being about that length, in his non-fiction work, “Danse Macabre” (1980). Another factor in nearly laughing himself into a hernia was, by his own admission, the generous quantity of marijuana he had smoked, prior to, and while, viewing the film.
Black bar across the top of her (almost) bare bosom ? But I waited through 64 minutes of bubble-machine tuning to see that ! That’s not fair !
I’m reminded of Hazel Court nearly falling out of the top of her dress in “The Raven” (1964).
Thanks, frankie. I am only familiar with Warner Oland as Charlie Chan, though.
“Hot punk, cool funk, even if it’s old junk, it’s still rock ‘n roll to me !”
Confucius ? How about Kung Fu Tze ?
For further scholarly research :
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046248/
Link to IMDb page on “Robot Monster”.