Ken, if you have that actual proof that it showed movies, as it’s listed in the 1914-1915 American MP Directory, and any other information, that along with the address of 22 Throop Warren found, perhaps you could add it to the site with the information you may have, and then conversation on it could continue on the new page. I will also see what else I can find out about it.
I did some research into this, and this is as far as I could get. The one corner which is a bigger lot recently had condos built on the site. The address is 532 Broadway. This is the lot that has the construction on it in the Local.live image. Next to that is an L-shaped piece of property, which wraps around the condo building and the main part of the property wraps to Lynch St. Youc an see the L shaped property also on the local.live image. it’s address is 27 Lynch St Block 2238 Lot 27, but also is “at the corner of Broadway and Throop, because of the angle that Throop Ave comes in at. (lost memory, perhaps you could look into those two lots with whatever you use to find out about them).
The larger lot, that is vacant, is actually a bunch of smaller lots that had their buildings taken down. None of them large enough for a 1600 seat theater.
The only other prospect would be the school that is on the block bounded by Throop, Walton, Lorimer, and Harrison. It looks like a "newer” school, and is close to the corner of Bway and Throop, that it could have been considered. I guarantee it’s one of those three locations.
Does anyone know anything about this “Gayety Theater” mentioned? I never heard of this one, and there is no Gayetu Theater listed on this site. (Did it ever show film?). 1600 is a decent sized theater, when did it close, and when was the building torn down? If it did show film, it should be added to the site. I did a local.live search, and the birds eye view doesn’t show any building remaining there that could be a theater. It would have been near the Lorimer St station on the Bway El. Any information about this theater would be appreciated.
Here’s the local.live image of the current location, perhaps it was where that large corner vacant lot is?
Quote Warren:
*To my understanding, a “Cinema Treasure” needs to have a substantial history as a cinema. *
I totally understand that….but once again, there are many storefront “porn theaters” listed on this site, which I highly doubt should be categorized as “substantial history of cinema”, or the “theater” being a “Cinema Treasure”. I Still think the Gallo is more of a “Cinema Treasure” if it only showed “film for a month” than some storefront porn theater, which would be on the site.
Quote: “Studio 54 is mentioned in the first paragraph of the introduction to the listing for the very similar Park Lane Theatre, so that might be the reason why some members think that they once saw a listing for Gallo/Studio 54.”
No, I REALLY am almost 100% sure I have seen a page here for “Studio 54” aka Gallo. It was listed as “Studio 54”, I remember it so clearly because I remember laughing at the fact that this theater has to listed as “Studio 54” because that is it’s last or current name, which of course is the policy. It probably was a few years ago, but I no doubt think it was removed because it can’t be proven that it is a “Cinema Treasure”. I have never viewed the Park Lane Theater page until today when you mentioned it, so that can’t be it…at least not for me.
While I like trees, isn’t it ridiculous that they would have planted them in front of a theater marquee? Don’t people think when they are laying these tree locations out?
I could swear that the Gallo Theater, Studio 54 was once listed on cinematreasures. I seem to recall it, as I remember finding it funny that the theater was listed as “Studio 54” instead of it’s original Gallo Opera House name…but then I realized that theaters are lsited as their last known name. But really, I am almost 100% certain it used to be here. Perhaps it was removed when the cinema aspect of it couldn’t be confirmed.
Justin, Studion 54 BECAME a dance hall, it was NOT built as such. It was a theater converted to the legendary Studio 54 Dance Hall. It is not like they took a dance hall and converted it into a theater, it’s the other way around.
As for the “ever so briefly” it may or may not have shown film at the Gallo Oper House (Studio 54), there are “storefront” porn theaters listed on this site. I would risk to say that even if the Gallo only showed film briefly, it would “still” qualify more as a “cinema treasure” than some of the storefront porn theaters listed on this site. I mean, let’s get real here.
I guess it would be way too much to hope for, as I would even rather see the Ridgewood operating as it has been, cut up into 5 theaters, than seeing it go over to the way the Madison Theater became retail.
However, is it too much to dream about that the Ridgewood coulad actually be restored into one large theater again, and restored?
But in the meantime, it can be saved, but we are at a very important crossroads right now, and the Ridgewood is in the most danger right now than it’s been in in it’s 92 years.
Also notice, that there is a “for sale” sign on the building….so that would sort of make me believe who ever currently owns it doesn’t plan to renovate. Hopefully someone will come along and buy it.
The New Amsterdam wasn’t originally meant to show movies, nor was the Gallo Opera House (Studio 54) when they were built. I am not sure about the Beacon Theater, which originally was a Vaudville house, but may have been meant to also show movies, I dont know.
It’s true, NY has lost many theaters, but it also retains many. It had SO many, so obviously the amount lost with that vast number would be higher than other areas, as it had more to begin with.
Does anyone know of any historic interior photos of the Ridgewood Theater? Much of the original interior plasterwork survives, even though multiplexed in the 80’s. There are some photos of the Strand on that theater page, so those images may give us a clue as to what the Ridgewood looked like as one large theater. I don’t remember the interior from before the multiplexing.
Recently the Ridgewood Theater was closed in Ridgewood Queens. It was mentioned that the Ridgewood Theater was modeled after the Strand Theater, and also designed by Thomas Lamb. Does anyone know if this is what the Ridgewood Theater looked like inside before it was multiplexed? Much of the Ridgewood’s plaster survives, even though multiplexed.
Thanks lost!
As I mentioned in that thread, we HAVE to get local politicians, officials, etc involved. We are fast approaching the point where we could lose this theater. It would be a travesty if that happens after this theater having survived against all odds and made it to this point, unlike so many other theaters. Let’s not see what happened to the Trylon happen to the Ridgewood Theater in the final hours.
In that article, it was mentioned that the Ridgewood was modeled after the former Strand Theater in manhattan. Now more than ever, does anyone know of any interior historic photos of the Ridgewood Theater?
It would be a travesty if the Ridgewood Theater, having survived so long, and against all odds would now be lost. Perhaps this great letter written by nativeforesthiller should be forwarded to the www.timesnewsweekly.com local paper, local public officials and politicians, etc. It is still not too late, but we are approaching a major point where we could have no return. Let’s not see what happened to the Trylon Theater, and so many other theaters. We MUST get local government and people involved, we are fast approaching the point where we could lose this theater.
Joe, a lot of the old buildings in that location do still exist, so it’s highly likely their old homes may still be standing. The neighborhood is also improving quite a lot lately.
Ken, if you have that actual proof that it showed movies, as it’s listed in the 1914-1915 American MP Directory, and any other information, that along with the address of 22 Throop Warren found, perhaps you could add it to the site with the information you may have, and then conversation on it could continue on the new page. I will also see what else I can find out about it.
I did some research into this, and this is as far as I could get. The one corner which is a bigger lot recently had condos built on the site. The address is 532 Broadway. This is the lot that has the construction on it in the Local.live image. Next to that is an L-shaped piece of property, which wraps around the condo building and the main part of the property wraps to Lynch St. Youc an see the L shaped property also on the local.live image. it’s address is 27 Lynch St Block 2238 Lot 27, but also is “at the corner of Broadway and Throop, because of the angle that Throop Ave comes in at. (lost memory, perhaps you could look into those two lots with whatever you use to find out about them).
The larger lot, that is vacant, is actually a bunch of smaller lots that had their buildings taken down. None of them large enough for a 1600 seat theater.
The only other prospect would be the school that is on the block bounded by Throop, Walton, Lorimer, and Harrison. It looks like a "newer” school, and is close to the corner of Bway and Throop, that it could have been considered. I guarantee it’s one of those three locations.
Does anyone know anything about this “Gayety Theater” mentioned? I never heard of this one, and there is no Gayetu Theater listed on this site. (Did it ever show film?). 1600 is a decent sized theater, when did it close, and when was the building torn down? If it did show film, it should be added to the site. I did a local.live search, and the birds eye view doesn’t show any building remaining there that could be a theater. It would have been near the Lorimer St station on the Bway El. Any information about this theater would be appreciated.
Here’s the local.live image of the current location, perhaps it was where that large corner vacant lot is?
View link
Quote Warren:
*To my understanding, a “Cinema Treasure” needs to have a substantial history as a cinema. *
I totally understand that….but once again, there are many storefront “porn theaters” listed on this site, which I highly doubt should be categorized as “substantial history of cinema”, or the “theater” being a “Cinema Treasure”. I Still think the Gallo is more of a “Cinema Treasure” if it only showed “film for a month” than some storefront porn theater, which would be on the site.
Quote:
“Studio 54 is mentioned in the first paragraph of the introduction to the listing for the very similar Park Lane Theatre, so that might be the reason why some members think that they once saw a listing for Gallo/Studio 54.”
No, I REALLY am almost 100% sure I have seen a page here for “Studio 54” aka Gallo. It was listed as “Studio 54”, I remember it so clearly because I remember laughing at the fact that this theater has to listed as “Studio 54” because that is it’s last or current name, which of course is the policy. It probably was a few years ago, but I no doubt think it was removed because it can’t be proven that it is a “Cinema Treasure”. I have never viewed the Park Lane Theater page until today when you mentioned it, so that can’t be it…at least not for me.
Thanks so much for this update jazzland. Please update us further if you hear more.
While I like trees, isn’t it ridiculous that they would have planted them in front of a theater marquee? Don’t people think when they are laying these tree locations out?
I could swear that the Gallo Theater, Studio 54 was once listed on cinematreasures. I seem to recall it, as I remember finding it funny that the theater was listed as “Studio 54” instead of it’s original Gallo Opera House name…but then I realized that theaters are lsited as their last known name. But really, I am almost 100% certain it used to be here. Perhaps it was removed when the cinema aspect of it couldn’t be confirmed.
Justin, Studion 54 BECAME a dance hall, it was NOT built as such. It was a theater converted to the legendary Studio 54 Dance Hall. It is not like they took a dance hall and converted it into a theater, it’s the other way around.
As for the “ever so briefly” it may or may not have shown film at the Gallo Oper House (Studio 54), there are “storefront” porn theaters listed on this site. I would risk to say that even if the Gallo only showed film briefly, it would “still” qualify more as a “cinema treasure” than some of the storefront porn theaters listed on this site. I mean, let’s get real here.
I guess it would be way too much to hope for, as I would even rather see the Ridgewood operating as it has been, cut up into 5 theaters, than seeing it go over to the way the Madison Theater became retail.
However, is it too much to dream about that the Ridgewood coulad actually be restored into one large theater again, and restored?
But in the meantime, it can be saved, but we are at a very important crossroads right now, and the Ridgewood is in the most danger right now than it’s been in in it’s 92 years.
Also notice, that there is a “for sale” sign on the building….so that would sort of make me believe who ever currently owns it doesn’t plan to renovate. Hopefully someone will come along and buy it.
As of my photos that I took about 6 weeks ago linked above, it didn’t appear they were doing anything with the building. I hope I am wrong.
Thank you so much Ken for posting all these photos you did on all the theaters you did yesterday.
It looks like they divided the lobby in half, and rented the left half out to a hot dog stand?
Warren, stores rarely stay empty long on Myrtle Ave, Ridgewood’s Shopping district. It is still a very healthy commercial area, and always has been.
The New Amsterdam wasn’t originally meant to show movies, nor was the Gallo Opera House (Studio 54) when they were built. I am not sure about the Beacon Theater, which originally was a Vaudville house, but may have been meant to also show movies, I dont know.
It’s true, NY has lost many theaters, but it also retains many. It had SO many, so obviously the amount lost with that vast number would be higher than other areas, as it had more to begin with.
Lets hope we have more luck with the Ridgewood Theater.
Well I meant the bases of the palm trees….
Does anyone know of any historic interior photos of the Ridgewood Theater? Much of the original interior plasterwork survives, even though multiplexed in the 80’s. There are some photos of the Strand on that theater page, so those images may give us a clue as to what the Ridgewood looked like as one large theater. I don’t remember the interior from before the multiplexing.
Recently the Ridgewood Theater was closed in Ridgewood Queens. It was mentioned that the Ridgewood Theater was modeled after the Strand Theater, and also designed by Thomas Lamb. Does anyone know if this is what the Ridgewood Theater looked like inside before it was multiplexed? Much of the Ridgewood’s plaster survives, even though multiplexed.
Thanks lost!
As I mentioned in that thread, we HAVE to get local politicians, officials, etc involved. We are fast approaching the point where we could lose this theater. It would be a travesty if that happens after this theater having survived against all odds and made it to this point, unlike so many other theaters. Let’s not see what happened to the Trylon happen to the Ridgewood Theater in the final hours.
In that article, it was mentioned that the Ridgewood was modeled after the former Strand Theater in manhattan. Now more than ever, does anyone know of any interior historic photos of the Ridgewood Theater?
It would be a travesty if the Ridgewood Theater, having survived so long, and against all odds would now be lost. Perhaps this great letter written by nativeforesthiller should be forwarded to the www.timesnewsweekly.com local paper, local public officials and politicians, etc. It is still not too late, but we are approaching a major point where we could have no return. Let’s not see what happened to the Trylon Theater, and so many other theaters. We MUST get local government and people involved, we are fast approaching the point where we could lose this theater.
There’s no article on the Ridgewood Theater’s closing in the news section that Nativeforest hiller mentioned. What section should I look in?
Joe, a lot of the old buildings in that location do still exist, so it’s highly likely their old homes may still be standing. The neighborhood is also improving quite a lot lately.
Nice! What are those things they put around the palm trees?
Anything is better than having it torn down, or gutted for retail.