“compared to the condition of the writing today after almost 80 years of being exposed to the elements.”
Not to mention graffiti vandalism. I know I’m repeating myself, but I think this bears repeating : as the years have gone by, the painted block letters have faded, while the graffiti below them has become bolder, sharper, even itself graffitied over.
It would be interesting to make a short film of this. It would be like the opening of the film, “Batteries Not Included”, in which you see how the old neighborhood the elderly people live in has deteriorated over the years.
You’re welcome, Bway, re : Used People.
Jalapeno Restaurant at 91 Wyckoff Avenue, Hart Lanes : For Hart Street, yes, that makes sense. Going towards Flushing Avenue :
DeKalb, Hart, Suydam ….
In ten years, with increasing Arab Muslim influx :
Sal and Angie’s luncheonette in “The French Connection” was on the northeast side of Wyckoff Avenue between DeKalb and Flushing Avenues. Before Doyle and partner arrive there, you can see the B-38 DeKalb Avenue bus crossing Wyckoff Avenue behind them, heading northeast on DeKalb. They then spy on Sal and Angie Boca from the warehouse, or factory, across Wyckoff Avenue from them.
Bway, that film was “Used People”, 1992 or 93, with the footage of the elevated M train, as seen from roofs of six-family houses on Palmetto St. between Cypress and Seneca Avenues.
Stymie Beard, of The Little Rascals ? What about Farina and Buckwheat ?
Bway, glad you liked my entrance to hell comment. Yes, the years run together after awhile, just like “Star Trek” or Woody Allen films …
“I found it extremely ironic about turning some Forest Ave. storefronts ("A Stranger Among Us”) into Jewish businesses, considering the long-time ethnic make-up of Ridgewood."
Yes, but most of the Myrtle Avenue storeowners in Ridgewood were German Jews, when you and I grew up there. Messrs. Gelobter and Schacne were members of Congregation Agudas Israel, 1616 Cornelia Street, on my old block.
On the other hand, I have heard stories about signs in Ridgewood atore windows, “No dogs or Jews allowed”. I saw American Nazi Party members at Myrtle and Cypress in fall 1965 or spring 1966.
Great old picture, Bway. Thanks. Forever the Optimo Cigars sign !
I remember the “Brighton Beach Memoirs” filming at Seneca and Palmetto as being late November 1986. Yes, lots of fun !
RIDE THE OPEN AIR ELEVATED !
Planter’s Peanuts, always fresh in the little glassine bag !
“Eugene, I hear the train, go meet your father !”
“Ghost” was released in summer 1990, so I would guess filming took place in 1988 or 89.
“Willie, the villain in the movie, gets killed and taken by demons under the Myrtle-Broadway platforms on the street…and in the early 90’s the gloominess of that neighborhood was the perfect setting for that movie.”
It sure was. A friend joked with me about it at my bachelor party in Sept. 1991 : “So the entrance to hell is three el train stops from your house ?”
Thanks for mentioning the “Malcolm X” filming at Myrtle and Wyckoff, not far from where the real Malcolm X lived and did his thing. Or was it Stokely Carmichael or H. Rap Brown ?
Yes, BklynJim, “Unifing The Subways” is an excellent book. It contains a few errors of photo captioning and identification, but, then again, nothing and no one is perfect.
I may have posted at length about the theater I had in mind on “SubTalk” of www.nycsubway.org, or perhaps sent a private e-mail to Bway, who may be of further help.
BklynJim, I think I may have once posted on CT about the Boro Hall Theater, having seen it in a photo in a book titled “Unifying The Subways”, that showed part of the Myrtle el near the Sands St. Terminal over a part of Myrtle Avenue, west of Jay Street, that no longer exists. Sorry I can’t be more specific.
Due to MetroTech center in downtown Bklyn, Myrtle Avenue now only exists west of Flatbush Avenue extension as a pedestrian mall.
That’s a good picture, BklynJim. Thanks ! It’s like images I’ve seen on nycsubway.org, one of many images of “els showing the cinemas” that either are no longer there, or are no longer cinemas. In this case, the el isn’t there any more, either !
The WHN 1050 John Denver poster is familiar, and dates it to about September 1977 :
“Thank you for being part of our country !”
Also The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Crystal Gale, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton-John, etc.
I joked with a friend, that WNEW 102.7 FM should have had a poster of the Rolling Stones, captioned, “Thank you for being busted !”
I walked around inside the RKO Keith’s in Richmond Hill this past Saturday, July 8, 2006, at about 6 p.m. while it was in use as a flea market. I did not go up the side stairs into the balcony, but saw the inner and outer lobbies, orchestra, balcony, side boxes, side exits, proscenium arch, and balcony and ceiling from a distance, with much of the ornate, baroque, elliptical ornamentation still present. There was a man on duty there named Bob, age 59, whom I discussed old theaters with. He pointed to where the children’s section of the theater had been about fifty years ago, when he had sat there as a patron. He mentioned a man named Danny Gallagher who was even more of an expert on old theaters than he was.
It was strange, but interesting, seeing what had once been the orchestra, once only lit by the movie screen, exit signs, and dim aisle and ceiling lights, now a brightly lit open space with the seats removed, daylight entering through the propped-open side exit doors.
Yes. I remember seeing “Death Wish II” at the Ridgewood in early April or late March of 1982. I also remember a Bruce Lee double bill, “Fists Of Fury” and “Chinese Connection”, at the Ridgewood around November 10, 1980. Thank you, Ed, for jogging my memory.
Bway, the first partitioning between orchestra and balcony I was aware of was on Tuesday, June 17, 1980, when I saw “Friday The 13th” at the Ridgewood on the as yet-undivided balcony level, with that beautiful elliptical lobby, and there was a boxing match on closed circuit TV on the orchestra level.
As I have already posted, I think the Ridgewood was already a 2- or 3-plex by the time I saw “Blow Out” there in late July 1981, because “The Wolfen” was showing there also. Earlier, on Friday March 13 1981, when I saw “The Howling” there, it may have only been one theater, or at least the lower, orchestra, level was still undivided, but I cannot be sure. I am sure the orchestra level had been divided into two cinemas by the time I saw “Superman III” and “Twilight Zone : The Movie” there, June 18 and 24, 1983, respectively.
Thanks, Warren. Does adding light to the photos make them grainier, or does it bring out the graininess that is already there, making it easier to see ?
I remember the Earle, near 74th Street, Broadway, and Roosevelt Avenue, in Jackson Heights, near the intersection of the Flushing IRT elevated line (#7) and the Independent Subway (E, F, G, V, R).
Pornographic, wasn’t it, as I recall ?
I walked past the Ridgewood Theater this past Saturday, July 1st 2006, at about 3:30 PM, on a visit to old family homes and haunts in Brooklyn and Queens. It’s still open, showing “Superman Returns” and “Garfield II”, among other films. One film had three screening times.
Looks like Matt Weber has a great site. Unfortunately, there is not much to go on in those “Always Air Conditioned” and “The Best In Entertainment” photos to help identify them.
All I can say is that I don’t recall ever seeing signs like that on the front of the Ridgewood or RKO Madison Theaters, or any other movie theater in NYC that I’ve been to.
Bway, how sad !
“compared to the condition of the writing today after almost 80 years of being exposed to the elements.”
Not to mention graffiti vandalism. I know I’m repeating myself, but I think this bears repeating : as the years have gone by, the painted block letters have faded, while the graffiti below them has become bolder, sharper, even itself graffitied over.
It would be interesting to make a short film of this. It would be like the opening of the film, “Batteries Not Included”, in which you see how the old neighborhood the elderly people live in has deteriorated over the years.
You’re welcome, Bway, re : Used People.
Jalapeno Restaurant at 91 Wyckoff Avenue, Hart Lanes : For Hart Street, yes, that makes sense. Going towards Flushing Avenue :
DeKalb, Hart, Suydam ….
In ten years, with increasing Arab Muslim influx :
DeKalib, Harat, Saddam … ?
Sal and Angie’s luncheonette in “The French Connection” was on the northeast side of Wyckoff Avenue between DeKalb and Flushing Avenues. Before Doyle and partner arrive there, you can see the B-38 DeKalb Avenue bus crossing Wyckoff Avenue behind them, heading northeast on DeKalb. They then spy on Sal and Angie Boca from the warehouse, or factory, across Wyckoff Avenue from them.
Bway, that film was “Used People”, 1992 or 93, with the footage of the elevated M train, as seen from roofs of six-family houses on Palmetto St. between Cypress and Seneca Avenues.
Stymie Beard, of The Little Rascals ? What about Farina and Buckwheat ?
Bway, glad you liked my entrance to hell comment. Yes, the years run together after awhile, just like “Star Trek” or Woody Allen films …
“I found it extremely ironic about turning some Forest Ave. storefronts ("A Stranger Among Us”) into Jewish businesses, considering the long-time ethnic make-up of Ridgewood."
Yes, but most of the Myrtle Avenue storeowners in Ridgewood were German Jews, when you and I grew up there. Messrs. Gelobter and Schacne were members of Congregation Agudas Israel, 1616 Cornelia Street, on my old block.
On the other hand, I have heard stories about signs in Ridgewood atore windows, “No dogs or Jews allowed”. I saw American Nazi Party members at Myrtle and Cypress in fall 1965 or spring 1966.
Great old picture, Bway. Thanks. Forever the Optimo Cigars sign !
I remember the “Brighton Beach Memoirs” filming at Seneca and Palmetto as being late November 1986. Yes, lots of fun !
RIDE THE OPEN AIR ELEVATED !
Planter’s Peanuts, always fresh in the little glassine bag !
“Eugene, I hear the train, go meet your father !”
“Ghost” was released in summer 1990, so I would guess filming took place in 1988 or 89.
“Willie, the villain in the movie, gets killed and taken by demons under the Myrtle-Broadway platforms on the street…and in the early 90’s the gloominess of that neighborhood was the perfect setting for that movie.”
It sure was. A friend joked with me about it at my bachelor party in Sept. 1991 : “So the entrance to hell is three el train stops from your house ?”
Thanks for mentioning the “Malcolm X” filming at Myrtle and Wyckoff, not far from where the real Malcolm X lived and did his thing. Or was it Stokely Carmichael or H. Rap Brown ?
Thanks for the photos, Lost Memory.
Yes, BklynJim, “Unifing The Subways” is an excellent book. It contains a few errors of photo captioning and identification, but, then again, nothing and no one is perfect.
I may have posted at length about the theater I had in mind on “SubTalk” of www.nycsubway.org, or perhaps sent a private e-mail to Bway, who may be of further help.
BklynJim, I think I may have once posted on CT about the Boro Hall Theater, having seen it in a photo in a book titled “Unifying The Subways”, that showed part of the Myrtle el near the Sands St. Terminal over a part of Myrtle Avenue, west of Jay Street, that no longer exists. Sorry I can’t be more specific.
Due to MetroTech center in downtown Bklyn, Myrtle Avenue now only exists west of Flatbush Avenue extension as a pedestrian mall.
Thanks, BklynJim ! John Denver, eh ?
“Sunshine on my shoulder makes me sweaty…”
To which I can only add :
THANK GOD I’M A CITY BOY !!!!!
I think there’s at least a hint in the nycsubway.org images of 168th Street that are similar to this one.
That’s a good picture, BklynJim. Thanks ! It’s like images I’ve seen on nycsubway.org, one of many images of “els showing the cinemas” that either are no longer there, or are no longer cinemas. In this case, the el isn’t there any more, either !
The WHN 1050 John Denver poster is familiar, and dates it to about September 1977 :
“Thank you for being part of our country !”
Also The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Crystal Gale, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton-John, etc.
I joked with a friend, that WNEW 102.7 FM should have had a poster of the Rolling Stones, captioned, “Thank you for being busted !”
No, especially if they freely post their expertise and memories.
I mentioned you to Bob as “BrooklynJim”, saying you were about his age.
Thanks, KenRoe, for another fine photography job !
Unfortunately, no, but I mentioned the Cinema Treasures site to Bob.
It reads like you know Bob and Danny Gallagher.
I walked around inside the RKO Keith’s in Richmond Hill this past Saturday, July 8, 2006, at about 6 p.m. while it was in use as a flea market. I did not go up the side stairs into the balcony, but saw the inner and outer lobbies, orchestra, balcony, side boxes, side exits, proscenium arch, and balcony and ceiling from a distance, with much of the ornate, baroque, elliptical ornamentation still present. There was a man on duty there named Bob, age 59, whom I discussed old theaters with. He pointed to where the children’s section of the theater had been about fifty years ago, when he had sat there as a patron. He mentioned a man named Danny Gallagher who was even more of an expert on old theaters than he was.
It was strange, but interesting, seeing what had once been the orchestra, once only lit by the movie screen, exit signs, and dim aisle and ceiling lights, now a brightly lit open space with the seats removed, daylight entering through the propped-open side exit doors.
Yes. I remember seeing “Death Wish II” at the Ridgewood in early April or late March of 1982. I also remember a Bruce Lee double bill, “Fists Of Fury” and “Chinese Connection”, at the Ridgewood around November 10, 1980. Thank you, Ed, for jogging my memory.
Bway, the first partitioning between orchestra and balcony I was aware of was on Tuesday, June 17, 1980, when I saw “Friday The 13th” at the Ridgewood on the as yet-undivided balcony level, with that beautiful elliptical lobby, and there was a boxing match on closed circuit TV on the orchestra level.
As I have already posted, I think the Ridgewood was already a 2- or 3-plex by the time I saw “Blow Out” there in late July 1981, because “The Wolfen” was showing there also. Earlier, on Friday March 13 1981, when I saw “The Howling” there, it may have only been one theater, or at least the lower, orchestra, level was still undivided, but I cannot be sure. I am sure the orchestra level had been divided into two cinemas by the time I saw “Superman III” and “Twilight Zone : The Movie” there, June 18 and 24, 1983, respectively.
Thanks, Warren. Does adding light to the photos make them grainier, or does it bring out the graininess that is already there, making it easier to see ?
I remember the Earle, near 74th Street, Broadway, and Roosevelt Avenue, in Jackson Heights, near the intersection of the Flushing IRT elevated line (#7) and the Independent Subway (E, F, G, V, R).
Pornographic, wasn’t it, as I recall ?
Thanks for the great pix, KenRoe. I wish you a safe trip back to the U.K.
I walked past the Ridgewood Theater this past Saturday, July 1st 2006, at about 3:30 PM, on a visit to old family homes and haunts in Brooklyn and Queens. It’s still open, showing “Superman Returns” and “Garfield II”, among other films. One film had three screening times.
Looks like Matt Weber has a great site. Unfortunately, there is not much to go on in those “Always Air Conditioned” and “The Best In Entertainment” photos to help identify them.
All I can say is that I don’t recall ever seeing signs like that on the front of the Ridgewood or RKO Madison Theaters, or any other movie theater in NYC that I’ve been to.
Thanks, Warren. The trolley, then, was the # 58, predecessor of the B-58 and Q-58 Flushing-Ridgewood buses.