Thanks, Lost Memory. I wonder, any relation to the Fox Theater that once stood near Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street in downtown Bklyn, near the Brooklyn Paramount Theater ?
ALthe Filmguy, I did NOT have a conversation with one of the Diaz brothers. I have no idea who did.
In your response to your request, LostMemory, here’s a slight modification of a post of mine from six weeks ago :
“I was in one of the adjacent buildings, 11 a.m. Tuesday April 4 2006, buying pants : Carl’s Army and Navy Store, two doors to the east of the Ridgewood Theater. The two people who waited on me said the Ridgewood is non-busy on weekdays, but very busy on weekends and holidays, especially when the kids are off from school. The pretty young lady who works in Carl’s said the Ridgewood is dirty inside : the floor is sticky, and should be cleaned up.”
Perhaps Monica, the young lady who lives nearby, who started her own site on the Ridgewood Theater, and who first posted in 2004 near the top of this page, could be of some help.
Thank you, onni, for revealing your age, and for contributing to a theater page that I started. I hope Karl B returns to this site, and that you, being several years older, and apparently quite knowledgable, are able to answer some of his questions, and clear up some mysteries.
Thanks for coming here.
The correct spelling is “competitor”, and thanks for asking. Poor spelling is one of my bete-noirs, bugbears, and pet peeves.
Please check out Tapeshare’s Cypress Hills – East New York site, the link to which is several posts above this one.
I am familiar with this neighborhood because my father’s parents and sister lived at 169 Chestnut Street from sometime between 1956 and 1960, to summer 1968, when they moved to Woodhaven.
Regarding the RKO Madison in Ridgewood, it would be interesting to compile all the available photographs, taken from the Wyckoff Avenue station platform of the M train (Myrtle Avenue elevated) that show the western wall of the RKO Madison Theater, with the words “RKO MADISON” painted on it in block letters, starting with the earliest, when the theater was in its best condition, then after it was closed, to see the painted words “RKO MADISON” fade, and the graffiti beneath it grow bigger and bolder. Perhaps Bway would like to do it.
In spring or summer 1976, on a visit to the World Trade Center outdoor observation deck, I used one of the 25-power pay binoculars to find and read the words “RKO MADISON” from the western wall of the Madison Theater. There was also a guy up there with a Questar telescope, reading phone numbers off billboards in Flatbush !
Once, I recall walking northwest on Wyckoff Avenue from Putnam Avenue to Palmetto Street, and seeing the Twin Towers on the horizon, in a low gap between buildings on Ridgewood Place and the Myrtle Avenue el, thereby confirming the World Trade Center to RKO Madison Theater sightline.
Glad you like ‘em, stevel. That was the whole point of my post on nycsubway.org, “Els Showing The Cinemas”, two years ago, that sometimes the best way to see these old theaters that have now closed, and are now something else, if they are still there, is in those photos of elevated lines on nycsubway.org.
Similarly, although the Fulton Street el is now gone from Brooklyn, many of the ads painted on the sides of buildings, that were meant to be seen from that el, are still there, on Fulton Street, between downtown Brooklyn (the Fulton Mall) and East NY Bway Junction, probably also on Pitkin Avenue in East NY between Van Sinderen Avenue (the L line) and Euclid Avenue, and, in Cypress Hills, on Liberty Avenue between Crescent Street and 80th Street.
Thanks, Lost Memory. I think the details of the story line that you commented on resulted from the film being a re-telling of Joseph Conrad’s classic novel, “Heart Of Darkness” set in Vietnam, the whole point of which is that, the deeper the white man goes into the jungle, away from his civilization, the more his moral fiber deteriorates. You see the same idea in William Golding’s novel, “Lord Of The Flies”, and its two film versions.
The Martin Sheen character himself was skeptical of his assignment, when he said that tracking down one man in the jungles of Vietnam for murder was like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500.
Even so, I enjoyed hearing The Doors classic “The End” on the soundtrack.
Maybe it’s time for a new re-telling of “Heart Of Darkness”, about how man loses his moral fiber the deeper he goes into cyber-space.
Keith Richards and the Xpensive Winos worked out very well at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan near 74th and Bway, late February 1993.
I didn’t see them there, but I saw them about five months later on the PBS program, “Center Stage”, which was put together from several live shows at a similar theater in Chicago. Both the band and the audience looked like they were having a great time.
If I could see Bob Dylan or the Rolling Stones perform at the Ridgewood Theater for $ 100 or less, and actually SEE them, not just little stick figures seen a quarter of a mile away, across an eighty thousand seat staidum, through binoculars, and hear them at a comfortable volume, I would pay that much and go.
Good idea, Lost Memory. Every little bit helps, and it seems like the Ridgewood Theater needs every little bit of help it can get nowadays. Also, the return of us native boomers to Ridgewood for such a concert may assist in, and would be symbolic of, the gentrification of Ridgewood.
Lost Memory, I agree. The network complaints about excessive violence on “Three Stooges Funhouse” were ridiculous, in light of Vietnam, and its daily TV coverage, and seem like a Lenny Bruce routine.
Four dead in Ohio …
This napalmed village is brought to you by Dow Chemical Company. Nyuk nyuk nyuk ….
I was there at the instigation and invitation of a friend from the Ridgewood YMCA, a few years older than me, who was a bit immature for his age, although he DID have the climactic few minutes of the 1935 James Whale film “The Bride Of Frankenstein” on an 8 mm home movie reel.
I think I may have seen Officer Joe in January 1969 at Our Lady Of Hope auditorium in Middle Village, Eliot Avenue and about 74th Street, just west of the Connecting Line RR tracks. I think he was trying to lead us kids in some inane Three Stooges nonsense song, which went something like, “Bee Ay Boo, Bee Ay Bippie Eye Boo Eye Yay”, like pig Latin on LSD on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. I was thirteen then and it was much too babyish for me.
Lost Memory, I remember “Officer” Joe Bolton very well, and his cautions to us kids not to attemot Three Stooges type stunts in real life, lest we severely injure ourselves.
I’ve always thought it ironic that we boomers went from that as kids to that teenage boy who tragically hanged himself and died in emulation of ‘70’s rock star Alice Cooper.
Thanks, Lost Memory. I wonder, any relation to the Fox Theater that once stood near Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street in downtown Bklyn, near the Brooklyn Paramount Theater ?
You’re welcome, Lost Memory.
AL, I didn’t think you meant me. I merely wanted to disclaim personal responsibility for the sin of omission that you had mentioned.
ALthe Filmguy, I did NOT have a conversation with one of the Diaz brothers. I have no idea who did.
In your response to your request, LostMemory, here’s a slight modification of a post of mine from six weeks ago :
“I was in one of the adjacent buildings, 11 a.m. Tuesday April 4 2006, buying pants : Carl’s Army and Navy Store, two doors to the east of the Ridgewood Theater. The two people who waited on me said the Ridgewood is non-busy on weekdays, but very busy on weekends and holidays, especially when the kids are off from school. The pretty young lady who works in Carl’s said the Ridgewood is dirty inside : the floor is sticky, and should be cleaned up.”
Perhaps Monica, the young lady who lives nearby, who started her own site on the Ridgewood Theater, and who first posted in 2004 near the top of this page, could be of some help.
Thanks, Lost Memory. In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, “It ain’t over till it’s over !”
Very aptly put, after the “handwriting on the wall” has been seen :
The Ridgewood Theater has been weighed in the scales and found wanting !
Thank you, onni, for revealing your age, and for contributing to a theater page that I started. I hope Karl B returns to this site, and that you, being several years older, and apparently quite knowledgable, are able to answer some of his questions, and clear up some mysteries.
Thanks for coming here.
The correct spelling is “competitor”, and thanks for asking. Poor spelling is one of my bete-noirs, bugbears, and pet peeves.
Please check out Tapeshare’s Cypress Hills – East New York site, the link to which is several posts above this one.
I am familiar with this neighborhood because my father’s parents and sister lived at 169 Chestnut Street from sometime between 1956 and 1960, to summer 1968, when they moved to Woodhaven.
More power to you, onni ! May you live another eighty to ninety years !
AnthonyS1957, are you any closer to learning the name of the film you remember seeing at the Chopin ?
You’re welcome, Anniegirl. It’s easy and fun to write such pleasant memories.
Regarding the RKO Madison in Ridgewood, it would be interesting to compile all the available photographs, taken from the Wyckoff Avenue station platform of the M train (Myrtle Avenue elevated) that show the western wall of the RKO Madison Theater, with the words “RKO MADISON” painted on it in block letters, starting with the earliest, when the theater was in its best condition, then after it was closed, to see the painted words “RKO MADISON” fade, and the graffiti beneath it grow bigger and bolder. Perhaps Bway would like to do it.
In spring or summer 1976, on a visit to the World Trade Center outdoor observation deck, I used one of the 25-power pay binoculars to find and read the words “RKO MADISON” from the western wall of the Madison Theater. There was also a guy up there with a Questar telescope, reading phone numbers off billboards in Flatbush !
Once, I recall walking northwest on Wyckoff Avenue from Putnam Avenue to Palmetto Street, and seeing the Twin Towers on the horizon, in a low gap between buildings on Ridgewood Place and the Myrtle Avenue el, thereby confirming the World Trade Center to RKO Madison Theater sightline.
Glad you like ‘em, stevel. That was the whole point of my post on nycsubway.org, “Els Showing The Cinemas”, two years ago, that sometimes the best way to see these old theaters that have now closed, and are now something else, if they are still there, is in those photos of elevated lines on nycsubway.org.
Similarly, although the Fulton Street el is now gone from Brooklyn, many of the ads painted on the sides of buildings, that were meant to be seen from that el, are still there, on Fulton Street, between downtown Brooklyn (the Fulton Mall) and East NY Bway Junction, probably also on Pitkin Avenue in East NY between Van Sinderen Avenue (the L line) and Euclid Avenue, and, in Cypress Hills, on Liberty Avenue between Crescent Street and 80th Street.
Thanks, Lost Memory. I think the details of the story line that you commented on resulted from the film being a re-telling of Joseph Conrad’s classic novel, “Heart Of Darkness” set in Vietnam, the whole point of which is that, the deeper the white man goes into the jungle, away from his civilization, the more his moral fiber deteriorates. You see the same idea in William Golding’s novel, “Lord Of The Flies”, and its two film versions.
The Martin Sheen character himself was skeptical of his assignment, when he said that tracking down one man in the jungles of Vietnam for murder was like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500.
Even so, I enjoyed hearing The Doors classic “The End” on the soundtrack.
Maybe it’s time for a new re-telling of “Heart Of Darkness”, about how man loses his moral fiber the deeper he goes into cyber-space.
Anniegirl, the Arion Theater is # 4617 on this site.
Lost Memory, thanks for the description of “Platoon”. What about “Apocalypse Now” ?
Another good idea. Thanks.
Keith Richards and the Xpensive Winos worked out very well at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan near 74th and Bway, late February 1993.
I didn’t see them there, but I saw them about five months later on the PBS program, “Center Stage”, which was put together from several live shows at a similar theater in Chicago. Both the band and the audience looked like they were having a great time.
If I could see Bob Dylan or the Rolling Stones perform at the Ridgewood Theater for $ 100 or less, and actually SEE them, not just little stick figures seen a quarter of a mile away, across an eighty thousand seat staidum, through binoculars, and hear them at a comfortable volume, I would pay that much and go.
Good idea, Lost Memory. Every little bit helps, and it seems like the Ridgewood Theater needs every little bit of help it can get nowadays. Also, the return of us native boomers to Ridgewood for such a concert may assist in, and would be symbolic of, the gentrification of Ridgewood.
Now, boys and girls, don’t try this war at home yourselves, you could get hurt very badly …
Adrian Cronauer, where are you now ??? We need you to report on Iraq !
Lost Memory, I agree. The network complaints about excessive violence on “Three Stooges Funhouse” were ridiculous, in light of Vietnam, and its daily TV coverage, and seem like a Lenny Bruce routine.
Four dead in Ohio …
This napalmed village is brought to you by Dow Chemical Company. Nyuk nyuk nyuk ….
Good morning Vietnam !
When does the Atlas multiplex open ?
Lost Memory, I too remember Topo Gigio on the Ed Sullivan Show, and, through my dad and an older friend, learned of his predecessor, Senor Wences.
The Arion was a Jamron Drugs store in the latter 1980’s before it became a Genovese. Same difference, huh ?
For some reason, I posted my Arion Theater movie memories on the pages of other theaters, probably mostly the Cinemart.
I was there at the instigation and invitation of a friend from the Ridgewood YMCA, a few years older than me, who was a bit immature for his age, although he DID have the climactic few minutes of the 1935 James Whale film “The Bride Of Frankenstein” on an 8 mm home movie reel.
I think I may have seen Officer Joe in January 1969 at Our Lady Of Hope auditorium in Middle Village, Eliot Avenue and about 74th Street, just west of the Connecting Line RR tracks. I think he was trying to lead us kids in some inane Three Stooges nonsense song, which went something like, “Bee Ay Boo, Bee Ay Bippie Eye Boo Eye Yay”, like pig Latin on LSD on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. I was thirteen then and it was much too babyish for me.
Lost Memory, I remember “Officer” Joe Bolton very well, and his cautions to us kids not to attemot Three Stooges type stunts in real life, lest we severely injure ourselves.
I’ve always thought it ironic that we boomers went from that as kids to that teenage boy who tragically hanged himself and died in emulation of ‘70’s rock star Alice Cooper.
Thanks, Bway, and Life’s too short. False alarm !
Let’s resume the fight to keep the Ridgewood open !