Re:Friday the Thirteenth.
Peter, I did not see Friday the 13 th at the Ridgewood,but i do another scary scene, when the person is n the rowboat in a clam lake, and all of a sudden, Jason pops out of the water.
Glad no one near me had a jumbo tub, extra butter!
Turning the clock back to 1911, one has to guess that most of the real estate in this neighborhood was undeveloped. The architect of this beautiful building most likely surveyed many symmetrical lots that could have been built on, but chose this one. So some credit is due to take on the challenge of building a triangular venue of this magnitude. No wonder why it still stands today so tall and proud.
Thanks Warren, as usual you always come through, it is interesting to see that the triangular design is sort of offset to the Howard ave. side, and there appears to be a large foyer type of room to the extreme left of the orchestra. Another peculiar fact is that because of the triangular design, the area behind the stage, which must be the dressing rooms, is vast,and not included in the diagram.
All in all, it is a very unusual design for a Vaudeville house, most likely, unique to other venues.
Ziggy,
Thank you for your reply regarding the RKO Bushwick’s windows. This asymmetrical design, which replicates the landmark Flatiron Building in Manhattan, must also have an asymmetrical interior. If I remember correctly, the RKO Bushwick started as a Vaudeville only house, which caused the balcony’s sight lines to be partial when sitting in the rear seats.
Does anyone have any interior photos of this beauty?
Bway
Thank you for sharing that you explored “where no Cinema Treasures member has gone before”, or visiting the “Twilight Zone”. I really must make a second tour to Liberty dept store to see what you did, only the way my luck is,the manager wont let me, but if he does my trusty camera will be ready.The description you gave sounds interesting, especially the fact that some existing portions do exist.
Couple of questions: Is the chandelier still inside the dome?
is ant fire damage visible?
A good reason is that its in a part of New York City called Queens, which does not have historical landmark status granted as easily as does Manhattan.We at Cinema treasures are running a petition to save the 1916 Ridgewood Theater, which was one of the longest consecutive operating theaters in New York. It abruptly closed in March of this year and its future is in jeopardy.
The demolition of the Commodore is bittersweet for me. I lived in Williamsburg for five years with my girlfriend whom I married. She wanted to see Ghost in 1990 so badly she suggested we go to The Com for my first and only visit. It was a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to say the least. And I remember its modest admission fee.
Sadly my wife died in 1992, and I moved back to my native Queens. But the movie Ghost and the Commodore have a place in my heart and memory.On a recent trip with my sister in law I drove past the Com, to see its roof destroyed, and a bulldozer parked nearby. Its was a sad sight indeed, and cringed upon seeing it
Quite possible!The marquee was dripping rain water through a corroded hole at the point where the marquee joins the building, and it was a sunny day upon my observance. Its possible that because of this advanced state of decay, the letter removal may be the first stage of either repair,or dismantling. If it is the latter, perhaps those are souvenirs now.
Lost Memory.
I will ask the manager about the lettering on the marquee.The next visit will be during the week, I will have to be off from work, so it may be awhile before I can get an answer for you.
CT Friends,
Your are all very welcome and I am honored to present these detailed photos. I am still not completely finished with my tour. I did speak to a very friendly gentleman who claimed to be the assistant manager. He mistakenly thought I was a city official making an inspection, which alarmed me, because there are certain aspects of the conditions that one can see, the place is a bit run down. Nevertheless, when I told him I was from Cineama Treasures, and that he had a beautiful building he laughed.It appears this man, and the clients and patrons of the flea market appear to take this wonderful landmark for granted.I really feel the theater may be in its last days, judging by prior actions and the destruction of nearby landmarks.Bway, thanks for your description of the paint scheme from your earlier visits, I bet she was just as beautiful then with the gold accents then.My next trip i want to do two things,explore the balcony, which the manager told me he will allow on either a Monday or Tuesday and sit in one of those box seats,just to take in what it must have been like to veiw a live show or movie from them. It such a travesty that the RKO Madison had its interior destroyed,I would have loved to seen it.
George Tobor,
Your welcome .No sir, the floor is still at a gradual slope, which does make it some what difficult to place round objects on the sellers tables!
I am all for preserving this wonderful theater.
“Attack of the 50 ft. Woman?
I missed it also.
Speaking of roving hands, Peter, did you catch “Chiller Theater” last Saturday?
Indeed Peter,
I understand that some Mets games are simulcasted at the Ziegfeld,complete with roving vendors and “Mr. Met.”
Cindy, you may want to check out the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill, which is totally intact, now serving as a flea market on Sunday’s.
Yes indeed, that lake was calm and serene.
Re:Friday the Thirteenth.
Peter, I did not see Friday the 13 th at the Ridgewood,but i do another scary scene, when the person is n the rowboat in a clam lake, and all of a sudden, Jason pops out of the water.
Glad no one near me had a jumbo tub, extra butter!
Turning the clock back to 1911, one has to guess that most of the real estate in this neighborhood was undeveloped. The architect of this beautiful building most likely surveyed many symmetrical lots that could have been built on, but chose this one. So some credit is due to take on the challenge of building a triangular venue of this magnitude. No wonder why it still stands today so tall and proud.
Thanks Warren, as usual you always come through, it is interesting to see that the triangular design is sort of offset to the Howard ave. side, and there appears to be a large foyer type of room to the extreme left of the orchestra. Another peculiar fact is that because of the triangular design, the area behind the stage, which must be the dressing rooms, is vast,and not included in the diagram.
All in all, it is a very unusual design for a Vaudeville house, most likely, unique to other venues.
Perhaps a date at The Roxy in Manhattan would accomplish a second date Brooklyn Jim?
Thanks Peter, I’m hoping to see another interior photo as well.
Thank you Lost Memory for the excellent interior photo.
Ziggy,
Thank you for your reply regarding the RKO Bushwick’s windows. This asymmetrical design, which replicates the landmark Flatiron Building in Manhattan, must also have an asymmetrical interior. If I remember correctly, the RKO Bushwick started as a Vaudeville only house, which caused the balcony’s sight lines to be partial when sitting in the rear seats.
Does anyone have any interior photos of this beauty?
A most beautiful exterior, I have wondered about those portals above the windows Peter, could they have been for ventilation purposes in the balcony?
Ugh, a misspelling!
Fire ants at Liberty?
Is any fire damage visible?
Bway
Thank you for sharing that you explored “where no Cinema Treasures member has gone before”, or visiting the “Twilight Zone”. I really must make a second tour to Liberty dept store to see what you did, only the way my luck is,the manager wont let me, but if he does my trusty camera will be ready.The description you gave sounds interesting, especially the fact that some existing portions do exist.
Couple of questions: Is the chandelier still inside the dome?
is ant fire damage visible?
Well said Mr.Tobor.
A good reason is that its in a part of New York City called Queens, which does not have historical landmark status granted as easily as does Manhattan.We at Cinema treasures are running a petition to save the 1916 Ridgewood Theater, which was one of the longest consecutive operating theaters in New York. It abruptly closed in March of this year and its future is in jeopardy.
If it was the floors were never sticky!
The demolition of the Commodore is bittersweet for me. I lived in Williamsburg for five years with my girlfriend whom I married. She wanted to see Ghost in 1990 so badly she suggested we go to The Com for my first and only visit. It was a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to say the least. And I remember its modest admission fee.
Sadly my wife died in 1992, and I moved back to my native Queens. But the movie Ghost and the Commodore have a place in my heart and memory.On a recent trip with my sister in law I drove past the Com, to see its roof destroyed, and a bulldozer parked nearby. Its was a sad sight indeed, and cringed upon seeing it
Quite possible!The marquee was dripping rain water through a corroded hole at the point where the marquee joins the building, and it was a sunny day upon my observance. Its possible that because of this advanced state of decay, the letter removal may be the first stage of either repair,or dismantling. If it is the latter, perhaps those are souvenirs now.
Lost Memory.
I will ask the manager about the lettering on the marquee.The next visit will be during the week, I will have to be off from work, so it may be awhile before I can get an answer for you.
Indeed Peter.
To make up for it, “I will boldly go where no CT member has gone before”
CT Friends,
Your are all very welcome and I am honored to present these detailed photos. I am still not completely finished with my tour. I did speak to a very friendly gentleman who claimed to be the assistant manager. He mistakenly thought I was a city official making an inspection, which alarmed me, because there are certain aspects of the conditions that one can see, the place is a bit run down. Nevertheless, when I told him I was from Cineama Treasures, and that he had a beautiful building he laughed.It appears this man, and the clients and patrons of the flea market appear to take this wonderful landmark for granted.I really feel the theater may be in its last days, judging by prior actions and the destruction of nearby landmarks.Bway, thanks for your description of the paint scheme from your earlier visits, I bet she was just as beautiful then with the gold accents then.My next trip i want to do two things,explore the balcony, which the manager told me he will allow on either a Monday or Tuesday and sit in one of those box seats,just to take in what it must have been like to veiw a live show or movie from them. It such a travesty that the RKO Madison had its interior destroyed,I would have loved to seen it.
George Tobor,
Your welcome .No sir, the floor is still at a gradual slope, which does make it some what difficult to place round objects on the sellers tables!
I am all for preserving this wonderful theater.