I never got to see the inside of the building. My parents moved out of the area when I was 6 months old. LOL I think I said that before. What i would like to do is pick out some theatres that are closed but still standing and check them out. Maybe even the insides.
Wow Lost imagine what life was like back then. I have been down this way a little over 6 years now and although there has been a big resurgence of the Shaw area there are a few rough spots. Even in my short time in this area I have seen beat up homes turn in to gems and new businesses taking shape. Now if and when the Howard gets it’s face lift that will be another boost to the neighborhood.
Thanks Lost. I am going to look up the lincoln to see if there is anything about how much it cost to restore. Frome the artist rendering of Howard it looks like the main floor is going to be tables and chairs on a flat surce. Now I can see where a good deal of the cost will be..
BTW I saw this on the link. I guess the following was a typo. I think he meant begin.
I know there was a Strand Theatre but for some reason I guess I was to young to remember. What I do remember was there was Strand Lanes. It was a bolwing center on the second floor. I do remember the RKO Albee and the Loew Metropolitain before it was turned in to an 8 screen clusterf**k. And the UA Duffield. Ah yes the Duffield where a man was shot and killed during a showing of “New Jack City”. A&S Korvettes and Mays department stores. Fulton Street was always busy even before they made it a pedestrian mall.
I have known Marty markowitz for years and he is far from being on my top 10 list of favorite people to deal with. He ran or still runs the Seaside concerts and MLK series at Wingate HS. I can go on and on about him but I have gone off topic again.
I am trying to remember what other movies I saw at Ridgewood besides Saturday Night Fever and Sasquatch. I think I saw 2 others there but i am blank.
Hey Lost. As recently as October of 2008 I drove past the Howard and unless something has happened since it did not look like anything was going on in there as far as a refurbishing. On the otherhand right down the block they did a bang up job on restoring the Lincoln Theatre.
Yeash I know your used to seeing me in the NY pages but I live in Maryland.
Hi Luis. I have mentioned both of those. Read about 8 posts above yours where I heard that LIU may renovate the Paramount.
I recently saw some pictures of the Kings when some people went on a tour of it. It would be nice if the celeberity types who went to Erasmus Hall HS would contribute. One off the top of my head is Barbara Streissand, Niel Diamond, Clive Davis CEO of BMG. Even Bernie Kopell aka Zigfeid and Doc. Donny Most from Happy days. The one person who has said alot but always seems to be blowing smoke up peoples asses is Marty Marlowitz the boro president. He had been talking about saving the Kings while he was still a NY State senator.
I wonder wehy BAM hasn’t done anything. I can understand the Majestic because logistcaly it was only a couple blocks from BAM. I forgot what year it was but one day I walked by it when it was closed and there was a door open and I went in. Other then the fact it smelled musky something about that placejumped out at me and it wasn’t a mugger or homeless person. Just that it was sitting there rotting away.
I wish they could save every theatre. There is a small movement in the DC Metro area to save the Howard. It is only about 1300 seats but has a history.
John did you look under Palladium? That was the name of the building when it closed down. By the way I have no idea what this AIA guide is.
I do however know for a fact that when the new owners of the Palladium wnet and installed “in the wall” air conditioners they were told the needed to apply for a varrience because of the landmark status. Those people were the former owners of Studio 54.
As far as Ridgewood goes I don’t see anyone running to demolish it to build something else on it or turning it in to a retail space like some other former theatres are(Madison). The Walker in Brooklyn has a store that takes up what used to be the loby but from what I read is that according to the property owner they can not use the rest of the building. and have hear that the rest of the theatrer behind the store is as it was from it’s last show. The Loews 46th has a furniture store in the front but from reports from other CT members the rest of the theatrer is still intact. It would be nice to see those both reopen as a performing art center as well as a movie house when there are no live shows. 1 large screen many seats.
To John Dereszewski. Very few buildings interiors have been saved by getting “Landmark Status”. One of them is Radio City Music Hall. Back in the late 70’s-mid 80’s there was talk about closing it down and gutting it out and replace it with office space.
What I meant in my statement of having landmark staus means squat is because of the way it happened and how NYU was able to do what they did. NYU could have turned the Academy (palladium) in to a performing arts center. It had everything you could want and more. 2 on stage elevators and an elevating orchestra pit. 75 foot high fly grid. I am sure they would have had some work to do to undo what the last owners of that building did. By demolishing the Academy to me was like have a family member die. LIU who owns the building in Brooklyn where the Paramount was saved the building and pretty much the whole intirior. Word has it now that since LIU has a brand new sporting center they may do some restoration work on the Paramount interior.
In the meantime lets hoe the Ridgewood will be saved.
WOW I almost forgot abouit the Boro Park. I forgot what movies I saw in there. Prior to it turning in to a porn Palace my friend who lived in Boro Park used to take in movies at the BP as well as the 46th st. Of course bening around13 at the time and money was a problem we found ways to sneak in or we would go for the Sat or Sun Matinee’s that were half price and one of us would pay and then find an exit door and slip the other one in. Those were the days. I had said on another page if I win a Powerball or Mega Miollions jackpot over $100 million I will buy out the furnature store and see what I can do to renovate the 46th street and see what I can do with the Kings
After all this time I found something connecting Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert to ABC
The hall, renamed Banana Fish Garden for the rock concerts put on by a local promoter, was also used for a few tapings of the ABC Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert show. I can recall seeing Jerry Lee Lewis there, putting a pair of panties tossed at him by one of his fans on his face and inhaling deeply (needless to say, it did not make the air cut of the concert). Also saw Hot Tuna there, their show delayed for some time while they haggled with ABC to leave a faux marijuana plant on the stage (it got the axe). Oddly enough, members of Hot Tuna came by to jam with the Dead one of the four nights in Brooklyn…it was quite a good night too. John Lightning, archive.org
Also Warren all your links prior to April 2008 ar not working as well as 55 T-Birds. I also didn’t know you could paste a picture in here
Peter what happened to that romur floating around that the Ridgewood was going to open on weekends? Did it even looklike something was being done as far as cleaning the place up?
I can still mentaly see the Ridgewood as it was back in the late 70’s when I saw Saturday Night Fever about a dozen times. No I didn’t pay all those times. Back then United Artists Theatre corp owned the R and I knew the district manager from my days at the NY Academy of Music which was also run by UA. Free Popcorn and soda and the balcony all to myself and a guest.
Once again I made a post this afternoon and it told me I was not logged in and I forgot to copy it like I did now.
Landmark status don’t mean squat in NYC. As I have said here and other pages it did not save the former NY Academy of Music (palladium) and Luchows on 14th street. NYU demolished both structures and built high rise dorms in their place. Then again what NYU wants NYU gets. I am not sure of this but I do believe that because the Dorms are part of an educational institute they are exempt from property taxes.
I don’t know why my last post in here seems to be missing.
Once again I say who cares what type house it is. It’s just a building where people live. I am not asking for world peace just a little CT peace for 2009. I think most if not all of us are adults and there is no need to have a pissing contest of a bunch of bricks.
And here I thought when Rupert Murdoc bought out the Post he turned it in to a comic book. I can read better new in the Inquierer. LOL
But then it can be worse. Moonie owns the Washington Times.
I am working on something here and I hope I can find it. A few years back i read that either one of the past CEO’s or founder of Lowes Home Imporovement was a graduate of Earasmus Hall HS which is just a few blocks away from the Kings. I am having a hard time finding the web page I saw it on but if and when I do and he is still alive I will try some way to make contact.
Did anyone ever think that maybe the reason there is an intercept recording on the phone is because the Ridgwood may have gotten a new phone number? As I said before maybe someone can go there during the weekend and see if there is any kind of activity.
For the most part the interior walls inside were mostly made of plaster and chicken wire. That is why the water damage makes it look bad. Back then is was easier and cheaper to do it that way compared to concrete especially in the cielinggs and walls that did not need much support.The New York Academy of Music was like that to. It was a scarey feeling knowing that all that stood between you and the floor was a real rickety cat walk. It would not have taken much to put a hole in or fall thourgh it.
Has anyone actually gone down to the Ridgewood on the weekend when they are supposed to be open or even gone to any of the stores in the general area to ask?
Scott that whole neighborhood needs an overhaul. By renovating the Kings and the shopping area surrounding it would be a boost to the entire area as well as the boro. I know people think of the lack of parking but they need to consider that there are multiple bus routes up and down Flatbush Ave. It is within a short walking distance from the Beverly Road stop on the D train or what ever letter they are calling it these days. I have not been inside the building it self but if the Google sat pics of the outside and the roof are recent it does not look so bad.
Scott you bring up a vaild point “What I don’t understand is why he is posturing himself as an advocate if he doesn’t intend to champion the cause?” Think back a few mayors ago. The one after Ed Koch and the one just before Gulianni. He did lots of posturing. He postured to the Blacks,Latin and the Jews of NYC. He promised lots of changes. Not much bacame of them. His inability to act quickly enough insited a major riot in Brooklyn. He got so complacent in office that the USTA was making him dance like a puppet when they were trying to get 30 acres of Prime Park land in Queens which is now the big Tennis center. A deal that the Queens boro president and council voted against. He got his way and pissed off many NY'er in NYC and so it goes he lost his bid for a second term.
It should be a crime that a Palace such as the Kings should be in such bad shape. Maybe Disney can step in like they did for the theatres on 42st. What they did for the New Amsterdam was amazing. I saw Easy Rider there in 1969 and a few other movies years later. It had closed and the Niedlander Corp was going to do a renovation of it and stopped. By doing so the rooftop theater and the floors below suffered for major water damage. I got to see it before Disney repaired it. It was sad and beautiful at the same time. Gulianni pushed to clean up Times Square and got Disney in on it. I don’t think Marty has that kind of clout. As I said before Marty is only in it for one thing. Himself and no one else.
With 2.6 million people living in Brooklyn he should be doing a much better job.
You ask why would Marty Markowitz advocate publicly for the Kings but then not actually follow through on it? Because before he became the Beep he was the local state senator for that district in Brooklyn. Marty is a low life pond scum sucker and has been one for as long as I have known him. As I said in another post I hope that this will be the last office he holds. If he was so serious about saving the Kings why is he not talking to the people at BAM. The same people who saved the Majestic Theatre. Why not talk to Cablevision who provides cable to Brooklyn and also owns Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden as well as Beacon Theatre whick is undergoing a $14 million renovation. They are also planning a $500 million renovation of MSG.
Michael I for one am not a big fan of The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. I worked in a theatre that had a landmark designation. The NY Academy of Music then turned Palladium. Right next door was Luchows. Also a designated landmark. Seems like NYU was looking for a site to build some dormitory rooms. Sure enough NYU somehow got the landmark designations of both buildings pulled. Sometime in 1997 or 98 both buildings were demolished. So please don’t put your fiath in The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. They will only do something to break your heart.
Peter I have looked all over and can not find anything that said it was on Ch 5 either.
I never got to see the inside of the building. My parents moved out of the area when I was 6 months old. LOL I think I said that before. What i would like to do is pick out some theatres that are closed but still standing and check them out. Maybe even the insides.
Wow Lost imagine what life was like back then. I have been down this way a little over 6 years now and although there has been a big resurgence of the Shaw area there are a few rough spots. Even in my short time in this area I have seen beat up homes turn in to gems and new businesses taking shape. Now if and when the Howard gets it’s face lift that will be another boost to the neighborhood.
Thanks Lost. I am going to look up the lincoln to see if there is anything about how much it cost to restore. Frome the artist rendering of Howard it looks like the main floor is going to be tables and chairs on a flat surce. Now I can see where a good deal of the cost will be..
BTW I saw this on the link. I guess the following was a typo. I think he meant begin.
Construction is expected to being next year
I know there was a Strand Theatre but for some reason I guess I was to young to remember. What I do remember was there was Strand Lanes. It was a bolwing center on the second floor. I do remember the RKO Albee and the Loew Metropolitain before it was turned in to an 8 screen clusterf**k. And the UA Duffield. Ah yes the Duffield where a man was shot and killed during a showing of “New Jack City”. A&S Korvettes and Mays department stores. Fulton Street was always busy even before they made it a pedestrian mall.
I have known Marty markowitz for years and he is far from being on my top 10 list of favorite people to deal with. He ran or still runs the Seaside concerts and MLK series at Wingate HS. I can go on and on about him but I have gone off topic again.
I am trying to remember what other movies I saw at Ridgewood besides Saturday Night Fever and Sasquatch. I think I saw 2 others there but i am blank.
Hey Lost. As recently as October of 2008 I drove past the Howard and unless something has happened since it did not look like anything was going on in there as far as a refurbishing. On the otherhand right down the block they did a bang up job on restoring the Lincoln Theatre.
Yeash I know your used to seeing me in the NY pages but I live in Maryland.
Hi Luis. I have mentioned both of those. Read about 8 posts above yours where I heard that LIU may renovate the Paramount.
I recently saw some pictures of the Kings when some people went on a tour of it. It would be nice if the celeberity types who went to Erasmus Hall HS would contribute. One off the top of my head is Barbara Streissand, Niel Diamond, Clive Davis CEO of BMG. Even Bernie Kopell aka Zigfeid and Doc. Donny Most from Happy days. The one person who has said alot but always seems to be blowing smoke up peoples asses is Marty Marlowitz the boro president. He had been talking about saving the Kings while he was still a NY State senator.
I wonder wehy BAM hasn’t done anything. I can understand the Majestic because logistcaly it was only a couple blocks from BAM. I forgot what year it was but one day I walked by it when it was closed and there was a door open and I went in. Other then the fact it smelled musky something about that placejumped out at me and it wasn’t a mugger or homeless person. Just that it was sitting there rotting away.
I wish they could save every theatre. There is a small movement in the DC Metro area to save the Howard. It is only about 1300 seats but has a history.
John did you look under Palladium? That was the name of the building when it closed down. By the way I have no idea what this AIA guide is.
I do however know for a fact that when the new owners of the Palladium wnet and installed “in the wall” air conditioners they were told the needed to apply for a varrience because of the landmark status. Those people were the former owners of Studio 54.
As far as Ridgewood goes I don’t see anyone running to demolish it to build something else on it or turning it in to a retail space like some other former theatres are(Madison). The Walker in Brooklyn has a store that takes up what used to be the loby but from what I read is that according to the property owner they can not use the rest of the building. and have hear that the rest of the theatrer behind the store is as it was from it’s last show. The Loews 46th has a furniture store in the front but from reports from other CT members the rest of the theatrer is still intact. It would be nice to see those both reopen as a performing art center as well as a movie house when there are no live shows. 1 large screen many seats.
To John Dereszewski. Very few buildings interiors have been saved by getting “Landmark Status”. One of them is Radio City Music Hall. Back in the late 70’s-mid 80’s there was talk about closing it down and gutting it out and replace it with office space.
What I meant in my statement of having landmark staus means squat is because of the way it happened and how NYU was able to do what they did. NYU could have turned the Academy (palladium) in to a performing arts center. It had everything you could want and more. 2 on stage elevators and an elevating orchestra pit. 75 foot high fly grid. I am sure they would have had some work to do to undo what the last owners of that building did. By demolishing the Academy to me was like have a family member die. LIU who owns the building in Brooklyn where the Paramount was saved the building and pretty much the whole intirior. Word has it now that since LIU has a brand new sporting center they may do some restoration work on the Paramount interior.
In the meantime lets hoe the Ridgewood will be saved.
WOW I almost forgot abouit the Boro Park. I forgot what movies I saw in there. Prior to it turning in to a porn Palace my friend who lived in Boro Park used to take in movies at the BP as well as the 46th st. Of course bening around13 at the time and money was a problem we found ways to sneak in or we would go for the Sat or Sun Matinee’s that were half price and one of us would pay and then find an exit door and slip the other one in. Those were the days. I had said on another page if I win a Powerball or Mega Miollions jackpot over $100 million I will buy out the furnature store and see what I can do to renovate the 46th street and see what I can do with the Kings
After all this time I found something connecting Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert to ABC
The hall, renamed Banana Fish Garden for the rock concerts put on by a local promoter, was also used for a few tapings of the ABC Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert show. I can recall seeing Jerry Lee Lewis there, putting a pair of panties tossed at him by one of his fans on his face and inhaling deeply (needless to say, it did not make the air cut of the concert). Also saw Hot Tuna there, their show delayed for some time while they haggled with ABC to leave a faux marijuana plant on the stage (it got the axe). Oddly enough, members of Hot Tuna came by to jam with the Dead one of the four nights in Brooklyn…it was quite a good night too. John Lightning, archive.org
Also Warren all your links prior to April 2008 ar not working as well as 55 T-Birds. I also didn’t know you could paste a picture in here
Peter what happened to that romur floating around that the Ridgewood was going to open on weekends? Did it even looklike something was being done as far as cleaning the place up?
I can still mentaly see the Ridgewood as it was back in the late 70’s when I saw Saturday Night Fever about a dozen times. No I didn’t pay all those times. Back then United Artists Theatre corp owned the R and I knew the district manager from my days at the NY Academy of Music which was also run by UA. Free Popcorn and soda and the balcony all to myself and a guest.
Once again I made a post this afternoon and it told me I was not logged in and I forgot to copy it like I did now.
Landmark status don’t mean squat in NYC. As I have said here and other pages it did not save the former NY Academy of Music (palladium) and Luchows on 14th street. NYU demolished both structures and built high rise dorms in their place. Then again what NYU wants NYU gets. I am not sure of this but I do believe that because the Dorms are part of an educational institute they are exempt from property taxes.
I don’t know why my last post in here seems to be missing.
Once again I say who cares what type house it is. It’s just a building where people live. I am not asking for world peace just a little CT peace for 2009. I think most if not all of us are adults and there is no need to have a pissing contest of a bunch of bricks.
Happy New Year to all in 2009
And here I thought when Rupert Murdoc bought out the Post he turned it in to a comic book. I can read better new in the Inquierer. LOL
But then it can be worse. Moonie owns the Washington Times.
Save the Ridgewood
Ok I knew it was one or the other. Thanks
I believe for a while it was also called the Intermedia Theatre. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
I am working on something here and I hope I can find it. A few years back i read that either one of the past CEO’s or founder of Lowes Home Imporovement was a graduate of Earasmus Hall HS which is just a few blocks away from the Kings. I am having a hard time finding the web page I saw it on but if and when I do and he is still alive I will try some way to make contact.
Did anyone ever think that maybe the reason there is an intercept recording on the phone is because the Ridgwood may have gotten a new phone number? As I said before maybe someone can go there during the weekend and see if there is any kind of activity.
For the most part the interior walls inside were mostly made of plaster and chicken wire. That is why the water damage makes it look bad. Back then is was easier and cheaper to do it that way compared to concrete especially in the cielinggs and walls that did not need much support.The New York Academy of Music was like that to. It was a scarey feeling knowing that all that stood between you and the floor was a real rickety cat walk. It would not have taken much to put a hole in or fall thourgh it.
Has anyone actually gone down to the Ridgewood on the weekend when they are supposed to be open or even gone to any of the stores in the general area to ask?
Scott that whole neighborhood needs an overhaul. By renovating the Kings and the shopping area surrounding it would be a boost to the entire area as well as the boro. I know people think of the lack of parking but they need to consider that there are multiple bus routes up and down Flatbush Ave. It is within a short walking distance from the Beverly Road stop on the D train or what ever letter they are calling it these days. I have not been inside the building it self but if the Google sat pics of the outside and the roof are recent it does not look so bad.
Scott you bring up a vaild point “What I don’t understand is why he is posturing himself as an advocate if he doesn’t intend to champion the cause?” Think back a few mayors ago. The one after Ed Koch and the one just before Gulianni. He did lots of posturing. He postured to the Blacks,Latin and the Jews of NYC. He promised lots of changes. Not much bacame of them. His inability to act quickly enough insited a major riot in Brooklyn. He got so complacent in office that the USTA was making him dance like a puppet when they were trying to get 30 acres of Prime Park land in Queens which is now the big Tennis center. A deal that the Queens boro president and council voted against. He got his way and pissed off many NY'er in NYC and so it goes he lost his bid for a second term.
It should be a crime that a Palace such as the Kings should be in such bad shape. Maybe Disney can step in like they did for the theatres on 42st. What they did for the New Amsterdam was amazing. I saw Easy Rider there in 1969 and a few other movies years later. It had closed and the Niedlander Corp was going to do a renovation of it and stopped. By doing so the rooftop theater and the floors below suffered for major water damage. I got to see it before Disney repaired it. It was sad and beautiful at the same time. Gulianni pushed to clean up Times Square and got Disney in on it. I don’t think Marty has that kind of clout. As I said before Marty is only in it for one thing. Himself and no one else.
With 2.6 million people living in Brooklyn he should be doing a much better job.
Scott
You ask why would Marty Markowitz advocate publicly for the Kings but then not actually follow through on it? Because before he became the Beep he was the local state senator for that district in Brooklyn. Marty is a low life pond scum sucker and has been one for as long as I have known him. As I said in another post I hope that this will be the last office he holds. If he was so serious about saving the Kings why is he not talking to the people at BAM. The same people who saved the Majestic Theatre. Why not talk to Cablevision who provides cable to Brooklyn and also owns Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden as well as Beacon Theatre whick is undergoing a $14 million renovation. They are also planning a $500 million renovation of MSG.
Michael I for one am not a big fan of The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. I worked in a theatre that had a landmark designation. The NY Academy of Music then turned Palladium. Right next door was Luchows. Also a designated landmark. Seems like NYU was looking for a site to build some dormitory rooms. Sure enough NYU somehow got the landmark designations of both buildings pulled. Sometime in 1997 or 98 both buildings were demolished. So please don’t put your fiath in The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. They will only do something to break your heart.