I often peered in the windows when passing by on the J train, looking at the interior in complete shambles, with plaster ceilings completely fallen down in the rooms that had the windows facing the el.
Is anyone not getting the “someone replied to” emails again from cinematreasures? I figured something was wrong since I haven’t gotten one of those comments since the 8th, and sure enough, my suspicions were correct, it couldn’t be just that no one was commenting about anything….
Anyone else having this problem again?
First off, welcome back Lost, I am glad the smoke cleared, and we can get back to normalicy here.
Anyway, I hope the Ridgewood stays open, but I have been predicting it’s demise for a while now….I agree, I think it’s more a case of suicide than the Atlas. Personally, I left the Ridgewood for other theaters years before I moved out of Ridgewood, and it’s probably because the place was so neglected back then already. It appears nice in the photos, but it really needs a rehab. It needed one 15 years ago when I was last in there, and aside from perhaps a paintjob, I doubt it got any other maitenence to speak of.
As for people going to the movies in Ridgewood….like I said, I didn’t go there all that often in later years even when I did still live there. And in general, I think box office counts are done everywhere. I mean look at the movies Hollywood has been putting out lately. Nothing all that exciting in a while….
Probably, or at least the most “pleasant” anyway. Once school lets out, even the best of neighborhoods can be miserable to walk around in, and of course that is more pronounced in not as nice neighborhoods.
Personally, I have driven through Bushwick, even in the evening, 9:00, 10:00, and also found it to be fine. If I am visiting people I know in Ridgewood yet, I often take the “long way” back from Ridgewood to the JR Parkway, via Bushwick Ave, usually stopping at the White Castle at Gates and Wyckoff….or the Mc Donalds near the old RKO Bushwick if I didn’t eat yet….
I have walked that area quite often, and really have no problem with the area anymore…..it’s come a long way in the last 10 years, and definitely the last 20…..
As long as you don’t walk around with a camera around your neck, like a “tourist”, you should be fine. I have become quite stealth in order to take photos. And NEVER take photos directly of people if you can help it. That could cause problems in the best of neighborhoods.
Also, I prefer the mornings to the afternoons, but that’s just me…
That’s the problem, there are rumors that the former owner did in fact hack away at the auditorium. No one knows how true that is though unless we can come up with someone with a RECENT first hand account, or some photos.
In the 50’s Strauss Stores Auto Parts store was at this location, I am not sure if was the theater building altered, or if it was a new buiding that replaced the theater. I do remember terra-cotta on the Fresh Pond Rd side of Strauss, but again, I don’t know if it was the old theater building or not. Strauss closed, and it became Crown Auto, and currently it’s a laundromat.
It’s the same site. The UA Patchogue Multiplex is also built on the same location as Pathcogue’s Drive-in but the listing is combined. Granted though of course, one auditorium at the Patchogue 13 is theold indoor theater at the Patchogue Drive in, but I don’t think a seperate one is needed, it’s the same “theater” reincarnated from a drive-in to a multiplex.
Wow, I can’t believe that after all these years, I never visited the Continental’s page here. I had so many great memories at this theater! Went there so many times as a teenager in the 80’s. I am glad to see that it’s still open, even if changed from the way I remember it.
I remember the Continental to be very clean and well kept, and it’s one of the reasons that I used to take the subway here with my friends when i still lived in Ridgewood. I also patronized the Midway a lot, but we always went for the Continental when a movie we wanted to see was in it.
Well…that’s my nostalgia for today…..
I remember this theater well from the 80’s. I used the Continental 1 and 2 across the street a lot, but was happy when a movie I wanted to see was in the Continental 3, as the screen was so large.
Lots of memories here.
I agree actually. Lost Memory has provided lots of information on som many theaters regarding past ownership, research on opening and closing dates, organs, and so much more. I would hope that the management would reconsider, as he was a valuable member.
And not to mention all the links to photos of theaters he found.
Ed, location of the New Amsterdam was much more suiting for the chance that Disney took on her. Also, while the New Amsterdam was severely neglected, and lots of well meaning but poorly planed alterations to it even before that, it’s not like it was in any spot deliberately ripped apart like the Keiths aparently was. i don’t know what extent the demolishing that took place was inside the orchestra level of the Keiths, but we can’t go by what the lobby condition is to determine what the Orchestra looks like.
It’s not just Ridgewood. Movie going around the country is down. Perhaps Hollywood needs to reasses how they make movies. Has there been anything exciting this past summer for example? All they know how to do is make movies based on old TV shows, remakes, and relife disaster. That’s it lately.
Granted, I saw the WTC movie yesterday, and it was pretty good. The problem with that movie is though that it’s too real. it’s a great movie, but the problem is, it hit too close to home. the theater I went to was not empty by any means, but all you heard was sniffling here and there, and at the end, I never saw a quieter procession out of the theater.
I enjoyed the movie, don’t get me wrong, but I like to go to movies to “escape” for a bit. That one was too real.
Anyway, that being said, again, Hollywood really hasn’t come up with too much exciting lately, and of course that will hurt box office counts….
Cool articles. It’s so strange to see an article on something so long ago, reading it like it is today.
I am so surprised though that no one has been able to come up a historic interior photo (or even extrerior) of the Ridgewood from way back then. By all the responses in this theater thread, (and even if ¾ are on topic – that’s still alot), the Ridgewood provokes a lot of interest, and it’s just astonishing that none of us have been able to come up with a historic photo of the interior, or even a photo from before it was cut up!
Actually, what is now called Fresh Pond Rd, south of the intersection of Fresh Pond Rd and Cypress Hills Street was not always called “Fresh Pond Rd”. That is a new alignment of Fresh Pond Rd (very early on). Originally, what is now Cypress Hills St on the stretch between Central Ave and that intersection was originally “Fresh Pond Rd”. So it could have been on what is now Cypress Hills St.
Halleck was indead 70th Ave. I am wondering if the Kossuth was located where the Salvation Army building or parking lot is. Was it a big theater?
My default background is grey….so white won’t do it for me!
Is this new lows for the Ridgewood Theater section now guys though?
They really need a chat or off topic section on the sight. I know it’s probably fun, but quizes? I think now we really are off on a tangent….no offence to anyone please.
In my opinion, at least in later years, the Trylon usually played “different”, or weird movies. Perhaps artsy?
Perhaps they were trying to form a niche.
I often peered in the windows when passing by on the J train, looking at the interior in complete shambles, with plaster ceilings completely fallen down in the rooms that had the windows facing the el.
Is anyone not getting the “someone replied to” emails again from cinematreasures? I figured something was wrong since I haven’t gotten one of those comments since the 8th, and sure enough, my suspicions were correct, it couldn’t be just that no one was commenting about anything….
Anyone else having this problem again?
First off, welcome back Lost, I am glad the smoke cleared, and we can get back to normalicy here.
Anyway, I hope the Ridgewood stays open, but I have been predicting it’s demise for a while now….I agree, I think it’s more a case of suicide than the Atlas. Personally, I left the Ridgewood for other theaters years before I moved out of Ridgewood, and it’s probably because the place was so neglected back then already. It appears nice in the photos, but it really needs a rehab. It needed one 15 years ago when I was last in there, and aside from perhaps a paintjob, I doubt it got any other maitenence to speak of.
As for people going to the movies in Ridgewood….like I said, I didn’t go there all that often in later years even when I did still live there. And in general, I think box office counts are done everywhere. I mean look at the movies Hollywood has been putting out lately. Nothing all that exciting in a while….
Probably, or at least the most “pleasant” anyway. Once school lets out, even the best of neighborhoods can be miserable to walk around in, and of course that is more pronounced in not as nice neighborhoods.
Personally, I have driven through Bushwick, even in the evening, 9:00, 10:00, and also found it to be fine. If I am visiting people I know in Ridgewood yet, I often take the “long way” back from Ridgewood to the JR Parkway, via Bushwick Ave, usually stopping at the White Castle at Gates and Wyckoff….or the Mc Donalds near the old RKO Bushwick if I didn’t eat yet….
I have walked that area quite often, and really have no problem with the area anymore…..it’s come a long way in the last 10 years, and definitely the last 20…..
As long as you don’t walk around with a camera around your neck, like a “tourist”, you should be fine. I have become quite stealth in order to take photos. And NEVER take photos directly of people if you can help it. That could cause problems in the best of neighborhoods.
Also, I prefer the mornings to the afternoons, but that’s just me…
That’s the problem, there are rumors that the former owner did in fact hack away at the auditorium. No one knows how true that is though unless we can come up with someone with a RECENT first hand account, or some photos.
Thanks so much! That must be just before they began fixing the place up to become the school.
In the 50’s Strauss Stores Auto Parts store was at this location, I am not sure if was the theater building altered, or if it was a new buiding that replaced the theater. I do remember terra-cotta on the Fresh Pond Rd side of Strauss, but again, I don’t know if it was the old theater building or not. Strauss closed, and it became Crown Auto, and currently it’s a laundromat.
Where on Sunrise Highway was this? Where the mall is now, on the north side of the tracks?
Robert, what was playing in the old Patchogue Plaza, seen to the left?
BTW, to comment on the link, adult movies at a drive in?!?! I had no idea they used to do that!
It’s the same site. The UA Patchogue Multiplex is also built on the same location as Pathcogue’s Drive-in but the listing is combined. Granted though of course, one auditorium at the Patchogue 13 is theold indoor theater at the Patchogue Drive in, but I don’t think a seperate one is needed, it’s the same “theater” reincarnated from a drive-in to a multiplex.
Wow, I can’t believe that after all these years, I never visited the Continental’s page here. I had so many great memories at this theater! Went there so many times as a teenager in the 80’s. I am glad to see that it’s still open, even if changed from the way I remember it.
I remember the Continental to be very clean and well kept, and it’s one of the reasons that I used to take the subway here with my friends when i still lived in Ridgewood. I also patronized the Midway a lot, but we always went for the Continental when a movie we wanted to see was in it.
Well…that’s my nostalgia for today…..
I remember this theater well from the 80’s. I used the Continental 1 and 2 across the street a lot, but was happy when a movie I wanted to see was in the Continental 3, as the screen was so large.
Lots of memories here.
I agree actually. Lost Memory has provided lots of information on som many theaters regarding past ownership, research on opening and closing dates, organs, and so much more. I would hope that the management would reconsider, as he was a valuable member.
And not to mention all the links to photos of theaters he found.
Ed, location of the New Amsterdam was much more suiting for the chance that Disney took on her. Also, while the New Amsterdam was severely neglected, and lots of well meaning but poorly planed alterations to it even before that, it’s not like it was in any spot deliberately ripped apart like the Keiths aparently was. i don’t know what extent the demolishing that took place was inside the orchestra level of the Keiths, but we can’t go by what the lobby condition is to determine what the Orchestra looks like.
I am dying to see a photo of the auditorium. It’s amazing that such a beautiful building was left to rot.
It’s not just Ridgewood. Movie going around the country is down. Perhaps Hollywood needs to reasses how they make movies. Has there been anything exciting this past summer for example? All they know how to do is make movies based on old TV shows, remakes, and relife disaster. That’s it lately.
Granted, I saw the WTC movie yesterday, and it was pretty good. The problem with that movie is though that it’s too real. it’s a great movie, but the problem is, it hit too close to home. the theater I went to was not empty by any means, but all you heard was sniffling here and there, and at the end, I never saw a quieter procession out of the theater.
I enjoyed the movie, don’t get me wrong, but I like to go to movies to “escape” for a bit. That one was too real.
Anyway, that being said, again, Hollywood really hasn’t come up with too much exciting lately, and of course that will hurt box office counts….
Cool articles. It’s so strange to see an article on something so long ago, reading it like it is today.
I am so surprised though that no one has been able to come up a historic interior photo (or even extrerior) of the Ridgewood from way back then. By all the responses in this theater thread, (and even if ¾ are on topic – that’s still alot), the Ridgewood provokes a lot of interest, and it’s just astonishing that none of us have been able to come up with a historic photo of the interior, or even a photo from before it was cut up!
Actually, what is now called Fresh Pond Rd, south of the intersection of Fresh Pond Rd and Cypress Hills Street was not always called “Fresh Pond Rd”. That is a new alignment of Fresh Pond Rd (very early on). Originally, what is now Cypress Hills St on the stretch between Central Ave and that intersection was originally “Fresh Pond Rd”. So it could have been on what is now Cypress Hills St.
Halleck was indead 70th Ave. I am wondering if the Kossuth was located where the Salvation Army building or parking lot is. Was it a big theater?
No, I tried searching for it, and there is no such theater listed. it should be added, but I know nothing about it.
Where was the Kossuth Theater?
What a shame that that beautiful marquee was ruined. thankfully, according to Lost’s article, the current owner will restore the fasade.
My default background is grey….so white won’t do it for me!
Is this new lows for the Ridgewood Theater section now guys though?
They really need a chat or off topic section on the sight. I know it’s probably fun, but quizes? I think now we really are off on a tangent….no offence to anyone please.
In my opinion, at least in later years, the Trylon usually played “different”, or weird movies. Perhaps artsy?
Perhaps they were trying to form a niche.
Well, I saw “A Stranger Among Us” there in the summer of 1992, so you can add that to the list….