Ridgewood Theatre
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
55-27 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
31 people
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I think it’s about 2 hours by car, Mike.
Perhaps we should all attend the horror fest at the Lafayette theatre. How far is Suffern New York from midtown Manhattan?
Here’s a link to her phone number, office address, and email.
She has done wonders with many community projects over the years, so if anyone can at least help, it’s her:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=037
Does anyone have Assemblywoman Nolan’s phone number ?
I have a theory and perhaps someone with better access to the records can pursue it.
Here is my assumption:
The Levy brothers sold the theatre to Samuel Strausberg who eventually incorporated it into the Small & Strausberg chain. This chain, booked by Fox at least as early as 1925, lost control of it’s assets and was forced to officially lease all it’s theatres to Fox by 1929. After the depression, Strausberg started again but never regained the Fox disposals.
Any takers?
The Daily News article by Nicholas Hirshon was posted on the Internet today.
He wants to buy; will cinema sell?
Filmmaker details plans for historic screen, stage
BY NICHOLAS HIRSHON
DAILY NEWS WRITER
A Ridgewood filmmaker is hoping to save an historic Queens movie theater and help terminally ill children at the same time.
Albert Allie, 35, said he wants to purchase the Ridgewood Theatre – one of the oldest continuously operating movie houses in the country – so he can program independent films there and return vaudeville acts to its stage.
A few times each year, the Ridgewood also would host special shows to raise money for nonprofit organizations that help sick children, Allie said.
Allie’s mother, Joann, died of cervical cancer a few years ago, so he wants to run a foundation named after her that would raise money for children’s medical research.
“I’m a parent and it would kill me if any one of my children became sick,” he said. “My mother loved children. It’s kind of in her honor.”
But Joe Diaz, who owns the Ridgewood along with his brother, Manuel, said the theater isn’t for sale and is currently under renovation to improve its condition.
Allie said when he first approached Manuel Diaz about purchasing the theater a couple of years ago, Diaz put the price tag at $3 million.
Diaz later told Allie the price would be $7 million, then told a Queens weekly newspaper he wasn’t selling the theater at all, Allie said.
Other area theaters have recently been converted into pharmacies, and preservationists fear that the Ridgewood will follow suit.
Some preservationists want the theater landmarked to protect it from being gutted or demolished.
Asked if he and his brother would support the landmarking of the theater, which would limit most renovations there, Joe Diaz rejected the notion.
“That, I don’t like,” he said. “Skip that.”
State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood) said she had met with Allie to discuss his plans for the theater and that she is “100% supportive” of any move to enhance it.
But Nolan said she did not want to comment on the possible landmarking before first contacting the neighborhood’s other elected officials.
“I would certainly be sentimentally in favor of landmarking, but there are a lot of other people who would have to be consulted,” she said.
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It certainly wouldn’t surprise me to see scaffolding go up around this theater real soon to head off any attempts at landmarking. Does anyone remember the “repair work” that was started on the great old Rivoli Theater in the mid-80’s or the Sutton Theater just a few short and precious years ago?
Back on 9-9-06, I posted about contacting Diaz & Mendoza, as there had been rumors about them wanting to sell. Always felt that this was a significant first step. Horse before cart, as it were. And despite my enthusiasm, I also added a caution on 9-11-06.
Since then, the page has been buzzing with many a good-intentioned preservationist, including references to pols and reporters. But it was Nicholas Hirshon’s latest article that threw me for a dizzying loop: Diaz raised his price from 3 to 7 million a few years ago, but doesn’t wish to sell now? That he wants to upgrade the Ridgewood, but doesn’t want (or understand) the potential tax breaks?
Something’s starting to smell long about now – and it stinks as much as the negative posts by one “Art Theatre.” Guys, take a step or two back and analyze the facts as to what we have now re this landmark situation. Please, before you commit any additional energies. Thx!
When I say underhanded sale tonino, I mean by diaz to someone else when he claims not to be selling. I have more than one pol. I have congresswoman valasquez, Assemblywoman Nolan and senator Maltese who has also spoke to me and recieved a letter of support and a copy of the game plan from Nolan. Seed Money is the issue. Getting it off the ground enough to at least say “I want to buy and here is some money”.
Otherwise Mr diaz goes straight to a developer. I say that if any of you live here in Ridgewood You call a meeting during a time and day I can attend and I will tell you more and give you the plans for the theater I have mapped out on paper! I will speak and answer questions, etc. As far as Landmarking, If you can Get'er done, Do so. But I do believe now with the article and everything in the open, the local pols are pushed into doing something. Start calling nolans office, as well and show your support for the plan of landmarking and the theater plan I have. That’ll possibly get the ball rolling on their end as well. Please contact me via e-mail.
AL
Hi “Smore!” Thank you for contributing to the Ridgewood Theatre forum, and volunteering to take photos of the theater. Can you please do so in your spare time? I recommend taking wide angles of the facade, close-ups of facade features, the entire streetscape, and side views showing the theater’s relationship to the street according to passersby. My friend is an urban planner & encouraged me to follow that procedure. Hope this helps! Please feel free to e-mail me &/or post them online. Interior views would also be of help. Thanks again! – Michael
I encourage everyone who endorses the Ridgewood Theater plans of “Althefilmguy,” to please contact him via e-mail, and state how you’re willing to participate, or if you would like to know more. We would appreciate more Cinema Treasure members to come through. We regret to see it become another chain store. I have a feeling the theater is under renovation, to attract buyers, or it may be the owners' tactic to flee the theater of those who wish to see it preserved & adaptively reused.
Thanks for posting a scan of the Daily News article, Warren. I couldn’t find it online. The ornate portion of the lower facade that was hiding behind alumninum siding, seems to be stuccoed over now, according to the news photo. This alteration (w/o permits on DOB site) was unnecessary. If it is stucco, restoring the ornate details at a later time would require greater effort. It was intact based on the missing piece of aluminum on the right hand side, which I saw via the link a few postings above. Assemblymember Nolan is definitely an asset to Al’s plans! Landmarking is equally important to prevent the owners from damaging the intricate white glazed terra cotta facade further.
Our e-mails are:
1. Michael at
2. Al at
It is always important to plan ahead & think proactively, especialy since this theater is still in operation, unlike others (which have met an unwelcomed fate).
$7M, purchase, rejected by Diaz Bros
$1M, cost of renovations, WAG
$8M / 16/share = 500,000 shares
So, what’s some reasonable numbers? Be nice to see an estimate and proposal from Allie.
Allie has one local pol kinda swinging his way. If Ridgewood is itself already a historic district, it would be going a long way towards paving the road.
So, the requested action is to get seed money to seed his group so that “ If I can raise the funding, maybe if there is an underhanded sale later on, I can at least compete with it!!!”
Hmmnnn, underhanded sale later on????
I might be interested in providing some venture capital, but I’d like to see a game plan.
Over and out until the Preserve the Ridgwood Theater Trust issues its first progress report.
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior
Good Ole Art Theater… Seems like someone has sipped the elixir from the vial and unleashed Mr. Hyde. The thing is, I don’t think this particular “Dr. Jekyll” is all that mild mannered either!
Anyway, thanks for the two cents, “Art”… Hey wait, I have an idea! Instead of you wasting your time posting on this flea pit’s page and taking a dump all over anyone else’s appreciation for this old theater, how about YOU go on the Kings' page and contribute something positive to a cause in which you claim to actually believe! Go boggle some minds over there, will ya?
Ooops, I am sorry, I see you are Al the film guy, I truly thought it said “All in the Family”…..Sorry about that!!
All in the Familiy Guy, I tried searching for the article mentioned by Warren above in the Dauly News website, but couldn’t find it. I also feel it would be important to post it. Warren probably saw it in the print version. I don’t get the print version, so was hoping to find it online, but tried searching their site. If anyone has better luck, please post the link here.
Thank you for sharing that bit of mental vomit, Art. I hope you feel superior now.
I will explain.
The Ridgewood is still a viable business. Loews Kings is an war zone where the Kenmore was shot out of operation just a few years ago.
That’s why.
Ok I give up on looking for help here! I will have to look elsewhere. Everyone here just talks. ACTION PEOPLE! Let’s do something! My Question my commitment? Dear sir, someone should post the article I was interviewed for in the daily news! My commitment is to save the theater from destruction, ruin, etc by the hands of those who know not what they hold in the palm of their hands. The place can be so much more. If i can raise the funding, maybe if there is an underhanded sale later on, I can at least compete with it!!!
Thank you for sharing that bit of mental vomit, Art. I hope you feel superior now.
I will explain.
The Ridgewood is still a viable business. Loews Kings is an war zone where the Kenmore was shot out of operation just a few years ago.
That’s why.
So which regular poster here under an alias are you Art Theater, trying to rock the boat?
You people remind me of Brownies at a bake sale. This theatre is a flea pit and serves no useful purpose. Your time would be better spent saving the Loew’s Kings.
Warren’s post was informative. The Daily News article obviously the result of Michael Perlman’s efforts. Thanks guys.
Allie’s was an eye opener. I had to get up to speed by reading posts from mid April. I was surprised to see that Michael Perlman had previously provided a complete and informative approach. I was also surpised to see that Ridgewood had been designated a historic neighborhood (or something to that effect).
Make no mistake, I support preserving the importance of the Ridgewood’s architectural and historical importance.
However, I must question Allie’s reasons for and commitment to landmarking the Ridgewood.
In the interests of avoiding repetetive and off topic posts, I would like to suggest that future discussions and efforts regarding landmarking the Ridgewood be coordinated and confined to email to < >. In the interest of keeping the rest of us informed, I suggest you post a monthly status report of your activites to this page.
G_d and ‘Tonino helps those who help themselves.
Shalom, ciao, and excelsior.
The only thing I see is for my artist friends, etc to start holding some fundraisers, etc. Start raising some money as well for this cause, so my org can have something up front instead of counting on gov’t funding that i cannot get to help me with the purchase. It is time to move on this people. Quick and swiftly.
Anyone who has any products, services, skills, large space, time that they can volunteer, let me know. I will put together a benefit or show and if we can pack it in that would be great. Media attentions, the works!! Public (community) private funders, donations all that we can conjur up. I hate taking no for an answer and I do NOT WANT THE THEATER GOING TO BLAZES!!!!
Contact me directly at
Albert J. Allie
That would be great Smore. NativeForestHiller said that we need recent photo’s. Perhaps you could take a good quality photo of the bottom of the marquee. I would like to see a photo that shows the missing piece on the right hand side more clearly.
Hey, I live in Ridgewood, pass the theater all the time! I definately could take some photographs, from the looks of it, the theater has been renovated from the exterior! Its more “up to date” shall we say. The posters on the sides of the entrance now list the show times, and there is a string of what looks like christmas lights on the ticket booth. Looks a little strange but it seems like its being taken care of now instead of deteriorating.
As I see it a major obstacle is no one commenting here resides in Ridgewood. It would be a major asset to our goal if we had a native Ridgewoodite to help. Perhaps locating Monica would be a worthwhile endeavor. She could take photographs of the theatre and her website may help also. Could someone contact her?