This building is still there, I noticed it as a theater building. It appears to have been converted into stores at some point. Unfortately, i didn’t have my camera with me.
Strange. Maybe someone attended church services there in the “church” it has become, and put a bunch of dollars in the collection baskets marked like that….
Louie, I know that trolleys are different than el or subway trains, but there was no el or subway near where the Payton’s Lee Avenue Theatre (the theater under discussion that was demolished) was, to my knowledge, only trolleys.
I think the Eltingh-Empire theater also performed burlesque in years past so nudity wouldn’t be foreign to it. I don’t know if it also suffered with porn during 42nd St’s dark years either in between…..
As for your story in Ridgewood, that revelation is enough to make anyone gag when finding that out! Nothing could be worse than ‘that" surprise!
Peter, that is the AMC Empire Theater. It was built around the old Empire-Eltingh Theater. The lobby of the megaplex is the original Empire Auditorium. An escalator goes right through the Procenium arch! the former balcony is a cafe overlooking the atrium lobby, the original auditorium.
I saw a movie there once, and it was a real treat. The lobby was the highlight of the trip! I don’t even remember what movie I saw there….
Here’s a link to it: /theaters/255/
I’m not saying there was anything historic or worth saving in those rooms, as I don’t think they were historically significant to begin with. But it’s the SPACE that may be able to be used for something, if renovated. I didn’t mean to say to have people walking there in the condition they are probably in right now of course! I personally don’t even know how big the area in the second or third floor is, my assumption it is only the size of the Lobby on the first floor anyway. That may or may not be big enough for a small theater auditorium…. it was just a thought.
Lost, I would not be against further multiplexing of the Ridgewood, if it remained a theater. I don’t think they could further multiplex the actual auditoriums up further, however, perhaps they could somehow add another screen or two in the former stage area (after all, that’s not needed anyway since obviously stage shows aren’t using the thetaer). In addition, perhaps the second floor (where the poolhall or dancehall once was or whatever that was) could be used too. Or further still, the third floor perhaps.
But anyway, the individual auditoriums could be renovated (and probably need it by this point), working with the original features that exist). I don’t see the theater being profitable as a one screen theater again, so I don’t ever see that happening again, but of course, I’m not an expert.
I think I found the answer, there was a trolley line on Lee that split at Roebling to Driggs forming a loop at Williamsbridge Plaza. Another line came from Marcy onto Division Ave at that intersection.
NativeForHiller…I agree. The interior needs to be landmarked as well as the exterior. the interior of buildings are more at risk than the exterior. For example, the exterior of the Madison theater is completely intact, but take a look inside…nothing left. Thake other theaters like the Oriental, and so many others. Exteriors fine, but what good is that if the interior is destroyed.
And don’t think for a minute that even if the Ridgewood get’s it’s interior landmarked that that will still mean it will be a theater. Take the Meserole Theater in Greenpoint. Exterior intact, interior intact (and visable), Eckert sign on the marquee. Walk around the auditorium to buy your drug store needs, pay the cashier in the old lobby. It’s the best of any alternative that could have been done to the Meserole, it’s completely intact….but it’s not a theater anymore…..
The only information I can find about an el or subway line going somewhat close to the area of that theater was the “proposed” BMT el “crosstown line” el that was never built. It later was built in the form of the IND Crosstown subway (the current G line, underground), but that was built further east under Union Ave. I can find no evidence of any subway line or el ever built on or near Lee Ave. That doesn’t mean it didn’t, but if it did, it didn’t last long, and I am skeptical there ever was an el there.
Peter, I don’t agree that the Atlas won’t affect the Ridgewood. I lived withing two or three blocks of the Ridgewood, and I started going to the Forest Hills Theaters when I was old enoughh to “leave the neighborhood on my own”. And Glendale is a lot easier to get to than Forest Hills and beyond.
Warren, in the case of the Liberty Dept Store, while their sign covers over the Gothic windows, etc, all the ornamentation remains behind the sign (the sign is overlayed, and pushed out from the building, to allow for the old concrete ornamentation around the windows, which are now covered by the Liberty sign.
As for the interior of the Madison, it is completely gutted inside. Nothing remains of the old Madison. The beautiful white marble lobby staircase, with it’s ornate railing still remains in the store, however, has been completely stripped, and has rubber linoleum on it, and a “hospital” style railing. The lobby has been stripped, and it’s now one big store. You can still see the curve of the old huge balcony, but of course there is a fake ceiling in the building. It is safe to say that less of the Madison remains than the Ridgewood, regarless of the Ridgewood being mulitplexed. Sure, the Ridgewood has fake walls all through it, but all the outer walls and ceiling, lobby, and everything is intact, and has been painted and somewhat maintained over the years. The Madison burned and was gutted, and just about nothing remains of all the ornamentation. Next time in Ridgewood, you should really take a visit into the Liberty Dept Store, AKA Madison Theater, you’ll see what I mean. It really is an interesting walk through the store….
Lost Memory, I know a lot about the subway system, and it’s history, and I too am perplexed about this elevated line in that area. The Broadway Elevated was built in 1888. That replaced the original old mainline Brooklyn el that was long gone at the turn of the century already. The original mainline ran from downtown Brooklyn, up Park Ave, to Grand across to Lexington Ave, up to Broadway (near the current Gates Ave station), and then towards Broadway Junction and Fulton St as it does now. However, I never seen any evidence that there was an early el near Lee Ave in this location, but will look more into it.
The problem is that is is NOT just the outside of the theater that needs to be saved. While that is great, the INSIDE needs to be saved too. From what I remember, while of course there are fake walls all though the theater, original architecture remains, such as the ceiling (of course with fake walls breaking it up), and the outisde walls are there). The lobby survives, and I am sure other aspects survive. It’s not just the outside that needs to be perserved (while that is great, just look at the Madison Theater), it’s outside is perserved too, but just see what good that does when you enter the “Liberty Department Store”.
Yes, I was a teenager when the Oasis became a roller rink (perhaps even a pre-teen). Anyway, while I did see many movies there as a kid before the roller rink, I did skate there a lot too. I remember looking up at the balcony and seeing all the seats still up there, and then you could sit and relax on the old stage area, with the neon dancing Egyptians in the place where the screen once was.
Before the roller rink, I think it was a concert hall for a year or two, but that didn’t last long. By the way, only the old lobby area, and the right side of the Oasis was demolished for the CVS, as well as the stores along Fresh Pond Road. The auditorium itself is in fact the CVS now. The auditorium was not demolished, only the lobby area, and the right side of the building. The Oasis (like the RKO Madison) burned at some point after the roller rink, so I am sure little if anything remains above the false drop ceiling in the CVS.
Hmmm, I noticed two old abandoned theaters yesterday on my ride up Third Ave. There’s three Third Ave theaters in Harlem listed on the site.
This building is still there, I noticed it as a theater building. It appears to have been converted into stores at some point. Unfortately, i didn’t have my camera with me.
This theater is showing movies. This is the theater next door to Papaya King at 86th and 2nd. It appears to be cut into a multiplex.
Dave, yes, these are the correct photos in the correct theater section.
Strange. Maybe someone attended church services there in the “church” it has become, and put a bunch of dollars in the collection baskets marked like that….
Louie, I know that trolleys are different than el or subway trains, but there was no el or subway near where the Payton’s Lee Avenue Theatre (the theater under discussion that was demolished) was, to my knowledge, only trolleys.
In Joisey or the the Twilight Zone….dudu dudu dudu dudu.
I think the Eltingh-Empire theater also performed burlesque in years past so nudity wouldn’t be foreign to it. I don’t know if it also suffered with porn during 42nd St’s dark years either in between…..
As for your story in Ridgewood, that revelation is enough to make anyone gag when finding that out! Nothing could be worse than ‘that" surprise!
Oh, it’s obviously not done in 1977 when the tehater closed then of course.
Peter, that is the AMC Empire Theater. It was built around the old Empire-Eltingh Theater. The lobby of the megaplex is the original Empire Auditorium. An escalator goes right through the Procenium arch! the former balcony is a cafe overlooking the atrium lobby, the original auditorium.
I saw a movie there once, and it was a real treat. The lobby was the highlight of the trip! I don’t even remember what movie I saw there….
Here’s a link to it:
/theaters/255/
No el….only a trolley. To my knowledge no BMT subway or el ever went through that area. Only the trolleys which may just be what it was…..or not.
I’m not saying there was anything historic or worth saving in those rooms, as I don’t think they were historically significant to begin with. But it’s the SPACE that may be able to be used for something, if renovated. I didn’t mean to say to have people walking there in the condition they are probably in right now of course! I personally don’t even know how big the area in the second or third floor is, my assumption it is only the size of the Lobby on the first floor anyway. That may or may not be big enough for a small theater auditorium…. it was just a thought.
Lost, I would not be against further multiplexing of the Ridgewood, if it remained a theater. I don’t think they could further multiplex the actual auditoriums up further, however, perhaps they could somehow add another screen or two in the former stage area (after all, that’s not needed anyway since obviously stage shows aren’t using the thetaer). In addition, perhaps the second floor (where the poolhall or dancehall once was or whatever that was) could be used too. Or further still, the third floor perhaps.
But anyway, the individual auditoriums could be renovated (and probably need it by this point), working with the original features that exist). I don’t see the theater being profitable as a one screen theater again, so I don’t ever see that happening again, but of course, I’m not an expert.
That means it wasn’t an el or a subway line, but an old trolley line.
I think I found the answer, there was a trolley line on Lee that split at Roebling to Driggs forming a loop at Williamsbridge Plaza. Another line came from Marcy onto Division Ave at that intersection.
NativeForHiller…I agree. The interior needs to be landmarked as well as the exterior. the interior of buildings are more at risk than the exterior. For example, the exterior of the Madison theater is completely intact, but take a look inside…nothing left. Thake other theaters like the Oriental, and so many others. Exteriors fine, but what good is that if the interior is destroyed.
And don’t think for a minute that even if the Ridgewood get’s it’s interior landmarked that that will still mean it will be a theater. Take the Meserole Theater in Greenpoint. Exterior intact, interior intact (and visable), Eckert sign on the marquee. Walk around the auditorium to buy your drug store needs, pay the cashier in the old lobby. It’s the best of any alternative that could have been done to the Meserole, it’s completely intact….but it’s not a theater anymore…..
That was probably at the beginning of the crack epidemic. That has subsided since the 70s and 80s.
The only information I can find about an el or subway line going somewhat close to the area of that theater was the “proposed” BMT el “crosstown line” el that was never built. It later was built in the form of the IND Crosstown subway (the current G line, underground), but that was built further east under Union Ave. I can find no evidence of any subway line or el ever built on or near Lee Ave. That doesn’t mean it didn’t, but if it did, it didn’t last long, and I am skeptical there ever was an el there.
Peter, here’s the photos Ken posted of the interior to rehash. It’s only the lobby, we need more interior photos, both current and historical:
http://flickr.com/photos/53257210@N00/115980840/
http://flickr.com/photos/53257210@N00/115981091/
http://flickr.com/photos/53257210@N00/116481293/
Peter, I don’t agree that the Atlas won’t affect the Ridgewood. I lived withing two or three blocks of the Ridgewood, and I started going to the Forest Hills Theaters when I was old enoughh to “leave the neighborhood on my own”. And Glendale is a lot easier to get to than Forest Hills and beyond.
What series is the bill (I mean, is it a “1977” bill)?
Warren, in the case of the Liberty Dept Store, while their sign covers over the Gothic windows, etc, all the ornamentation remains behind the sign (the sign is overlayed, and pushed out from the building, to allow for the old concrete ornamentation around the windows, which are now covered by the Liberty sign.
As for the interior of the Madison, it is completely gutted inside. Nothing remains of the old Madison. The beautiful white marble lobby staircase, with it’s ornate railing still remains in the store, however, has been completely stripped, and has rubber linoleum on it, and a “hospital” style railing. The lobby has been stripped, and it’s now one big store. You can still see the curve of the old huge balcony, but of course there is a fake ceiling in the building. It is safe to say that less of the Madison remains than the Ridgewood, regarless of the Ridgewood being mulitplexed. Sure, the Ridgewood has fake walls all through it, but all the outer walls and ceiling, lobby, and everything is intact, and has been painted and somewhat maintained over the years. The Madison burned and was gutted, and just about nothing remains of all the ornamentation. Next time in Ridgewood, you should really take a visit into the Liberty Dept Store, AKA Madison Theater, you’ll see what I mean. It really is an interesting walk through the store….
Lost Memory, I know a lot about the subway system, and it’s history, and I too am perplexed about this elevated line in that area. The Broadway Elevated was built in 1888. That replaced the original old mainline Brooklyn el that was long gone at the turn of the century already. The original mainline ran from downtown Brooklyn, up Park Ave, to Grand across to Lexington Ave, up to Broadway (near the current Gates Ave station), and then towards Broadway Junction and Fulton St as it does now. However, I never seen any evidence that there was an early el near Lee Ave in this location, but will look more into it.
Try an email to the webmasters. I don’t know if they read every message posted in eavery theater.
The problem is that is is NOT just the outside of the theater that needs to be saved. While that is great, the INSIDE needs to be saved too. From what I remember, while of course there are fake walls all though the theater, original architecture remains, such as the ceiling (of course with fake walls breaking it up), and the outisde walls are there). The lobby survives, and I am sure other aspects survive. It’s not just the outside that needs to be perserved (while that is great, just look at the Madison Theater), it’s outside is perserved too, but just see what good that does when you enter the “Liberty Department Store”.
Yes, I was a teenager when the Oasis became a roller rink (perhaps even a pre-teen). Anyway, while I did see many movies there as a kid before the roller rink, I did skate there a lot too. I remember looking up at the balcony and seeing all the seats still up there, and then you could sit and relax on the old stage area, with the neon dancing Egyptians in the place where the screen once was.
Before the roller rink, I think it was a concert hall for a year or two, but that didn’t last long. By the way, only the old lobby area, and the right side of the Oasis was demolished for the CVS, as well as the stores along Fresh Pond Road. The auditorium itself is in fact the CVS now. The auditorium was not demolished, only the lobby area, and the right side of the building. The Oasis (like the RKO Madison) burned at some point after the roller rink, so I am sure little if anything remains above the false drop ceiling in the CVS.