Lostmemory… I’m sorry but I’m a little fuzzy after I pass the Madison theater on my left when walking along Myrtle Ave. towards Wycoff Ave. I’ll be 60 this year, so I guess I have a pretty good memory excuse. I definitely remember the Parthenon theater that Erwin M identified by address and maybe I got it mixed up with the Knickerbocker theater, but I don’t think so. There’s a difference between a Kickerbocker theater and a theater on Knickerbocker Ave.
I’m always amazed at how many theaters operated at the same time in the 1950s within walking distance in Ridgewood/Glendale. I also used to take the old el train to the last stop to see movies at the Brooklyn Paramount and Brooklyn Fox. I also saw the Alan Freed Rock and Roll shows there. The 1950s rocked!
I just came upon this website today and found all these comments fascinating. I attended P.S. 88 Queens from 1950-1958 (which includes one year in kindergarten). During my elementary school years, we went to the Ridgewood, Madison, Knickerbocker, Glendale and Oasis movie theaters. There sometimes were “rough” kids in the neighborhood but mostly I felt safe and walked all over to those theaters. I understood the Ridgewood to be in Queens but very close to Brooklyn. Without any real evidence, I always thought Wycoff Ave. began the border into Brooklyn on the old elevated train. I thought Myrtle Ave. on both sides was in both Queens and Brooklyn, depending where on the avenue you were. Anyway, the Ridgewood theater was large, dark and I guess I took it for granted. Looking back, I guess it was pretty glamorous. The only film I remember seeing there was a black and white “Riot in Cell Block 11.” I know I saw more after that but don’t recall them. I went more often to the Madison, Glendale and Oasis theaters. How great it was to have so many movies theaters in walking distance! Even today I’m a movie buff, probably thanks to those experiences.
Lostmemory… I’m sorry but I’m a little fuzzy after I pass the Madison theater on my left when walking along Myrtle Ave. towards Wycoff Ave. I’ll be 60 this year, so I guess I have a pretty good memory excuse. I definitely remember the Parthenon theater that Erwin M identified by address and maybe I got it mixed up with the Knickerbocker theater, but I don’t think so. There’s a difference between a Kickerbocker theater and a theater on Knickerbocker Ave.
I’m always amazed at how many theaters operated at the same time in the 1950s within walking distance in Ridgewood/Glendale. I also used to take the old el train to the last stop to see movies at the Brooklyn Paramount and Brooklyn Fox. I also saw the Alan Freed Rock and Roll shows there. The 1950s rocked!
Alan D.
I just came upon this website today and found all these comments fascinating. I attended P.S. 88 Queens from 1950-1958 (which includes one year in kindergarten). During my elementary school years, we went to the Ridgewood, Madison, Knickerbocker, Glendale and Oasis movie theaters. There sometimes were “rough” kids in the neighborhood but mostly I felt safe and walked all over to those theaters. I understood the Ridgewood to be in Queens but very close to Brooklyn. Without any real evidence, I always thought Wycoff Ave. began the border into Brooklyn on the old elevated train. I thought Myrtle Ave. on both sides was in both Queens and Brooklyn, depending where on the avenue you were. Anyway, the Ridgewood theater was large, dark and I guess I took it for granted. Looking back, I guess it was pretty glamorous. The only film I remember seeing there was a black and white “Riot in Cell Block 11.” I know I saw more after that but don’t recall them. I went more often to the Madison, Glendale and Oasis theaters. How great it was to have so many movies theaters in walking distance! Even today I’m a movie buff, probably thanks to those experiences.