Ridgeway Theatre
52 6th Street,
Stamford,
CT
06905
52 6th Street,
Stamford,
CT
06905
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This venue’s 70mm presentations history is included in the recently-published article “70mm Presentations in Fairfield County: A Chronology of 70mm Large Format Exhibition, 1965-Present”.
The Ridgeway theatre opened on August 31st, 1951. Grand opening ad posted.
I saw all three Star Wars movies there ( the originals) when they all first came out. I remember the lines for people trying to get in all the way around to the front of the shopping center. I remember when they had a balcony. This was a great theater but because it only had two screens I guess it couldn’t keep up. Is Sol’s toy store still there ??
I used to come here towards the end of it’s run, when it was an art house theater. It was the only cinema in the area showing the films I wanted to see, so it quickly became a favorite of mine.
Had the opportunity to watch movies on both of the screens. The 2nd floor(?) theater had stadium seating, which was a rarity even in the late 90s.
I recall them scoring one last coup with The Blair Witch Project — I drove past the theater and saw a line of people queued down the block for that one. By then, evening showings had about 50 people at most, with matinees pulling in maybe 20.
Great memories of this place. I was very sad when I heard that it had closed. I suppose the Avon has now succeeded it in spirit, though I haven’t had a chance to check it out post-renovations.
I am acually Nathan V Steinberg’s grandson have many great stories told to me over the years about this theatre from my father Fred….nice to know people have good memories of this place!
The February 2, 1952 issue of Boxoffice Magazine has an ad for Heywood-Wakefield theater seating featuring the Ridgeway, with a couple of interior photos and one of the exterior, all grey scale.
The text says that the theater was both designed and decorated by Alfons Bach. Alfons Bach Associates (the firm he founded in 1932) did design the Ridgway Center, as the shopping mall in which this theater was located was called. There is supposed to be material on this project in the Alfons Bach collection at the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum in New York City, but I don’t know if it’s accessible to the public. It’s not online.
Bach was one of the major figures of modern design, and a co-founder of the American Designers Institute. Here’s a brief biography.
Any pictures?
Anyone have any pictures of this house when it was open?
Also known as TransLux Ridgeway Theatre and Crown Ridgeway.
First listed in the 1952 Stamford City Directory. In 1982 it changes to TransLux Ridgeway Theatre. The 1994/1995 Directory changes to Crown Ridgeway. Last listed in 2002.
I biked by it the other day. Really sticks out. I went around to the back and it’s quite busy with loading docks, etc but you can see the brick pilasters on the side of the building and patched over old window/door entrances.
It was a beautiful 50’s style theater. Remember seeing “The Graduate” and “Good Neighbor Sam” there.
I remember those mobiles. They were removed when Trans-Lux renovated.
The Ridgeway is now L.A. Fitness
No. 1st run distribution policies in those days demanded not only significant milage between major cities, but also strategic location. Stamford maintained the strategic access from both Westchester and Fairfield counties. Bridgeport was too close to New Haven and Stamford.
Bridgeport didn’t offer first run films?
Actually, the Ridgeway had its grand opening in the summer of 1951 with the film, Flying Leathernecks starring John Wayne. The theater’s Developer/Operator was Nathan Steinberg of Greenwich,Conn. and the interior “Modern Design” (mobiles and all)was by John MacNamera who had worked and trained with the master, Thomas Lamb, who had designed some of the historic and great “Movie Palaces” across the country.
The Ridgeway was one of the first Shopping Center Theaters in the U.S.A. when Shopping Centers were a new, new thing. It had 900 plush, rocking-chair seats, air conditioning (also new then), 1000
car parking and was awarded archetectual prizes as the finest new theater in America (at a time when because of another new,new thing,
Television, few if any new theaters were being deveoloped).
Because of its design and location (Stamford then was the only city between New York and New Haven offering 1st Run Films), during the 1950s the Ridgeway was well known, attended and appreciated by the entire population within a 35 mile radius.
It’s hard to forget the movie house in which you had your first date in. July 13, 1980, we saw STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Broke my heart when they closed it.
Still not demolished. Renovations into office space have been completed.
I lived across the street in 1986-87 in the recently renovated Woodside Green (Woodside Village) apartment complex. This was part of the Trans-Lux chain and had red velvet-cushioned chairs. I saw many films there, including FULL METAL JACKET.
The above “Status” is wrong. This theatre is closed, but still stands. The interior of the lower level has been gutted, but I hear the balcony may be intact.
When the Ridgeway Theatre was a single screen theatre it seated 999 people.
The Ridgeway was a TWIN theatre. It was twinned in the 80’s.
The Ridgeway offered free cartoons and popcorn one afternoon each year at Christmas time. The day would include a visit from Santa.
THIS THEATER’S INTERIOR HAS BEEN DEMOLOISHED AND IS UNDERGOING CONVERSION TO RETAIL SPACE. It was built in 1953.