RKO Madison Theatre

54-30 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood, NY 11385

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: B.S. Moss Enterprises, Keith-Albee, RKO

Architects: Eugene DeRosa

Functions: Retail

Styles: Adam, Italian Renaissance

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News About This Theater

RKO Madison Theatre

Located in the Ridgewood section of Queens. The RKO Madison Theatre was opened on November 24, 1927 presenting Keith-Albee vaudeville and a feature movie George Bancroft in “Underworld”. It was operated by B.S. Moss, an affiliate of Keith-Albee. It was a first run RKO theatre that had a huge stage that often ran live shows along with the film. I have seen ads from the 1960’s that show a lot of personal appearences here. By the 1970’s the Madison Theatre was on the AIP grind run, I remember seeing “Squirm” and “Tenticles” here right at the end.

The current retail space uses the lobby and inside the auditorium there is a false ceiling across at the underside of the balcony level.

Contributed by RobertR

Recent comments (view all 1,250 comments)

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on June 13, 2016 at 4:49 am

I think it was the one with Hercules – the guy who played Hercules appeared with them. A few years ago, someone noted the date of these appearances at a number of theaters. If you search this thread, you may find this reference.

Jeff M.
Jeff M. on June 26, 2016 at 10:39 am

To Ed Solero and his question from Sept. 13, 2007 regarding theatres used in the making of both the 1933 and 2005 King Kong movies. I was researching the now gone Ridgewood Theatre and, from there, looked up the RKO Madison when I spotted your question in the comments. Anyway, if you haven’t already found this out you were correct in that the Shrine Auditorium was used in the 1933 film. In the 2005 version the Civic Theatre (1929) in Auckland, New Zealand was the theatre auditorium that King Kong destroyed. Also, in the early 1960’s, the late Carl Weiss restored and played the RKO Madison’s 3 manual 15 rank Wurlitzer theatre organ for intermissions. He really loved how that organ sounded in the auditorium.

StBrigidkid
StBrigidkid on July 31, 2016 at 8:24 am

I was born on Madison Street a block away from the Madison Theatre and Ridgewood Theatre, cost 50 cents and I saw 2 movies, coming attractions and cartoons, they used to put cardboard posters outside, and there was always photos of the current movie to get us in, anyone remember that?

MarioManzini
MarioManzini on November 2, 2017 at 7:25 pm

Mario Manzini here. I performed at the RKO Madison Theater on stage with my Escapology show on May, 1966. It was the first RKO Theater that I ever performed at. Many others followed. To promote my stage show there I did an escape from the old Ridgewood Court House Jail cell which made the Ridgewood Times and all NYC newspapers. Houdini’s brother Theo Hardeen had his stage show at the Madion Theater in 1946. Right after the show he was taken to the hospital where he died from Esophagus Cancer.

MarioManzini
MarioManzini on November 2, 2017 at 7:26 pm

www.MarioManzini.com

Texas2step
Texas2step on April 21, 2018 at 4:43 pm

The opening movie at the RKO Madison in 1927 was “Underworld” with George Bancroft.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on May 25, 2018 at 5:49 am

The Three stooges film was “The Three Stooges meet Hercules”(1962). Hercules was played by Samson Burke. The three stooges were Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Joe DeRita.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on May 25, 2018 at 5:51 am

The theatre building is now Liberty Department Store.

Comfortably Cool
Comfortably Cool on November 10, 2019 at 1:46 pm

Long Island now has another Madison Theatre, located at Molloy College in Rockville Centre. News article here

Willburg145
Willburg145 on January 30, 2020 at 3:48 pm

I went to Liberty yesterday (1/29/2020). Was the theatre gutted to the bricks or does anything survive of the old theatre?

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