Comments from PeterKoch

Showing 51 - 75 of 1,492 comments

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about RKO Bushwick Theatre on Apr 11, 2011 at 10:21 am

John D., I like your modest proposal very much, as well as your allusion to the work of the same name by Jonathan Swift. I thought the exterior of the Bushwick had already been landmarked.

Tinseltoes, thanks for your reminder of the 62-year anniversary of “Chamber Of Horrors”, live on stage at the RKO Bushwick.

It’s ironic in retrospect, for two reasons :

1) the real life “chamber of horrors” that the RKO Bushwick deteriorated into after it was abandoned in 1970 or so, and

2) the filming of “The Believers” at the RKO Bushwick in 1987, which was about the cult of Santeria, and a human sacrifice on the stage of the RKO Bushwick.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Apr 5, 2011 at 5:32 pm

Sad seeing all those abandoned theaters, Panzer65. Do you know which one # 49 Brooklyn NY is ? Perhaps Loews Kings ?

Panzer65, I know exactly how you feel about the Ridgewood Theatre slowly eroding away.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Mar 10, 2011 at 4:34 pm

Yes Bway because there’s only a 20 or 30 degree angle between Catalpa and Myrtle.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Mar 10, 2011 at 3:09 pm

Thanks for the compliment, Bloop, on my “Smithsonian” memory. I remember Ridgewood Toyland very well. A parochial school classmate of mine, April Weihs Bara, lived above Mark’s Place Men’s Wear store next door to Ridgewood Toyland and heard the Ridgewood Theatre marquee collapse under the snow of the February 9 1969 “Beatles Day” blizzard.

I remember John’s Bargain Store at Catalpa and Myrtle as late as November 1971.

For heavy duty reminiscing, like “My Brooklyn”, try Bushwick Buddies at :

View link

Bway and I are members there.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Mar 7, 2011 at 5:58 pm

Thanks for your response, Laura.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Mar 7, 2011 at 10:42 am

Welcome, Lola. Please help us re-open the Ridgewood Theatre.

“Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets …”

That’s a song from an old musical, “Damn Yankees”, which probably played at the Ridgewood about half a century ago.

You’re quite right. Ridgewood doesn’t need another food store, but the closest cinema to the Ridgewood is Atlas Park in Glendale, 3 ½ miles away to the east.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Feb 18, 2011 at 5:36 pm

“NativeForestHiller” can explain it.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Feb 18, 2011 at 4:47 pm

You’re welcome, Panzer65. Unfortunately, I did not attend the public hearing about the Ridgewood Theatre in Williamsburg Bklyn this past Wednesday Feb 16th.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Feb 18, 2011 at 11:26 am

I walked by the Ridgewood Theater about 10:35 the morning of Friday February 11 2011. There was no change since I last walked by there on Friday January 14th 2011. The following is still on the western side of the marquee, facing west towards Madison Street :

THE BUSHWICK
TWIN-S

I observed from the south (opposite) side of Myrtle Avenue this time and therefore saw no details of the inner lobby nor the box office.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Jan 14, 2011 at 4:02 pm

I walked by the Ridgewood Theater about 11:35 this morning, Friday January 14 2011. There was no change since I last walked by there on Friday December 17th 2010. The following is still on the western side of the marquee, facing west towards Madison Street :

THE BUSHWICK
TWIN-S

There are still five or six mannequin heads with made-up faces and wigs on them in the box office, along with a book-page size poster for a film about Che Guavera.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Idle Hour Theatre on Jan 3, 2011 at 11:33 am

Thanks, John D.

What’s the cross street ?

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 22, 2010 at 10:44 am

Tomorrow is the 94-year anniversary of the opening of the Ridgewood Theatre.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 22, 2010 at 10:43 am

Panzer65, no similarities come to mind quickly. The difference that comes to mind immediately was the Ridgewood’s beautiful elliptical balcony lobby, which I last saw on Tuesday June 17 1980. The Madison’s balcony lobby was larger, rectangular, or some combination of rectangles in an “L” shape.

I don’t remember the Ridgewood’s chandelier. I’ve only seen the Madison’s inner lobby chandelier in old photos. Its reflection in the large mirror on the wall at the mid-landing of the grand staircase to the balcony lobby was quite awesome-looking.

I don’t recall organs being operational at any time I was in the Ridgewood or Madison theatres, though they very well may have been there.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 20, 2010 at 11:22 am

Yes, Bway, the almighty dollar rules once again, sadly enough.

Is any of this posted on Bushwick Buddies yet ?

Thanks, Bway, for the links to the photos. I’m reminded of the Madison, especially the balcony’s marble balustrades.

You’re most welcome to the update, Michael. My pleasure.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 17, 2010 at 6:38 pm

I walked by the Ridgewood Theater about 10:15 a.m. this morning, Friday December 17 2010. The only change since I last walked by there on Friday November 5th 2010 was that the following is now on the western side of the marquee, facing west towards Madison Street :

THE BUSHWICK
TWIN-S

I have NO idea what this means, or how it relates to current plans to turn the Ridgewood Theatre into an Associated supermarket.

I also noticed that Madison Drugs is now gone from Myrtle Avenue, with their prescriptions being handled by the Duane Reade on the northeast corner of Myrtle Avenue and Palmetto St.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 13, 2010 at 5:39 pm

Glad you like them, Mike. Sorry I can’t do more for the Ridgewood Theatre.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 13, 2010 at 5:23 pm

Good one, Panzer65. Thanks.

Also by those we allow to fall into ruin.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 13, 2010 at 10:18 am

“Repeat lies often enough and a gullible public will believe it’s true to the detriment of all.”

Also the Adolph Hitler approach.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 10, 2010 at 10:34 am

Let’s keep the faith ! It ain’t over ‘till it’s over !

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 10, 2010 at 10:33 am

Right on, Mike, Bway and LuisV !

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 9, 2010 at 10:24 am

LuisV, I completely agree with you.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 6, 2010 at 4:31 pm

You’re welcome, Mike.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Dec 6, 2010 at 10:17 am

Best wishes for your projected efforts, Mike.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes, “The New Exhibit”, in whuch Ferguson’s Wax Museum had to close, because it wasn’t making any money, and was demolished to make way for a supermarket.

Fortunately, we can hope for better things for the Ridgewood, a fate similar to nearby MHT becoming a Rite-Aid, and that of the Meserole Theatre.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Nov 26, 2010 at 4:06 pm

Good idea, John D. Thanks.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Nov 26, 2010 at 12:56 pm

Good luck, Mike. The Ridgewood Theatre could end up like the nearby former Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust, now a Rite-Aid, which still looks like a bank, inside as well as outside.