RKO Madison Theatre
54-30 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
54-30 Myrtle Avenue,
Ridgewood,
NY
11385
21 people
favorited this theater
Showing 501 - 525 of 1,251 comments
In reply to your posting PKoch, as to why did the Madison close and the Ridgewood did not is a very interesting question, it really has endured the test of time, and I hope the next generation of movie goers will enjoy this venue for many years.
Thanks for correcting me, EdSolero. I looked up “French Connection II” on the IMDb, saw the release date of 1975, then knew I couldn’t have seen it summer 1973, but I couldn’t think of the film’s correct name. Yes, it WAS “Badge 373”, and its connection to “French Connection” now makes sense to me. Thanks.
That’s a very interesting thought about that 1/25/1978 NY Daily News movie clock listing of a Ridgewood, Queens theater. If it WAS the Madison, it was definitely closed, and a designated eyesore, etc. exactly a month later, as I had posted earlier.
Interesting detective work Mr. Solero, best of luck finding Madison’s last day.
Hey PKoch! Your memory is playing slight tricks on you regarding that trip to the Madison in 1973. The film you’re thinking of is not “French Connection II” (which came out in ‘75 and takes place entirely in Marseilles, France), but “Badge 373,” which starred Robert Duvall and featured the real-life “French Connection” cop (Eddie Egan) portraying a fictional cop. In fact, Egan co-wrote the story with NY newspaper columnist and novelist Pete Hamill.
Anyway, although it’s buried under a multitude of posts since then, on September 18th last year, I reported the same thing as Warren regarding the movie-listing trail for the Madison going cold after 9/23/77. I even posted this image from the NY Times movie clock of that date.
Interestingly, the movie clock in the NY Daily News for 1/25/78 lists a mysterious theater in Ridgewood under the Queens listings in addition to listing the Oasis and Ridgewood Theaters under Brooklyn. Here’s the image of that clipping that I posted back in August of last year. Could the Madison have been briefly re-opened as an independent or perhaps could it have hung on beyond 9/23/77 with only the Daily News listing it in its movie clock? Warren – had you checked microfilm of the Daily News for listings from around this time?
Television helped to bring about the end of many smaller neighborhood theaters like the Parthenon, Majestic, Wyckoff (at Bleecker St.) and Glenwood. It must have resulted in some loss of income for the larger theaters like the Madison and the Ridgewood, which nonetheless stayed in business, perhaps mostly because they WERE that much larger.
Perhaps the Madison’s money loss was so great, the last owner was afraid to invest in multi-plexing as a way of remaining in business, because of the fear of the great uncertainty involved.
Panzer65, you’re welcome, and thank YOU for your compliment. “Up From The Flames”, an exhibit at the Brooklyn Historical Society, on Pierpont St., about Bushwick and the July 1977 blackout, and its recovery therefrom, began on August 7th, and might still be there. Some images from it are posted on the Bushwick Buddies website :
http://www.bushwickbuddies.com
Yes, NYC’s darkest hour. In fall 1975 the Ford Administration had refused NYC financial aid, so it was about to go into default on its municipal bonds.
I think you are correct about the Madison’s demise. Yet the question still remains : why did the Ridgewood survive, when the Madison did not ?
PKoch, Thank you for your reply concerning the 1977 Blackout and Madison’s closure.Your reply was well said, the ‘77 Blackout was a tragedy for so many New Yorkers, it did occur at NYC’s darkest hour, when it was in the middle of bankruptcy.As I have mentioned on this page previously,my perceptions of Madison’s demise was television, changing cultures,and economic hardship. You have been precise with your description of Madison’s demise PKoch, so other than any other postings on this subject, my conclusion is that it closed under all of these circumstances.Perhaps the money loss was so great ,the last owner could not perceive multi- plexing as a way to generate needed revenue.
Panzer65, I was just wondering that myself. The July 13 1977 blackout, and the crime, arson, and looting in Bushwick that resulted from it, must have had some impact on the RKO Madison as well as the rest of Ridgewood.
I don’t think the Madison sustained any major damage in the blackout that could have affected revenue. It didn’t burn during the blackout, rather, I recall it having burned in late 1978 or early 1979, by early April 1979, in any case, perhaps deliberately, for insurance money.
By the last Saturday of February 1978 the Madison was a designated neighborhood eyesore, with a sign out front that read :
THIS IS HOW YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD STARTS TO DECAY !!!!
IF THIS BOTHERS YOU, CALL (phone # of local action group)
Warren mentioned the date of 23 September 1977. Halloween 1977 was mentioned by someone else earlier on this page.
The devastation that resulted in Bushwick from the July 1977 blackout greatly accelerated the Hispanic influx to Ridgewood. I’m not exactly sure how this affected the Madison. Four years before the blackout, in summer 1973, I remember seeing “French Connection II” at the Madison with my parents, and when a Hispanic character in the film, Sweet William, I believe it was, towards the end of the film, shouted out something about “peace, love, justice, and all that white Anglo-Saxon bullshit !”, there was a tremendous ground-swell cheer from the heavily Hispanic audience.
So, perhaps more so, post-blackout summer 1977. I can’t be sure. The last movie I saw at the Madison was “Lipstick” in June or July of 1976. There was a pretty young Hispanic gal sitting across the left aisle from me, to my right. In the scene in that film when we see Chris Sarandon in the nude, in weird colored lights, crank-calling Margaux Hemingway with those equally weird electronic sounds, we looked at each other as if to say, “What the #$%@ is this weird shit ?” After Margaux Hemingway blew him with a rifle away near the end, I think I said to her, “He’s not gonna make any weird phone calls any more !” She smiled.
Did the Blackout of 1977 have any influence on Madison’s closure?
Did Madison sustain any major damage that could have affected revenue? Perhaps this could be the main reason Madison closed so close to the day that PKoch mentions,September or October of ‘77.
It was a Saturday evening, May 20 +, 1978, the last or next-to-last Saturday of that month.
Warren, so far as I remember, the exterior signage of the Madison remained the same, despite the change in management. Thanks for continuing to try to find the Madison’s closing date. It’s something I’ve wondered about myself, and an item of some frustration, because in the fall of 1977 I walked by the Madison nearly every day en route from home (Ridgewood) to school (Cooper Union in lower Manhattan)(via the L line from Myrtle Avenue to 3rd and 14th)but didn’t take note when it stopped showing movies. Or, if I did, it’s a detail I’ve forgotten.
Perhaps we’ll have to settle for the weekend of September 23 1977 to Halloween 1977 as a range of the closing date of the Madison.
That spotty newspaper coverage of the Madison from 1973 onward was probably indicative of its rapidly declining status as a movie house in its last few years of operation. A far fall indeed from its “glory days”.
I saw “Suspiria” and “The Fury” at the Ridgewood in late May 1978. The exact date escapes me. I would have to figure it out. All I can recall offhand is coming out of the theatre at about 8 p.m. and being surprised how bright it still was outside.
No, Panzer65, I’ve never been to the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill as an operating theater. I was last there Saturday, July 8th, 2006. I posted my “trip report” on the page for RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill on this site. I think it showed its last film around 1970. Bway may have more details.
PKoch,
Have you been to the RKO Richmond Hill as an operating theatre?
Any memories to share or architectural features I can look for when I visit for the first time?
Do you know when its last movie was shown?
Bushwick Buddies is a great site, Panzer65. Hope to see you there soon. Bway (Chris) is there already, and has contributed many amazing and worthwhile images.
I’m honored to be invited to Bushwick Buddies, Thank you Ms. Eleanor.
Thanks, Eleanor. I’ll mention it to BrooklynJim the next time I speak with him, probably next Monday, August 20th.
I don’t remember anyone lately from cinematreasures joining but the invitation is open to everyone who is interested in the history of Bushwick, Ridgewood and surrounding areas. Thousands of pictures thanks to our roving photographer and our many wonderful buddies … and so many childhood memories … and lots of different discussions going all the time. So anyone interested … just send me your e-mail and full name to and I’ll send you an invitation to join us.
I’m sorry you’ve missed me, but feel complimented by it just the same. You might be surprised at what I can believe, given what I’ve already seen of Chris' contributions. I’ll try and get back soon.
Here’s something : on the Colonial Theater page ( # 7929 ) I found out from “Peter L” that Schmearman’s Jewish deli bakery was right across Bway from this theatre, on the northeast side of Bway, between Cooper and Moffat Sts.
I’m hoping that “BrooklynJim”, a relative newcomer to this site, will join Bushwick Buddies, if he hasn’t already.
Hey Peter … I know you haven’t been there lately … and we’ve missed you … you wouldn’t believe everything that’s been going on … Chris has been amazing … hope to see you back soon.
Thanks, Warren. You’re probably right about Elaine Zuckerman.
Also, Panzer65, please say “hi” to both Jahn’s and RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill, for me. Thanks.
Hi, bushwickbuddy. Good to see you here again. Sorry I haven’t been on Bushwick Buddies for awhile. I will be back there sooner or later.
Panzer65, I think you will enjoy RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill, because, unlike the RKO Madison, it still so obviously looks like a movie theater inside. So much so, that it looked and felt so odd to me, when I was there Saturday July 8 2006 last year, to walk around the orchestra, where once were movie seats, and see bare floor, aisles, and tables of goods instead, and to be able to walk around where once I wouldn’t have been able to, because of all the seats.
Hi Panzer65 … are you a member of the Bushwick Buddies … because is you’re not … we’d love to have you … everybody there loved Jahn’s and would love to see and hear about what’s happening at our most favorite “hang out” along with what’s happening at the various movie theaters and other happenings in Bushwick, Ridgewood, and surrounding areas. Just contact me at and with your e-mail address and full name, etc. and I’ll be sure and get an invitation out to you.
Eleanor
Thank you Lost Memory and Pkoch for your reply s concerning the air conditioning systems at the RKO Madison and Ridgewood.
On my next journey to the RKO Madison (which will be my second), I may take a look at the air conditioning and heating system, to see if its been upgraded. I will soon be exploring the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill, to either play Bingo or shop at the Flea Market, and of course Jahn’s.
Glad to read it, Panzer65 !!