“They dare call me MADI…”

Saturday afternoon.  Many errands to run.  And as I drove from one place to the next… I passed by the Madison Theater in Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood.

A few things you should know.  I’ve been watching the progress of the Madison Theater as it undergoes yet another renovation in its long history.  Now it’s getting downsized from a 7-screen multiplex to a two-screen twin cinema.  And as I’ve passed the Madison marquee, I’ve noticed a wry “Under Renovation” sign on its hand-lettered marquee.  Great.  “Under Renovation.”  Is that a new film starring Jack Black and Jonah Hill?

In fact, the picture you see at left was taken last week.  Notice that the neon has been removed from the metal “MADISON” letters atop the marquee.

A few things about this sign.  The Madison originally had a larger, more ornate marquee; that signage was removed in the mid-1960’s and was replaced by this angled sign.  Eventually the marquee was modified to add that blue field on it – that sign originally said “Norma Jean Theater,” later it was replaced to say “Madison Theater.”

As I said before … that picture was taken last week.

Last Saturday… the sign was undergoing even more renovation.  As I drove by, the white metal paneling in the marquee sign was missing.  Strips and pieces of metal were on the ground; even the blue “Madison Theater” panel was resting on the sidewalk.

Wow.

Two construction workers were adjusting a ladder near the marquee.  I struck up a conversation with them.  We talked about the theater, what the plans were for the renovations, what the new marquee would look like.

And then, I said something like… “Man, I wish I could just go up that ladder and get a picture of the marquee from way up there.”

“You afraid of heights?” one of the construction workers said to me.

“No,” I lied.

“Go on up the ladder.  We’ll hold it steady for you.”

“I just need to get to my car and grab my camera.”

“Take your time,” he smiled.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy this is an opportunity I can’t waste – oh man oh man oh man I can’t wait to get my Nikon D700 and photograph this – oh crap oh crap oh crap, my Nikon’s not in the car.  It’s home.  Okay, what cameras do I have in the car?  I’ve got the Agfa Clack – check the glove box – yep, there’s a roll of Kodak Ektar.  Quick.  Load the camera.  And I’ve got my BlackBerry Q10 cell phone, which has a decent camera.

Let’s do this.

Back I went.  One construction worker held the ladder as I carefully climbed up each rung.  A second construction worker went up the other side of the ladder.  “Don’t worry about a thing,” he said.

Great.  The only time I want to be climbing a ladder this steep is if there’s a WWE championship belt hanging from a rafter strap.  It’s one thing to photograph the destruction of a church while you’re riding in a cherry picker.  It’s one thing to photograph a sporting event while you’re hanging upside down from the rafters.  But this is a free-standing ladder.  Every step up the rung, I could feel my heart beat with the speed of a Devo drum track.

Eventually, though, I did reach the top of the ladder.  First things first.  Take some pictures with the Clack.  I’ll develop these later.

Then I got some shots with the BlackBerry Q10 camera.  These shots are stitched together for your enjoyment.

Now THAT’S a close-up.

“Getting some good shots?” the ground-based construction worker called.

“Yes, thank you.  This is great.”

Then I had an idea.

“I just want to get one more shot.  Seeing as I’m here and all…”

A few quick adjustments to my camera, and…

Hey look.  I’m up this high on a ladder with the Madison Theater marquee in the background… you know what?  I don’t give two hangs and a clang if certain Times Union bloggers have problems with selfies.  I’m never going to get this chance again to get this close to the sign.

You know what?  Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead, it’s selfie time!!

If I get a chance, I’ll have the Agfa Clack pictures developed.  But for now… I’ve gotten something very special here.  And even when the Madison gets a brand new marquee and gets fully renovated and opens for business…

I can definitely say I was there during that part of its transition.  So cool…