Discover 'Historical Ridgewood' With New Documentary

Eat your heart out, Broadway.

Inspired by a New York documentary and in the works for six years, A Walk Through Historical Ridgewood finally made it to the big screen last week, and the DVD is available for purchase.

The brainchild of Bill Carbone and put into action by the Historic Preservation Committee, the 35-minute documentary winds through the streets of Ridgewood as local historians tell the village's tale.

Carbone saw David Hartman's documentary A Walk Up Broadway on PBS and wanted to present Ridgewood's history in a similar fashion. With the help of Art Wrubel, Joe Suplicki and Peggy Norris, the project slowly progressed over the past six years.

"I know nothing, but I thought, gee, if I put these three heads together we can make a video of that," Carbone said.

In the past, Wrubel gave walking tours on Ridgewood and contributed to the book Images of America: Ridgewood. Carbone enlisted Norris—a research librarian— and Suplicki—an HPC member— to join Wrubel's tour, and film the results.

However, the filming didn't go as smoothly planned. Initially, the group shot the tour with home video equipment. Achieving sub par results, they recruited a local film enthusiast to help. When she went to college, though, the footage was lost.

Not until early 2008 did it begin to really take shape. Videographers Nick Di Blasio and Beau Jadrosich of Glory Days Productions joined, and several different shooting days were scheduled.

Even then, filming sometimes proved difficult. Although they shot on Sunday mornings to avoid car noise, Suplicki said, "It was tough with traffic noise. One day we had a jackhammer and diamond saw [in the background]." 

In the finished product, Carbone provides an introduction before Norris discusses early history at the Old Paramus Reformed Church. Starting at the train station, Suplicki and Wrubel then give their tour through town.

Their video alternates between modern-day Ridgewood and historical images—mostly from the library's archives. The tour travels down East Ridgewood Avenue, stops by the Education Center (the former Beech School) and ends up in the library's archives.

"We didn't do it for the fame or glory," Carbone said. "It's not perfect, but people will enjoy it."

Accompanying the $10 DVD is a booklet that follows the tour and includes historical photos. People may purchase A Walk Through Historical Ridgewood at Bookends, The Daily Treat, Town & Country Apothecary, and the library.

Proceeds from the video—after reimbursing Carbone's financial contributions—will benefit the Local History Archives at the library. Norris said the library's second-floor archives will be expanding soon. 

Carbone and Co. debuted the film at a sneak preview Jan. 23 and plan a "world premiere" Feb. 10 at the Ridgewood Public Library's auditorium at 7 p.m. The DVD will be available for purchase at the upcoming screening.