WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES APRIL 25, 2019 21
BUZZ
Ridgewood stands as ‘Sopranos’ set
BY MARK HALLUM
MHALLUM@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@RIDGEWOODTIMES
Filming for The Sopranos prequel
detailing the early life of fi ctional
crime boss Tony Soprano took
place in Ridgewood last week, using
the southwest Queens neighborhood
as a stand-in for Newark.
Directed by Alan Taylor and
written by David Chase and Lawrence
Konner, the fi lm “The Many Saints
of Newark” delves into the life of
Soprano, originally played by the late
James Gandolfi ni.
On signs posted in Ridgewood,
the project is referred to as “Central
Ward,” a reference to part of Newark.
However, it’s produced by Rose City
Pictures, the company behind the
Sopranos prequel project.
The cast includes Alessandro Nivola,
Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Corey
Stoll, Ray Liotta and Leslie Odom Jr.
Nivola plays Dickie Moltisanti, the
father of Christopher Moltisanti, who
was portrayed in “The Sopranos” by
Michael Imperioli.
The role of young Tony Soprano is
being played by Gandolfi ni’s 19-yearold
son, Michael.
Filming took place at three locations
in Ridgewood on Friday including 60-
70 Putnam Ave., and 60-67 Palmetto
“No Parking” signs posted on Ridgewood streets for the production of “Central Ward,” the project name for “The
Many Saints of Newark,” a prequel to “The Sopranos.”
St., which would act as exterior shots
for Junior’s neighborhood.
Junior was Tony Soprano’s uncle in
the HBO series that debuted over 20
years ago (Dominic Chianese played
Junior during the series).
According to a map from Rose City
Pictures, 60-59 Putnam Ave., just
across the street from the Ridgewood
Democratic Club, served as an
interior set for Junior’s home.
Photo via Facebook/Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association
“It’s a profound honor to continue
my dad’s legacy while stepping into
the shoes of a young Tony Soprano,”
Michael Gandolfi ni told Variety. “I’m
thrilled that I am going to have the
opportunity to work with David
Chase and the incredible company
of talent he has assembled for ‘The
Many Saints of Newark.'”
The Sopranos series wrapped in
2007 with the infamous “fade to black”
ending, leaving many questions about
the characters unresolved. Any hope
of further resolution was eviscerated
by the death of Gandolfi ni in 2013 at
the age of 51 in Rome, Italy.
The show was a massive success
during its run, taking home 21
Primetime Emmys and fi ve Golden
Globes.
“The Many Saints of Newark” has a
release date of Sept. 25, 2020.
Solemn procession in R’wood marks Good Friday
Hundreds of Catholics marched through Ridgewood on Good Friday, April 19, for a prayerful procession on the most solemn day of the Christian
calendar. Organized in part by the Associazione Cattolica Italiana Miraculous Medal di Ridgewood, the procession began and ended at Our Lady of
the Miraculous Medal Church, at the corner of 60th Place and Bleecker Street, and included a stop at nearby St. Aloysius Church. As they’ve done
on previous Good Fridays, participants walked with a likeness of the crucifi ed Jesus Christ in a glass coffi n. Photos by Dean Moses
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