Tilyou Theater
1607 Surf Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11224
1607 Surf Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11224
2 people
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This grand old theater had its heyday in the golden era of Coney Island. It stood one block away from the Shore Theater and Steeplechase Park, all on Surf Avenue.
In its twilight, it was running action double features at bargain prices, but it closed and was demolished in 1973. A parking lot now occupies the site.
Contributed by
philipgoldberg
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Recent comments (view all 25 comments)
The 3 manual Wurlitzer console from the Tilyou Theatre has been completely restored including its pneumatic combination action. It is currently in a private home in Indiana and controls 24 ranks of pipes. The console was restored by Carlton Smith Pipe Organ Restorations of Indianapolis. On a side note, the Orchestral Oboe rank in the organ was originally from the Tilyou as well.
George Tilyou owned the Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City. I’m sure he had his hand in a few other enterprises as well.
A Special Engagement in 1955 for 3 days
View link
Here are two interior views copied from the September, 1926 issue of Architecture & Building Magazine:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/tilyou01.jpg
A new direct link to images posted above:
View link
Here is another exterior photo of the Tilyou.
The RKO Tilyou can be seen in a 1936 photo at this link. Click on the photo to expand it. After the photo expands, you can zoom in on it.
On Friday January 26, 1962, the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly-Joe DeRita) embarked on a three day promotional tour for their latest feature film, THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES. They were accompanied by “The Herculean Giant” (almost 8 foot tall Dave Ballard) and popular DJ Clay Cole, who was one of the stars of the co-feature, TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK.
On Sunday January 28, they appeared at the RKO Tilyou at 2:35 PM.
Clay Cole is retired and lives on an island off the Cape Fear River on the Atlantic Ocean on the North Carolina coast. I still till this day remember seeing King Kong Vs Godzilla there and only a few years later there was a vacant lot that as far as I know is still vacant.
No longer operated by RKO: View link