RKO Royal Theatre
423 Westchester Avenue,
Bronx,
NY
10455
423 Westchester Avenue,
Bronx,
NY
10455
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This photo gives the year as 1968.
Here is a photo circa 1960s:
http://tinyurl.com/dmho8l
This site has a larger version of the photo that I linked to on July 20, 2007 at 10:47am. Click on the photo to expand 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 Friday January 26, they appeared at the RKO Royal at 9:35 PM.
Here is a photo of the RKO Royal.
Where do you see a photo posted on June 20th? Did you mean July 20th?
The building in the photo displayed above on June 20th looks like it might have eventually been moved to Woodlawn Cemetery to be used for a mausoleum.
It does seem to be a strange coincidence that two theaters on different avenue’s would have the same building number. You could add the Westchester Theater at 2319 Webster Avenue from the 1926 Film Daily Yearbook and mention the other Westchester Theater that was located on Winchester Avenue in the description. I don’t know if Winchester Avenue was renamed or if it was just an error in the American Motion Picture Directory. They probably are the same theater. I checked the Department of Buildings records and neither address is valid. Most likely the theater was demolished.
Regarding the Westchester Theatre, Bronx, I have three possibilities for you…..
American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915
Westchester Theatre, 2319 Winchester Avenue, Bronx, (now maps as 2319 Washington Avenue, Bronx, 10458)
Westchester Hippodrome, 1423 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx, 10461
Film Daily Yearbook, 1926 edition
Westchester Theatre, 2319 Webster Avenue, Bronx, 10458 (600 seats)
Seems a coincidence with two theatres having a 2319 number on different streets! As Webster Avenue is the one that actually maps correctly I would say this could be the correct address of the Westchester Theatre which is in the photo posted by Lost Memory above.
Thanks for the information. The theater in the photo could have been located at one of the locations that you gave but I have no way of knowing for sure. The Westchester Theater mentioned on the silent era theater list should be listed in the 1926 Film Daily Yearbook unless the listing is a mistake.
This is the listing where I saw the Westchester Theater. The theater on that list might not be in the Bronx, but I don’t see any Westchester Theater listed on Cinema Treasures for New York City.
Historian Michael Miller’s comprehensive list, “Theatres of the Bronx,” does not include any theatre called Westchester. But Westchester Avenue is a major street in the Bronx, and some early cinema situated on it might have carried that name. While doing his research, Miller (now deceased) found evidence for possible cinemas at the following places on Westchester Avenue: #915 in 1924; #949 in 1912, 1914; N side between Jackson & Forest, 1914); S side between Simpson & Fox, 1912, 1914; N side, between Southern & Fox, 1912, 1914); #1509, in 1928; N side between St. Lawrence & Beach, 1928. Miller suspected that the majority were conversions of stores or other commercial buildings.
According to a silent era theater list, there was a Westchester Theater operating in NYC in 1926. No address given. I don’t know if its the same theater thats in the photo link above, but I don’t see a Westchester Theater listed on C.T. for New York City.
I have a question. This is a photo of a Westchester Theater located in the Bronx. Is it isted here under another name?
Here is another photo of the RKO Royal.
To promote his new film “The Ladies Man,” Jerry Lewis appeared on stage at this theater on July 12, 1961.
The RKO Royal Theatre had two other architects helping out Thomas Lamb (on one of his first projects), they were Buchanan & Fox.
A vintage image can be found here:
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