RKO Castle Hill Theatre
1320 Castle Hill Avenue,
Bronx,
NY
10462
1320 Castle Hill Avenue,
Bronx,
NY
10462
No one has favorited this theater yet
The Castle Hill Theatre was opened in September 1927. It became part of the RKO chain of theatres. It was closed in 1969.
Contributed by
Jason R
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
A Wurlitzer organ Opus 1740 Style E was installed in the Castle Hill Theater on 9/23/1927.
To promote his new film “The Ladies Man,” Jerry Lewis appeared on stage at this theater on July 12, 1961.
As the RKO Castle Hill, the theatre had 1,454 seats, according to the records of Theatre Historical Society of America. Here’s a 1953 view of the exterior, with an entrance that had obviously been “modernized” since the 1927 opening. The Wurlitzer organ was removed in 1930, no longer needed due to the arrival of “talkies”: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/castlehill.jpg
Here’s a new direct link to the 1953 exterior image posted above on 9/9/07:
View link
This is a circa 1940 photo of the Castle Hill Theater.
Here is a a new direct link to the circa 1940 photo posted above on Jun 3, 2008.
I’m trying to confirm a promotional appearance at the RKO Castle Hill Theatre, of the Three Stooges, Moe, Larry and Curly Joe DeRita, to promote either “Three Stooges Meet Hercules” (1962), “Three Stooges in Orbit"1962) or "Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze” (1963).
I’m a Three Stooges Fan Club member. The Fan Club is trying to document all of their personal appearances. Any help on this, or any other PA’s would be appreciated.
Thanks, Frank Reighter
The promotional tour was almost certainly part of a tour that included a number of theatres per day. Although it may be an arduous task, the best way of confirming date and title would be to search newspaper advertising for those movies. If you have an approximate release date for those movies that includes the month as well as the year, that should make your search easier. Good luck!
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 Saturday January 27, they appeared at the RKO Castle Hill at 11:30 AM.
Yes, yes, YES Bob & Warren & Nonsportsnut! Moe, Larry, and Curly-Joe DeRita WERE there at the RKO Castle Hill Ave. on Sat. Jan. 27th, 1962 in the Bronx at 11:30am!!! How do I know? Because I was a 5 year old sitting in the audience with my 8 year old brother, (whom my mother forced to take along), and together we screamed with laughter and delight among the audience of kids as MOE, (naturally!), smacked LARRY and Curly Joe in his usual “bitch-slap”, (or MOE slap), routine! It was among my first movie theater memories and I cannot recall 8 foot tall Dave Ballard…but I DO recall Moe slapping his sidekicks as he did “IN THE ACT” for over 30 years! Poor Larry, Curly, Curly Joe and then Joe DeRita for taking those REAL slaps. And let’s not forget Shemp, (Moe’s real brother along with Curly!), for taking lots of smacks from Moe as well. Towards the end…on the Mike Douglas Show…Moe got some comeuppance when his WIFE plastered a huge strawberry-cream PIE right in his FACE! LIVE! That was not part “Of the Act”! Check it out on YOUTUBE! Once upon a time in the Bronx with the 3 Stooges and the RKO Castle Hill…would NOT change growing up in that analog era for anything! WORD UP!