Casino Theatre
113-18 Liberty Avenue,
Richmond Hill,
NY
11419
113-18 Liberty Avenue,
Richmond Hill,
NY
11419
2 people
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Showing 26 - 39 of 39 comments
I’m new to this web site and have enjoyed it immensely! I wish I had the appreciation for old theaters then than I have now. The Casino was only a few blocks from my home when i was growing up in South Ozone Park (right next to Richmond Hill). My memories of the Casino as architecture are miinimal, which is to say that it (along with the Lefferts nearby) were drab, uninteresting. I don’t recall any distinguishing features. While I saw many movies there, I only really remember one and that was “The Godfather”. I’ll never forget it for 2 reasons: One, I saw it opening night of wide release (a Friday) and the line was around the corner and way down the block. It was the only time I EVER saw the Casino sold out and filled to capacity! The second reason is that the admission was $5.00 which was outrageous at the time, especially for a dumpy theater like this one. By far, my favorite theater was Loew’s Valencia in Jamaica! It is the most beautiful movie palace (along with Radio City) that I actually saw movies in. I really miss seeing movies in these palaces. I’m looking forward to going to Loews Jersey soon!
Thanks, JakeGittes. I saw “Chinatown” in Manhattan at either the Baronet or Coronet near 59th and 3rd in June 1974, but saw “The Conversation” at the Haven in Woodhaven, late August 1974. Many of the films I saw in 1974 had something to do with the law, or the corruption thereof, starting with “Serpico” at the Casino in Richmond Hill, the above two films, “Death Wish”, “The Sting”, “Walking Tall”, and the remake of “The Front Page”.
The Casino was a gem. I consider it my film school. I can tell you what theatre I’ve seen a film in. Neighborhood theatre, under the EL = You’d watch a movie and every 20 minutes or so you would hear and feel the A train lumbering towards the last stop Lefferts Blvd. I recall several memorable film experiences at this UA theatre. No balcony-one level. Concession stand in back, partitions no doors. I saw the double feature Robert R. mentions in the above post but I think the second feature was a Blacula or Count Yorga movie. One Saturday in May of ‘75 I sat through a double feature of “Chinatown” and “The Conversation”. You can tell by my login name I was forever impressed. Other double features I saw here – “Charley Varrick” and “Sugarland Express” and “SSSSSS” and “Last House on the Left”.
This was a typical Casino double bill
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The Casino Theatre at 113-18 Liberty Avenue shows a closing date of 1979.
ErwinM is correct the Richmond Hill Casino was a small one level theatre and never had a water tower.
I do not believe that the picture of the Casino posted above is the one in Richmond Hill because as I recall that Casino was a small one level neighborhood theater and never had vaudeville. The picture posted looks oddly like the Casino on the corner of DeKalb Avenue and Broadway, which was originally named the DEKALB and did have vaudeville at one time.
I would say it’s probably the one in downtown Brooklyn, though I can’t prove it.There’s not enough information in the photo to be sure.
I never knew there was yet another theater called “Casino” in the area. I knew of the one near the Kosciuszko St el station on the Broadway El, and the one in Downtown Brooklyn, but I was surprised to find yet another in Richmond Hill!
Does anyone know which of the three Casino Theaters is shown in this old photo?
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?31212
The Casino on Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill may have been pornographic at one time, but I never saw it as such. I don’t think I ever saw the theater at all, between early April 1974 and late November 1989.
Didn’t they play adult films for a while? I was always intrigued by this theater under the el.
Thank you, RobertR.
The Casino is a Chase bank.
My parents and I saw the film, “Serpico”, starring Al Pacino and directed by Sidney Lumet, at the Casino Theater on Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill, early April 1974. The entrance was on the south side of Liberty Avenue, between 113th and 114th Sts.
The last Saturday in November 1989, I went looking for it while walking under the el on the south side of Liberty Avenue. I was too close. A bit later, walking by on the north side of Liberty, I saw clearly where it had been : the length of what had been the auditorium, running parallel to, and the lobby’s length south of, Liberty Avenue, between 114th and 113th Streets. I do not know now what the theater has become : probably stores.