Del Castillo (born Lloyd Gould Castillo, April 2, 1893 – July 6, 1992), was an American cinema organist, theatre organist and composer, who provided music for radio series such as Stars over Hollywood, Hollywood Theatre of Today,"Annual Presentation of Easter Classic on 'Skippy Hollywood Theatre'". The Shreveport Times. April 2, 1950. p. 29. and Satan's Waitin' , as well as a number of animated short subjects, including several featuring Mr. Magoo. In addition, he served for several years as both program director and staff organist at WEEI (AM) in Boston."New WEEI Broadcasting Rooms Open Saturday". The Boston Globe. June 11, 1931. p. 7."Deaths and Funerals: Lewis S. Whitcomb". The Boston Globe. October 24, 1938. p. 5.
Early life and career Castillo was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the only child of Dr. and Mrs. Frank Martin Castillo. Mrs. Castillo, the former Minnie May Gould, was herself an accomplished pianist and graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music,"Heart and Soul for Cuba; Grand Army Men in Sympathy With the Fight for Freedom; Will Attend Mass Meeting". The Washington Times. October 30, 1895. p. 4."Piano Recital by Mrs. Minna Del Castillo". The Boston Post. January 30, 1902. p. 5. who also performed with Caroline Nichols' Fadettes of Boston."Deaths and Funerals: Mrs. Mina (Gould) Del Castillo". The Boston Globe. April 24, 1956. p. 6. She personally saw to Lloyd's early training, giving him piano lessons at age 4. Shortly thereafter he attended the Faelton Pianoforte School, and, by age nine, was performing in public."Gave a Pianoforte Recital". The Boston Globe. October 26, 1902. p. 3. He continued his studies at Rindge Manual Training School and later attended Harvard University, where he served for two years as conductor of the Pierian Sodality before graduating in 1914."Rindge Diplomas Given; Exercises of the Cambridge Manual Training School Graduates at Sanders Theatre". The Boston Globe. June 16, 1910. p. 15. Retrieved May 26, 2023."Harvard Commencement Plans; When the Various Events Will Take Place—Yard Being Depleted of Large Elms—Notes of the University". Boston Evening Transcript. June 5, 1911. p. 13."26 Attend Dinner of Harvard Law 50-Year Class". The Boston Globe. June 23, 1949. p. 8.
Daily News critic Ben Gross, in an otherwise dismissive review of the short-lived summer replacement radio series Satan's Waitin', wrote: "The best part of it to this listener was the eerie, howling background music provided by Del Castillo, organist, and Dr. Samuel Hoffman, playing the theremin."
Castillo also founded a school for theatrical organists, the first such school in Boston. Among his students was longtime Fenway Park and Boston Garden organist John Kiley.Lyons, Marguerite (December 23, 1970). "John Kiley Now Choir Director of St. Patrick's". The Lowell Sun. p. 17.
Personal life and death Scarcely two months into Castillo's sophomore year at Harvard, The Boston Globe recounted, in rapid succession, the indictment, arrest and conviction of his father, Dr. Frank del Castillo, sentenced to three to five years in Massachusetts State Prison after "plead[ing] guilty to an illegal operation involving Annie Gallagher Sept. 6.""Dr. del Castillo in Court". The Boston Globe. November 10, 1911. p. 1."Dr. Frank del Castillo Sentenced". The Boston Globe. November 23, 1911. p. 20.
From June 15, 1920, until her death on June 14, 1975, Castillo was married to Phyllis Arlene Woolley.
On July 6, 1992, Lloyd Castillo died in Los Angeles at age ninety-nine.
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References
External links "Good Cause". The Boston Globe. May 31, 1941. Del Castillo discography at Discogs. G. del Castillo: Babillage (Entre Acte) at YouTube. "'Horton Hatches the Egg' by Del Castillo; Marvin Miller; Dr. Seuss" at Internet Archive.