Hippodrome Theatre
1120 Sixth Avenue,
New York,
NY
10036
1120 Sixth Avenue,
New York,
NY
10036
8 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 36 comments found
Here’s a view of a Jewish religious event at the Hippodrome in October, 1910: octaman
In its final decade, the Hippodrome was sometimes used for sporting events, such as this roller derby: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=6934
Here’s a link to a batch of images and historical data: http://www.nyc-architecture.com/GON/GON027.htm
Here is a photo of the Hippodrome in the 1930s
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Beautiful shot. Note the Hotel Algonquin in the background.
here is a very high res photo from 1905
http://www.shorpy.com/node/8145?size=_original
Here’s a 1939 view of the Hippodrome in the first stages of demolition:
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Here’s a 1930 view of the B.F. Keith’s marquee: View link 116
A 1939 World’s Fair Guide lists the Hippodrome Theatre as a being a professional Jai Alai venue, the only one in NYC at the time. How long did it last ?
Here is a 1929 photo currently being advertised on eBay:
http://tinyurl.com/rbue7a
There is a segment in NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOWBUSINESS that takes place in the Hippodrome. Probobly special effects but very well done and showing the water tank effects.
Charles Chaplin in person, 1916.
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When I worked in this dreary, non-descript building in the 1980s, the address was 1120 Avenue of the Americas (in case anyone goes searching for the site).
A thorough and delightful history of the Hippodrome by 97-year-old Jack Robinson, who actually attended the theatre many times during its final years, is featured in the Second Quarter 2008 issue of Marquee, the journal of Theatre Historical Society of America. Numerous illustrations include an ultra-rare view of the huge auditorium in the process of demolition. The article won a prize in THSA’s annual Jeffrey Weiss Literary Competition, and is highly recommended. A subscription to Marquee is part of annual membership in THSA. More details can be found at www.historictheatres.org
Here is a 1910 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/5b54dq
Some of the introductory information needs to be changed. Vaudeville and movies came late to the Hippodrome, which was originally home to spectacular stage presentations of many types, including plays, musicals, circuses, rodeos, etcetera. The Capitol Theatre, which opened in 1919 (eight years before the Roxy), had more seats than the Hippodrome, and became the largest theatre in Manhattan until the Roxy’s arrival.
In the spring of Depression-wracked 1932, the RKO Hippodrome was claiming to be “the biggest entertainment bargain” in New York City. Complete shows lasted from four to five hours, and included two feature movies, eight acts of vaudeville, several newsreels, short subjects, and cartoons. Prices ranged from 25 cents during the day to 50 cents at night (75 cents on Saturday and Sunday).
This is a photo of the Hippodrome Theater. Date given for photo is 1929.
After eighteen months of roadshowing elsewhere, Paramount’s aviation epic “Wings” finally entered general relase in January 1929, prompting the RKO Hippodrome to support its engagement with a colossal stage production (with a cast of 100!) that re-created the longest and bloodiest battle of the Great War of 1913-18:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/hipp129.jpg
A half dozen pix of the Hippodrome and interesting text can be found at the link below:
http://www.nyc-architecture.com/GON/GON027.htm
During this February, 1927 ad, the Hippodrome was the second largest NYC theatre showing movies (preceded by the Capitol), but in another month it would drop to third place due to the opening of the Roxy:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/hipp2627-1.jpg
Does anyone know about the mural “The Thousand Horses” that was painted in the building by artist J. Charles Schnorr?
1st photo is dated 12-4-38:
http://www.subwaywebnews.com/Images2/6thavel.jpg
2nd photo is a slightly larger shot of the postcard scene at the top of this page:
http://www.subwaywebnews.com/Images2/hippo02t.jpg
“The Most For The Least” (November 20, 1932):
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/hipp32.jpg
The first “predominantly film” program at the Hippodrome opened on March 20th, 1915, with “The Heart of Maryland,” starring the internationally-famous Mrs. Leslie Carter in the screen version of one of her most famous plays. Some short films were also on the bill, along with a stage show utilizing the Hippodrome’s water tank. The top admission price was 50 cents, which a reviewer for The New York Times recommended as “an excellent investment.”