Hippodrome Theatre

Chris K.: No, sorry, I have no contacts at Belkin Productions. I just know when I lived there up to the early 80s, all the big (and not so big) rock concerts that came through town were Belkin Productions.

Does the ad you found say anything like “so-and-so presents…” or list the producer in small print?

Thanks to all who replied, glad I found this site. Roger, did you actually attend one of Elvis' Circle shows?! Please let me know & fill me in on any details you recall. And do you have any memorabilia of any kind from those days? I’m in the process of going thru microfilm I recieved from the Cleveland Historical Society covering The Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Cleveland Press from 1955. I did find one small ad referring to an October 19th, 1955 Circle show with Elvis. He received last billing, his name barely readable below country stars Kitty Wells & Jonnnie & Jack!
Thanks for the warm welcome from everyone, great site. Chris

Roger Stewart: The Belkin brothers/Belkin Productions were the big promoters in town in the sixties and seventies, were they around in the fifties? If not, perhaps Chris Kennedy could contact them and they might know who the promoters were in those days. Just a thought…

Chris: I remember when Elvis appeared at the Circle. Back in the 50s, there was a country music show at the Circle every Saturday night. I can’t remember who the promoter was at the time, but he had a good thing going. He was appealing to the large audience of ex-West Virginia and Kentucky citizens who had moved to Cleveland to find work. Cleveland was loaded with these people in those days, and they crowded into the Circle to see their favorite stars every Saturday night. I wish I could help you with the name of either the promoter or the owner of the Circle — but I just can’t remember. You might check with some of the old station employees at WERE radio. Seems like they ran commercials for the show on their Saturday morning hillbilly music program. Tommy Edwards was the deejay/host of that show. (He later got into trouble during the Payola scandal.)

Years ago my husband and I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio and was looking forward to the King of Rock and Roll display, but the final date for that showing was prior to my arrival so didn’t get to see it. I was with several others who were in my age range and we all left thinking there was much more ‘rock’ than ‘roll’ represented at the Hall of Fame!

Hi All: I enjoyed reading this entire posting. My name is Chris Kennedy and I’m a researcher working with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I’m investigating Elvis Presely’s 1955 appearances in Cleveland. He performed at The Circle Theater and St. Michael’s Hall in October of 1955. Do any of the experts here have any info on these theaters? Does anyone have any leads / contact info on owners or booking agents you may have worked these shows? Hope to hear back. Chris K.

I own an original 1908 hippodrome theater seat. I know 5 other are still around, and some pieces of the organ. I know of a ticket booth forsale in southern ohio antique area. All wood, no glass, pretty nice condition. I was told it was from a cleveland movie theater, but they didn’t know which one. It’s priced at $1200. I can help you locate it if interested. I would love to have seen the hipp. in it’s glory, it’s sad that things, so unique have to be destroyed. regards.

Whatever happened to the Old Mayfield? Was it torn down? Does anyone know? (The one in Little Italy).

TO: Neighborhoodtheatres:
I haven’t thought of Gordon Cobbledick in probably 40 or even 50 years! The ex-Plain Dealer Sports Editor’s only tie to Cleveland theatres is that he used to eat lunch at the Theatrical Grill. Am I right?

All: I left Cleveland in 1979 for a job in Boston. I had finished my BA at CSU and my MBA at CWRU. My mom still lives in Parma and my wife’s mom lives in Euclid.

Boston has some great living theatres. I go on a regular basis to the Orpheum Theatre, downtown. Been operating since 1885, without renovation. Booker T. Washington ( without the MG’s) used to lecture there. In the lobby walls you can still see where the gas used to flow to the gas lanterns for lighting. I saw Van Morrison at the Orpheum in April. Oh, what a ceiling. Seats less then 2,000 with two balconies (sp ?) Everything is close, close, close to the stage.

The Wang Center ( old theatre/bad name -remember Wang computers ? )
Knocks out 3,500. Good place but not the Orpheum.

My main point is that in Boston, like Cleveland there appears to be some problem getting detailed info on theatres.

I’ll bet Gordon Cobbledick never had this problem ( if you know who this was then you are a true Clevelander )

TJ: Getting info about the other Cleveland theatres is like pulling teeth! The Cleveland Public Library will tell you they have little or nothing in their files concerning theatres other than the Playhouse Square four. I can’t believe that the newspaper morgues don’t contain lots of photos. I can remember seeing many of them when I was growing up back in the 1940s. But either the library has no method of retrieving such photos or the staff doesn’t care about doing so. I tried to get a copy of the movie ad pages from the Press or Plain Dealer in 1937, 1947 and 1957 editions. This would help in establishing addresses of theatres if nothing else. They never even replied to my requests. So, regrettably, it seems to be an exercise in futility

Me too! Can’t wait to see ‘em