“The Hipp”
The Hippodrome (or the “Hipp” as everyone called it) was built in 1907 and was located at 720 Euclid Avenue next to the Taylor & Sons department store (we know this building now as 668 Euclid - one of the most embarrassing buildings in Downtown, although there are some discussions about its renewal). The theater was part of an 11-story office building and had entrances on both Euclid Avenue and Prospect Avenue. Today the area is a parking lot.
But in the day, the opening of the Hipp achieved national prominence by none other than The New York Times - article seen below.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Dec. 30. — The Hippodrome, said to be the most beautiful and largest theatre in America, west of New York, was opened to-night in this city. The fifty-one boxes were occupied by municipal, county, State and Government officials, while the remaining 4,500 seats were taken by society, representative of Northern Ohio.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B06E4DD153EE733A25752C3A9649D946697D6CF
It was the largest theater west of New York and was able to accomodate 3,458 theater-goers. Some of the most famous performers of the day - including Sarah Bernhardt, Al Jolson, W.C. Fields, and Will Rogers - held court on the Hippodrome stage. The auditorium had private boxes, two balconies (with elevators) and the second largest stage in the U.S. able to hold large-scale productions and operas. The theater also offered an 80-ft water tank for “water spectacles!” Insane. Before you got to the theater you could dine in the appropriately named - Hippodrome Inn.
After a tasty meal - you could enter the theater through an impressive lobby.
Can you imagine walking through this today? I can!
If you had mezzanine seats, then you would walk up these steps.
Of course as they say in the theater, “the stage is the thing.” (Do they really say that in the theater?)
This place was massive! And so beautiful. It is a shame that it does not exist anymore. The theater was purchased by Alvin Krenzler in 1972 and by that time was the last movie house in Downtown Cleveland. Unfortunately, the building was torn down in 1981 and replaced by a damn parking lot. It just isn’t fair for such a beautiful theater not to exist anymore.
“The Hipp” Slideshow
http://www.slide.com/r/oGU56aRVkz9kwYF-Dnm2×6n7ywZXkwkd?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original
What a fantastic post and blog. Kudos, Tech Czar. Very well done.
Christopher Ernst
I think Lisa Thomas has a history here, and Gloria tells me that the Crowthers were involved as well. PD archives of the time should show Lisa doing something or other defiant.
At the time it was demolished Krentzler was going to build at 28 story office tower. He was in a hurry to demolish the Hipp. He said the parking lot was going to be temporary. That was in 1980. They also tore down the building that housed the Richman Brothers mens store which was a long time favorite downtown and later in the malls.
I have a few souveniers I took just before demolition. They had a “pre-demolition sale”.
the public could come in and remove items. When you exited the demo guy would charge you a fee based on your take, just a few dollars. I got some tickets, price signs from the ticket booth, a banner advetising air conditioning and some other small stuff. My friend got a seat and misc. small things.
Whoever wrote on buying a few items from the Hippodrome. I would love to chat with you. Please email me at mdealoia@mac.com
thank you.
Great site! Keep ‘em coming.
True, there’s something of the older aesthetic of the older hotels and theaters that just doesn’t exist anymore. So many lobbies were thought ‘old-fashioned’ and ruined with modern BS design, or of course torn down.
It would be so nice to be able to sit at one of these masterpieces in Cleveland and enjoy a ‘refreshment.’
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