Imagine visiting New York's Hippodrome Theatre in 1910. At the time, the huge theatre, which seated 5,300, was only five years old. You might have seen Harry Houdini make a 1,000 pound elephant disappear here or watched a Charlie Chaplin film when it first came out. The theatre had an 8,000-gallon water tank which could be raised from below the stage for diving shows. The huge stage had no trouble accommodating circus animals. The Hippodrome passed through many incarnations--as a vaudeville theatre, a budget opera house, and a sports arena--in an effort to make money. Unfortunately, the operating costs were high, and the Great Depression just made matters worse. The theatre was closed down and demolished in 1939.
It was replaced by this building.
Here's the back of the card, sent to Sarah Craven of Lawrence, Massachusetts. The message reads:
New York, Sep. 25, 1910
Dear Sarah.
We are in new York. I think I will go ashore. Will write you a letter. Hope you are in the best of health. From your friend Chas
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Imagine the memories associated with the Hippodrome. There must have been quite a few people sad to see it go.
ReplyDeleteThat was quite the confection of mixed building styles, but I sure hope that there is something wrong with the scale of the drawing, since I think the seats would need to be pretty small to fit over 5000 people in that structure... The prominent upper floor exits on the side of the building are interesting to see though- they look sort of tacked on, one has to wonder if they were added after the infamous Triangle factory fire of 1911.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing place! So glad there are postcards remaining to remind us of locations & people from times gone by...
ReplyDeleteA good subject for next Sepia Saturday.
ReplyDeleteOnly thing missing is chariot racing. I'm trying to imagine the weight of a 8,000 gallon water tank, what a place, it must have been quite an experience to visit.
ReplyDeleteSure do like the old building, and I sure like the name Hippodrome. You don't see any of those anymore. And it is a shame its life so was short.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting building. Is that an elaborate fire escape on the side? I can only imagine how cool it would have been to see Houdini do his act there. A full house crowd there had to be a spectacle by itself.
ReplyDeleteWonderful. I love the list of the kind of shows that were put on here and the water tank is a joy to picture. I see you are building up to a fine theatrical Sepia Saturday contribution.
ReplyDeleteWhat a place that must have been! Excellent early postcard view.
ReplyDeletePalaces like this were the top of the entertainment industry. The spectacles at the Hippodrome were just one of many "gardens" around NYC.
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