Hippodrome Theatre

The Hippodrome Theatre was a large historic entertainment venue at 720 Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Known locally as the “Hipp” or “Hippodrome,” it opened on December 31, 1907, as one of the largest theatrical buildings in the world. The venue was designed by John Eliot of the Cleveland architectural firm Knox and Eliot, with a concept influenced by the New York Hippodrome. Its eleven-story structure combined a lavish theater with office space, retail premises, and extensive backstage facilities. At opening, the theater seated approximately 3,548 people and contained two balconies. Its unusually large stage was about 130 feet wide, 104 feet deep, and 110 feet high, allowing it to accommodate substantial theatrical productions, touring spectacles, operas, and vaudeville programs. A pool in front of the stage could be used for aquatic effects and equestrian displays, while backstage areas were large enough to store scenery and support productions involving as many as 1,500 performers. These features helped establish the Hippodrome as a major destination for touring entertainment in the early twentieth century. The theater hosted a wide range of performers and productions. Among the prominent artists associated with its early history were opera singer Enrico Caruso, actress Sarah Bernhardt, comedian W. C. Fields, humorist and performer Will Rogers, entertainer Al Jolson, and tenor John McCormack. The venue’s original programming centered on plays, vaudeville, opera, and large-scale stage attractions. As audience tastes and entertainment technology changed, the Hippodrome adapted. It began showing projected motion pictures in 1922, and a major 1931 remodeling expanded seating to more than 4,000 and added air conditioning supplied using water from Lake Erie. After that renovation, it was described as the largest American theater devoted entirely to motion pictures. The building’s business fortunes later deteriorated. The theater entered bankruptcy in 1933, after which Warner Bros. assumed operational control. In 1951 it became part of the Telenews theater chain. Alvin Krenzler purchased the property in 1972, during a period when movie attendance and downtown theater traffic were weakening. The broader eleven-story building also experienced declining office occupancy. Retail tenants operated at street level, while basement premises housed businesses including Danny Vegh’s Billiards, the Downtown Health Club, and a table-tennis center between 1965 and 1980. By 1978, most of the office portions had closed, leaving primarily street-level operations. Several attempts were made to find a new use for the site or preserve the building. In 1979, a large redevelopment proposal sought to replace or incorporate the Hippodrome in a complex intended to address a perceived need for downtown office space. The plan failed because prospective tenants did not sign leases and financing could not be secured. Preservation advocates also approached the Cleveland Landmarks Commission, but the building was considered too deteriorated for practical restoration. The Hippodrome was demolished in 1981, and the site became a surface parking lot. In 2023, the City Club Apartments development replaced that parking lot. The theater therefore survives primarily as a subject of Cleveland architectural and entertainment history rather than as an operating venue.

The Hippodrome Theatre occupied a prominent location on Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland. It was conceived as a monumental entertainment and commercial building and was designed by John Eliot of Knox and Eliot. The design drew inspiration from New York’s Hippodrome while adapting the concept to Cleveland’s rapidly developing theater district. The completed building rose eleven stories and combined a large auditorium with office floors, retail space, and extensive support areas. The theater opened on December 31, 1907. It initially seated about 3,548 patrons in an auditorium with two balconies. Its stage was exceptionally large by contemporary standards, measuring approximately 130 feet across, 104 feet in depth, and 110 feet in height. Such dimensions enabled the Hippodrome to present touring productions requiring large scenery, numerous performers, animals, or elaborate mechanical effects. A pool in front of the stage could be used for water effects and displays involving horses. Behind the stage, the building offered space for scenery storage and dressing facilities capable of serving productions with very large casts. During its first decades, the Hippodrome presented plays, vaudeville, opera, and other popular entertainments. Its reputation attracted major performers, including Enrico Caruso, Sarah Bernhardt, W. C. Fields, Will Rogers, Al Jolson, and John McCormack. The range of programming reflected the theater’s role as a major regional venue for nationally touring artists and productions. The Hippodrome changed direction as projected entertainment became more important. In 1922, it began exhibiting motion pictures. A major remodeling in 1931 expanded seating beyond 4,000 and introduced air conditioning that used water from Lake Erie. Following the renovation, the building was devoted entirely to motion pictures and was described as the largest American theater dedicated to that purpose. The change demonstrated the venue’s attempt to remain commercially relevant as cinema became a dominant form of mass entertainment. Financial instability nevertheless affected the theater. It went bankrupt in 1933, and Warner Bros. subsequently took over operations. In 1951, the property became part of the Telenews chain. Alvin Krenzler acquired the property in 1972, but by that period movie attendance was declining and the economics of operating a huge downtown theater had become increasingly difficult. The theater building’s office and retail components also weakened. Street-level businesses included Green Jewelers, a shoe store, and a haberdashery. Basement space was used by Danny Vegh’s Billiards, the Downtown Health Club, and a table-tennis center from 1965 to 1980. Office occupancy fell during the late 1960s, and by 1978 all but the street-level operations had closed. The late 1970s brought efforts to avoid demolition. A proposed office complex was intended to respond to demand for downtown commercial space and potentially give the site a new economic role. The proposal failed when no new tenants committed to leases and financing was unavailable. Preservationists also sought landmark protection, but the building’s condition was considered too poor for economically realistic restoration. The Hippodrome was demolished in 1981. Its site subsequently served as a surface parking lot, which was replaced in 2023 by the City Club Apartments development. The theater is now remembered through architectural history, local preservation efforts, and accounts of Cleveland’s former entertainment district.

• 2023

  Redevelopment of the former site

  [1]Hippodrome Theater (Cleveland), Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The City Club Apartments development replaced the surface parking lot that had occupied the former theater site.

• 1981

  Demolition

  [1]Hippodrome Theater (Cleveland), Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The Hippodrome building was demolished and replaced by a surface parking lot.

• 1972

  Property purchase by Alvin Krenzler

  [1]Hippodrome Theater (Cleveland), Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Alvin Krenzler purchased the property during the theater’s period of declining attendance and weakening occupancy.

• 1951

  Entry into the Telenews chain

  [1]Hippodrome Theater (Cleveland), Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The Hippodrome became part of the Telenews chain.

• 1933

  Bankruptcy and Warner Bros. operational takeover

  [1]Hippodrome Theater (Cleveland), Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The theater entered bankruptcy and Warner Bros. assumed operational control.

• 1931

  Film-era remodeling

  [1]Hippodrome Theater (Cleveland), Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  A renovation increased seating to more than 4,000 and added Lake Erie water-based air conditioning. The theater became dedicated entirely to motion pictures.

• 1922

  Introduction of motion-picture screenings

  [1]Hippodrome Theater (Cleveland), Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The Hippodrome began showing projected films in addition to its live-entertainment history.

• 1907

  Opening of the Hippodrome

  [1]Hippodrome Theater (Cleveland), Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The theater opened on December 31 at 720 Euclid Avenue with approximately 3,548 seats, two balconies, and a stage built for unusually large productions.

A grand, technically ambitious downtown entertainment palace serving Cleveland audiences with major touring theater, vaudeville, opera, and later motion pictures. Its large stage, extensive backstage capacity, multiple balconies, and elaborate spectacle-oriented facilities positioned it as a premier regional playhouse in the early twentieth century.

• Theater and touring entertainment · 1907

  Live stage productions

  The Hippodrome’s original role was as a major live-entertainment venue for plays, touring theatrical productions, and large-scale stage spectacles. Its exceptionally deep, wide, and tall stage, together with substantial backstage facilities, allowed it to accommodate productions that ordinary theaters could not easily present.

• Live entertainment · 1907

  Vaudeville and variety programs

  Vaudeville was among the Hippodrome’s principal early programming categories. The large auditorium and stage supported bills combining comedians, singers, specialty performers, scenic effects, and other variety acts, helping the theater serve a broad popular audience in early twentieth-century Cleveland.

• Performing arts · 1907

  Opera performances

  The Hippodrome presented opera as part of its live-performance program and was associated with appearances by prominent singers such as Enrico Caruso and John McCormack. Its stage dimensions and production infrastructure made it suitable for large vocal and orchestral presentations.

• Cinema · 1922

  Motion-picture exhibitions

  Beginning in 1922, the Hippodrome showed projected films. After the 1931 renovation, the venue became dedicated entirely to motion pictures, with expanded seating and improved climate control intended to support high-volume cinema exhibition.

• 1979

  Attempted redevelopment and preservationStrategy

  Background

  Declining theater attendance, reduced office occupancy, and the building’s deteriorated condition created pressure to find a new use or secure landmark protection.

  Action taken

  A large office-complex proposal was advanced, while preservationists approached the Cleveland Landmarks Commission.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment failed to secure tenants or financing, preservation efforts did not result in protection, and the building was demolished in 1981.

  Source

• 1933

  Transfer of operating control after bankruptcyOther

  Background

  The theater entered bankruptcy during the Depression-era period.

  Action taken

  Warner Bros. took over operation of the Hippodrome.

  Aftermath

  The venue continued operating under changing corporate affiliations, later becoming part of the Telenews chain.

  Source

• 1931

  Convert and modernize the theater for cinemaGeneration change

  Background

  After several years of film exhibition, the Hippodrome was remodeled to compete as a large-scale movie theater.

  Action taken

  Seating was expanded to more than 4,000, air conditioning using Lake Erie water was installed, and the venue became dedicated entirely to motion pictures.

  Aftermath

  The remodeled building was described as the largest American theater devoted exclusively to motion pictures, although later attendance and occupancy declined.

  Source

• 1922

  Add motion pictures to the entertainment programStrategy

  Background

  The theater responded to the increasing importance of projected cinema by adding film exhibition to its live-performance activities.

  Action taken

  The Hippodrome began showing motion pictures.

  Aftermath

  The shift was followed by a 1931 renovation that made the venue entirely motion-picture focused.

  Source

1. 1Hippodrome Theater (Cleveland), Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hippodrome Foundationhippodromefoundation.org