Hippodrome Theatre [New York City]
Hippodrome Theatre
Theatre building in New York, USA
theater in Manhattan
Built 1905 by Frederick Thompson and Jay H. Morgan for John Gates. Opened 12 April 1905 with A Yankee Circus on Mars. 4678 seats. Mainly used for spectacular variety productions (featuring water ballets, sea battles etc. due to a large liftable stage that could be flooded from tanks holding 1.5 million litres of water). 1923 converted into a conventional vaudeville theatre by Thomas Lamb, including the removal of the water tanks. Also used as a cinema since 1927. Closed 1929. Re-opened 1935 with Rodgers & Hart's circus spectacular Jumbo. Subsequently used for various big events. Demolished 1939. [Currently the site is occupied by an office building and a parking garage.]