A Yankee Circus on Mars Opens the Hippodrome

Hippodrome Theatre

1120 6th Avenue,

 New York, NY

Built and operated by Fred Thompson & Skip Dundy, the Hippodrome opened on April 12, 1905 with “A Yankee Circus on Mars”.

Theatre Magazine, June 1905:

"The Hippodrome stage is the largest in the world, and only a faint idea of its real size is conveyed by these pictures. It is 110 feet deep and 200 feet wide, and 500 actors can appear on it with ease. The massive scenery, some of which weighs as much as 10 tons, is picked up bodily by a system of electric cranes which convey the pieces to and fro with no apparent effort."

"After the spectacular piece 'A Yankee Circus on Mars' comes an aquatic performance. The platform sinks in and the stage is transformed into a vast tank filled with water through which 'The Raiders' make their sensational plunge. The reservoir is 12 feet deep, and presents a realistic picture of a mountain torrent."

Hippodrome Theatre

The Lost 1905 New York Hippodrome

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index.

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Ask the Experts, August 25

Coney Island USA Events

Saturday, August 25, 2018- 5:00 pm

Ask The Experts: Cezar Del Valle

 Coney Island Goes to the Movies

Included with Museum Admission. $5 for Adults, $3 for Seniors, Kids (under 12)

 and residents of  Zip Code 11224, at the door.

Free for Members of Coney Island USA!

As the interior of the Shore Theatre faces demolition,

 Cezar Del Valle returns to Coney Island USA.

 With the emphasis on the Shore, he will explore the history of movie going and film making at Coney Island. 

Naturally vaudeville and freak shows will not be totally ignored.

https://www.coneyisland.com/event/asktheexperts082518

https://www.theatretalks.com/coney-island-talk

Cezar Del Valle is available for theatre walks and talks 2018-2019

https://www.theatretalks.com

Since 1997 theatre historian,  Cezar Del Valle, has conducted a popular series of  theatre talks and walks, available for  historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres.

The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Editing and updating the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

AboutMe

Goodreads

Medotcom

Tarzan Swings Into Rochester

Motion Picture Herald, February 28, 1948:

"Double Tarzan Treat, promoted by Lester Pollock, at Loew's Rochester theatre, where plenty of kids who remember and plenty more who have never seen the Jungle Hero, will be giving that Tarzan yell. Unusual lobby display, above, for a double return date in a first-string theatre." 



Elmo Lincoln, the screen's first Tarzan, appears as a circus roustabout in Tarzan's New York Adventure ( Gordon Griffith plays Tarzan as a boy before Lincoln's appearance as the adult "Lord of the Jungle.")

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres. The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.

Currently editing the third edition of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, Volume I.

Now selling on Etsy and Amazon

Thundering Roaringly at the Crossroads of the World

Original taglines for "Devil Tiger": 

Asia's Fiercest Beasts Clash in Mortal Combat! 

Hitherto Unwitnessed by Any Living Man!

Motion Picture Herald, February 17, 1934:

"Behind the two-year period opening day record of the Rialto theatre at the first showing of 'Devil Tiger' is a story of circus showmanship that succeeded in penetrating the New York public's motion picture consciousness in myriad ways, a publicity campaign that at least in large part is as adaptable to the lesser situations as it was to New York's Broadway.  

"The result was attested by the establishment of a Rialto top attendance mark for two years when the production first was shown last Wednesday and by the largest ticket figure since the house reopened under its new policy.

"The picture was circused in a big way. Every exploitation and publicity angles was employed to put the picture over; newspaper, radio, huge signs, and posters, window-displays and auto-truck  banners."

Devil Tiger

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres. The first two chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014.



He is available for theatre talks and walks in 2015: historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc

Now selling “vintage” on Etsy.

Fisher Theatre, 136 Fall Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148

Excerpts from the Auburn Citizen, October 9, 1915:
"The new Fisher Theatre was opened last night for the first performance, after a year spent in construction and less than three years from the time plans were first inagurated for the building of a modern playhouse. The new theatre was erected by Fred C. Fisher and is under his direction. The cost is about $40,000. 

The front of the building contains two large stores and the theatre entrance. Several suites of offices occupy the front of the second floor. The theatre proper is absolutely fireproof with concrete floors and all kinds of modern theatre equipment and seats 960.

Every seat in the house was taken last night. The opening show was a three-act musical comedy direct from New York called Tonight's the Night. For tonight vaudeville and moving pictures will be the attraction. On Saturday night, October 16, May Irwin and a big company will be the attraction.

"The theatre opening attracted hundreds of people from out of town and was the social event of the season. Mr. Fisher has exceeded the Opera House Site Committee's requirements in every particular and he was anxious to know whether Seneca Falls people would support the project. They did so last night. Waterloo and all parts of the county contributed to the opening audience. The highest of compliments were paid Mr. Fisher for his enterprise."    

Postcard is part of the Theatretalks collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not  honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society.

He is currently accepting theatre talks and walks for the fall and winter-historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

 

Shea's Hippodrome, 580 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202

Designed by Leon H. Lempert, Jr., the Hippodrome was Michael Shea's first movie house in Buffalo. It opened in 1914 with a seating capacity of 2,800. Later known as the Center Theatre, the building was demolished in 1983.

 

Excerpts from Motography, November 10, 1917:

"During its three years of service to the public this beautiful house has established itself as one of the most excellent in the picture field. The Hippodrome has proved itself to be a dignified and refine place of entertainment and has given an inestimable amount of satisfaction and pleasure to its patrons."

"The bills for the Hippodrome are drawn from Artcraft, Paramount, Goldwyn, Selznick, Triangle, and Metro, together with special productions and the better comedies. The Hippodrome Pictorial Digest is compiled from the film  newspapers. The Symphony orchestra conducts regular popular concerts.

"Shea's Hippodrome was constructed without consideration of expense and is notable for its convenience and completeness in arrangements and for the up-to-the-minute character of its equipment and the comfort provided for patrons. The house has a staff of almost a hundred employees.

"Music is made a special feature at the Hippodrome and attracts many patrons. The concert orchestra consists of twenty-six men and is provided with a very complete musical library."

"Through careful rehearsals, fitting musical settings are arranged for each production. The Hippodrome organ is one of the finest orchestral instruments in New York.

"A very attractive feature and novel department is the art room, where signs are designed and where plates are designed for special electrotypes which are used in connection with newspaper advertisements. These ads have created favorable comment.

"Shea's Hippodrome is in many ways probably the most interesting institution in New York State."

Above postcard from the Theatre Talks Collection

Bottom photograph from Motography, November 10, 1917

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the year by the Theatre Historical Society.

Bardavon 1869 Opera House, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

The 19th-century  Collingwood Opera House modernized by the Bardavon Theatre Corporation with William J. Beardsley as architect.

Excerpts from the Poughkeepsie Eagle News, November 20, 1922:
"The new Bardavon Theatre, which has majestically risen on the site of the Collingwood Theatre is rapidly being rushed to completion and will open to the public for its first performance on New Year's Day."

"The marquee at the entrance will be a blaze of brillancy which will follow through the entire 77-feet lobby to the main auditorium. The lobby decorations will consist of ornamental plaster ceilings with brilliant cove lighting, antique verde marble and tile flooring. In the big foyer, twenty feet square, will be a brilliantly lighted dome, while to either side patrons will be able to see the massive marble stairways leading to the mezzanine and grand balcony."

"The decorative scheme of the main auditorium is a brilliant exhibition of the work of the master artists. The immense dome in the ceiling measuring nearly forty feet in diameter, is finished in azure blue, brilliant gold stars dotting the blue field. Around the dome are ivory-toned figures and designs, giving the whole a massive and decidedly rich appearance.  
"The immense proscenium arch and the proscenium boxes on either side are massive in appearance and magnificently decorated in mulberry, azure blue and Roman gold.
"Directly over the proscenium arch is a beautiful painting depicting the Bard-of-Avon, from the studio of Mr. Sielke and picturing Shakespeare, the Bard, on the banks of the Avon getting his inspirations for his most widely known plays, beautiful visions of these plays appearing in the background. This painting is fifty-six feet long  and over twelve feet high, all brilliantly lighted in colored tones by a battery of colored electric lamps hidden in the recesses of the border of the sounding board."

"Off the main auditorium on the north is an open decorated arch which leads to the ladies rest room and a similar arch on the south side leading to the men's smoking room. Both of these are to be furnished for the utmost comfort of the patrons of the theatre." 

"The furnishings on the big stage will be thoroughly modern and complete and the size of the stage more than adequate to accommodate the biggest productions."

  The 1944 seat theatre opened on January 1, 1923 with a one-day performance of  Leo Carrillo in Mike Angelo:

From the Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle

The Poughkeepsie Eagle News, May 12, 1926:
"Mr. [Ely]  Elting has acted as president of the Bardavon Theatre Corporation, a million dollar combination holding the Bardavon, Stratford and Liberty theatres. At the present time these theatres are being operated for the Bardavon theatre group by the Publix Theatres, a branch of Famous Players picture corporation."  


Closed in 1975, the theatre was scheduled for demolition but rescued by the organization Concerned Citizens to Save the Bardavon.
It is now one of the oldest continuously operating theatres in New York State and the only one between New York City and Albany to still have its original pipe organ. The Bardavon listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


Postcard: Theatre Talks LLC Collection

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society.

Theatorium, Perry, New York

Looking over early picture postcards of Main Street, one can sometimes spot a storefront theatre such as the Theatorium in Perry, New York.

 

A few sentences in the local press provide a basic history.

Its opening reprinted in Down Memory Lane, Perry Herald, March 21, 1957:
"March 21, 1907-Perry's new Theatorium will be open to the public on Friday March 22, in the Bullard block next to Coburn's restaurant, with new and up-to-date movies. Admission will be 5c."

Down Memory Lane, Perry Herald, May 23, 1957:
"May 23, 1907-The Theatorium has been making some changes in the front which are appreciated by their patrons. The fine quality of their pictures continues to change three times a week and draws a large crowd."

Wyoming County Times, March 31, 1909:
"Criswell's Theatorium  has recently been renovated and put in fine shape."

Perry Semi-Weekly Herald, November 2, 1909:
"R. U. Criswell, who formerly run [sic] the Theatorium here, has bought the Lyric Theatre, a similar moving picture show in Batavia."

Wyoming County Times, July 14, 1910:
"The Theatorium moving picture house has been closed." 

Wyoming County Times, November 17, 1910:
"The Theatorium is closed again and is being arranged inside for a store."

From the Perry Herald-News, June 13, 1907:

 

IMDb proves scant information on the film.

Postcard: Theatre Talks LLC Collection

 Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society.