Hippodrome Theater, Baltimore
The Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland, is a historic vaudeville theater that opened in 1914. The theater was designed by Thomas Lamb, a renowned theater architect of the time, and had a capacity of 2300 seats. It was originally built as a movie theater and vaudeville house, and it boasted a Moller organ and a house orchestra that played until the 1950s.
The Hippodrome Theatre was a major attraction in Baltimore, and by 1920, it hosted 30,000 attendees a week. Some of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry graced its stage, including Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Benny Goodman, Dinah Shore, Martha Raye, Milton Berle, the Andrews Sisters, and Morey Amsterdam. The Hippodrome Theatre was also where Frank Sinatra first appeared with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1939.
After several decades of declining business, the Hippodrome Theatre closed its doors in 1990 as the last movie theater in downtown Baltimore. However, in 2004, the theater was reopened as part of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, which also saved two other important historic buildings in the area, the Western National Bank and the Eutaw Savings Bank.
Since its reopening in 2004, the Hippodrome Theatre has become the city's premier venue for touring Broadway productions and other high-quality live performances. Some of the blockbuster musicals that have graced its stage include Wicked, The Lion King, Les Misérables, Hairspray, and Cats. The theater is the heart of the Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District, which is part of a plan to revitalize the West side of downtown Baltimore and its vicinity.
The Hippodrome Theatre's history and recent renovation make it a significant cultural landmark in Baltimore, and it continues to attract audiences with its world-class performances and stunning architecture.
The Hippodrome Theatre was a major attraction in Baltimore, and by 1920, it hosted 30,000 attendees a week. Some of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry graced its stage, including Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Benny Goodman, Dinah Shore, Martha Raye, Milton Berle, the Andrews Sisters, and Morey Amsterdam. The Hippodrome Theatre was also where Frank Sinatra first appeared with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1939.
After several decades of declining business, the Hippodrome Theatre closed its doors in 1990 as the last movie theater in downtown Baltimore. However, in 2004, the theater was reopened as part of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, which also saved two other important historic buildings in the area, the Western National Bank and the Eutaw Savings Bank.
Since its reopening in 2004, the Hippodrome Theatre has become the city's premier venue for touring Broadway productions and other high-quality live performances. Some of the blockbuster musicals that have graced its stage include Wicked, The Lion King, Les Misérables, Hairspray, and Cats. The theater is the heart of the Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District, which is part of a plan to revitalize the West side of downtown Baltimore and its vicinity.
The Hippodrome Theatre's history and recent renovation make it a significant cultural landmark in Baltimore, and it continues to attract audiences with its world-class performances and stunning architecture.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Baltimore. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Hippodrome Theater on Map
Sight Name: Hippodrome Theater
Sight Location: Baltimore, USA (See walking tours in Baltimore)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Baltimore, USA (See walking tours in Baltimore)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Baltimore, Maryland
Create Your Own Walk in Baltimore
Creating your own self-guided walk in Baltimore is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Poe moved to Baltimore for the first time in 1829 and left shortly thereafter. He returned in 1831 and wrote many poems and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.5 Km or 3.4 Miles
Poe moved to Baltimore for the first time in 1829 and left shortly thereafter. He returned in 1831 and wrote many poems and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.5 Km or 3.4 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
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Pre-colonization, the land that Baltimore now lies upon was inhabited by Paleo-Indians dating as far back as... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Pre-colonization, the land that Baltimore now lies upon was inhabited by Paleo-Indians dating as far back as... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles