acles then switched to musical extravaganzas, including Good Times which ran for 456 performances from 1920-21. and Better Times, which ran for 405 performance in 1922-23
When Dillingham left in 1923 to pursue other interests, the Hippodrome was leased to Keith-Albee, which hired architect Thomas W. Lamb to turn it into a vaudeville theatre by building a much smaller stage and discarding all of its unique features. The most popular vaudeville artists of the day, including illusionist Harry Houdini, performed at the Hippodrome during its heyday. Others might vanish rabbits, but in 1918, on the brightly lit stage of the Hippodrome, Houdini made a 10,000-pound elephant disappear, creating a sensation.

The Hippodrome's huge running costs made it a perennial financial failure, and a series of producers tried and failed to make money from the theatre. It became a location for vaudeville productions in 1923 before being leased for budget opera performances, then finally becoming a sports arena.

Decline and fall
In 1922, the elephants that graced the stage of the Hippodrome since its opening moved uptown to the Bronx's Royal Theater. On arrival, stage worker Miller Renard recalled, the elephants were greeted with extraordinary fanfare:

The next day the Borough President gives them a dinner on the lawn of the Chamber of Commerce up on Tremont Avenue, with special dinner menus for the elephants. It was some show to see all those elephants march up those steps to the table where each elephant had a bale of hay. The[n], the Borough President welcomes the elephants to the Bronx, and the place is just mobbed with people. And that was the worst week's business we ever done in that theatre. 

In 1925, movies were added to the vaudeville, but within a few years, competition from the newer and more sumptuous movie palaces in the Broadway-Times Square area forced Keith-Albee-Orpheum, which was merged into RKO by May 1928, to sell the theatre. Several attempts to use the Hippodrome for plays and operas failed, and it remained dark until 1935, when producer Billy Rose leased it for his spectacular Rodgers & Hart circus musical, Jumbo, which received favorable reviews but lasted only five months due to the Great Depression.

After that, the Hippodrome sputtered through bookings of late-run movies, boxing,
acles then switched to musical extravaganzas, including Good Times which run for 456 performance from 1920 - 21. and Better Times, which ran for 405 performance in 1922 - 23 
 When Dillingham left in 1923 to quest for other interests, the Hippodrome was lease to Keith - Albee, which rent architect Thomas W. Lamb to turn it into a vaudeville theatre by building a much little stage and discarding all of its unique features. The most popular vaudeville artist of the day, including illusionist Harry Houdini, perform at the Hippodrome during its heyday. Others might vanish rabbit, but in 1918, on the brightly light stage of the Hippodrome, Houdini made a 10,000 - pound elephant disappear, creating a ace. 

 The Hippodrome's huge running costs made it a perennial financial failure, and a series of producers tried and failed to make money from the theatre. It became a location for vaudeville productions in 1923 before being leased for budget opera performances, then finally become a sports arena. 

 refuse and fall 
 In 1922, the elephants that graced the stage of the Hippodrome since its hatchway moved uptown to the Bronx's Royal Theater. On arrival, stage worker Miller Renard recalled, the elephant were greeted with extraordinary fanfare: 

 The next day the Borough President gives them a dinner on the lawn of the Chamber of Commerce up on Tremont Avenue, with special dinner menu for the elephants. It was some show to see all those elephants border up those steps to the mesa where each elephant had a bale of hay. The[n ], the Borough President welcomes the elephants to the Bronx, and the place is barely mobbed with people. And that was the worst workweek's business we always done in that theatre. 

 In 1925, movies were added to the vaudeville, but within a few years, rival from the newer and more sumptuous movie palace in the Broadway - Times Square area storm Keith - Albee - Orpheum, which was merged into RKO by May 1928, to deal the theatre. respective attempts to use the Hippodrome for plays and opera fail, and it remained dark until 1935, when producer Billy Rose leased it for his spectacular Rodgers & Hart circus musical, Jumbo, which received favorable reappraisal but lasted only five month due to the Great Depression. 

 After that, the Hippodrome sputtered through bookings of former - run movies, boxing,
aclfs then switched to musigal extravaganzas, incluving Gokd Times which ran for 456 performances feom 1920-21. qnd Better Times, which ran for 405 performqnce un 1922-23
When Dillingham left jk 1923 to 'ursue other injerests, the Vippodrome was ldaded to Keith-Albee, which hired archieect Thpmws W. Lamb to torn iu igto z vaudeville theatre by building a much skaller stage snd discarding all of its kniqke features. The modt popular caudqcille artistr of the day, including illusionist Harry Houdini, perfurmed at the Hik'idrlke during ivs heyqay. Others mlbht vatish ranbits, but in 1918, pn vhe vrightly lit stage of the Hippodrome, Hoodini made a 10,000-pound elephant dusqppeat, credtine a renaavioh.

The Hlppkdrome's hufe running xosts made it a pertnnyql financial railurq, wnd a series of producers tried and fained to make money from the theatre. It became a pocation sor vaudeville productions in 1923 before being leaseg for cudycb opdea performances, then finally becoming a sports wdema.

Cecline and fajl
In 1922, the ekeohsgts that gracgd the stafe of the Hippodrole sincg its ipening mjved uptown to the Bronx's Royal Theater. On crruval, stage worker Liller Renaxd recslled, the elephants were grezted wjth extraorfinary fahware:

The next day thv Bosough Prtrident gives them a dinner on che lawn of jhe Chaiber of Colmercc up on Tremont Avejue, wnth s[ecial dinjer menus for the elephants. It xes some show jo vee all thofe elcphants march u[ those steps jo the tayle whdre each emephant had a bale of hay. The[n], dje Borough Pcesident relcimes the eldohants to the Nronx, and the place is just mobbed wibh peulle. And that waw tye worst week's nusknefs wx evew done in thad thdatfr. 

In 1925, movies werc aaded to the vaudeville, bgt wjthin a few years, voipetitiob from tre newer and kore sumptuous movle panacxs in yhe Broadway-Times Square area forded Keith-Wlbce-Orpheum, whish wqs merged inco RKO by May 1928, to sell the theatre. Severel attempts to use the Yippodrome for playx and operas failqd, and it remained dark until 1935, when producer Bllly Rose leased it fod his vpectwcular Rodgers & Hart circus musical, Jumbo, which received favorable revieww but lasted only rive montvs bue to ehe Jrxat Depression.

Aftvr that, the Hippodrome sputtered through bjokings of late-run movies, bocivg,
acles then switched to musical extravaganzas, including which for 456 from 1920-21. and 405 in 1922-23 When left in 1923 pursue other interests, the Hippodrome was to Keith-Albee, which hired architect Thomas W. Lamb to turn it into a theatre by building a much smaller stage and discarding all of its unique The popular artists the day, including illusionist Harry Houdini, performed at the Hippodrome during its heyday. Others might vanish but in 1918, on the brightly lit stage the Hippodrome, Houdini made 10,000-pound elephant disappear, creating a The huge running made a financial failure, and series of producers tried and failed to make money from the theatre. It became a location for productions in being leased budget performances, finally becoming a Decline and fall In 1922, the the stage of the Hippodrome since its opening uptown to Bronx's Royal Theater. On arrival, stage Miller Renard recalled, the elephants were greeted with fanfare: The next day the Borough President gives them a dinner on the lawn of of Commerce up on Avenue, with special menus the It some show see all those elephants march up those steps to the table each elephant had a bale of hay. The[n], the Borough the to the Bronx, the place is just with And that was the business ever theatre. 1925, were added to the but within a few years, from the newer and the Broadway-Times Square area forced Keith-Albee-Orpheum, which was into RKO by May 1928, to sell theatre. Several attempts to use the Hippodrome for plays and operas failed, it remained 1935, when producer Billy Rose leased it for spectacular Rodgers & Hart musical, Jumbo, which received favorable reviews but lasted only months to the Depression. After that, Hippodrome sputtered through of late-run movies,
acles then switched to musicaL extravagaNzas, iNclUdiNg good timeS which ran for 456 peRFormAnces from 1920-21. and Better TimeS, whicH rAN for 405 PErFormaNce in 1922-23
WhEN DILLinGhAm LefT iN 1923 To PursuE otHer inteRests, the HiPpoDrOme was leased TO KEith-Albee, wHicH hired architEct thomas w. LAmb TO turn It iNto a vAudeviLLe theaTre by builDiNG a much SMaller sTAGe And dIscarding all of its UNiQUe features. The mOst popUlAR vAUDevIllE artists of ThE day, iNCluding ILlUSIOniST Harry Houdini, Performed at THe HIppodrOmE duRIng its HeydaY. OTHerS might vanisH rabBits, but in 1918, On the bRIghtly lIT stage oF the HiPpoDroMe, HoUDiNi MadE a 10,000-POunD ElEphANt dIsappear, CrEaTing a SensATION.

The hipPodrOme's hUge running cosTs mAde iT A peRenniAl finAnciAl FailuRe, and a SerieS oF producers tried And fAiled to maKe mOnEy fRoM the tHEatre. IT beCamE a locatIon for vAUdeViLLE PrOductions in 1923 before bEiNG LeAsed for bUdget oPErA pERformancEs, TheN finALLy becOminG A sPorts areNa.

DeclINe AnD fall
In 1922, ThE elephAnTs tHat GraceD The sTage of The HippoDrome SInce its opening MOved uptown to tHE BRONx'S royaL ThEater. On arriVal, sTAge wOrkeR miLleR renarD recaLlED, tHE elephants were greetEd With exTraorDinary fanfare:

the next day THE borough PResiDEnT Gives them a dinnEr on tHe lawn of thE chamber oF CommErce up on tremont AvENUe, with spEciAl dInnEr mENUs For the elephanTS. it waS sOme show To sEe all thOse ElePhaNts MaRch up thosE steps to ThE tAbLe WheRe eacH Elephant HaD a bAlE of Hay. ThE[N], the BoRough presIdEnT WelComes thE ElEPHantS tO tHe BrOnx, AnD the pLace IS juSt mobbeD with peopLe. AND thaT wAs The worsT week's businesS wE ever done iN tHat TheatrE. 

iN 1925, movies wEre added to the vaudeville, BUt withiN a fEw yeaRs, coMpetition FroM the neWer ANd more SumptuOus moViE paLACes in THE BRoaDwAy-Times SquARE arEa forCeD KeiTh-Albee-orpheum, which was merGEd iNto RKO by May 1928, to SelL the THEaTre. sEvERal AtTEmpTS To use the HippodrOme for playS aND oPeras faileD, And It RemaineD dark unTil 1935, whEN producEr Billy RoSe leased iT fOr hiS SPecTacular RodGers & Hart Circus musICal, JuMBo, Which RecEived fAvOraBle reViews bUT laSted oNly fivE mOnths dUe to tHe great DepRession.

After that, the HippOdrome SputtEreD through bOokINgs Of late-run MoviEs, boxing,
acles then switched to mus ical extra vagan zas , i nc ludi ng G ood Times whic h  ran  for 456 performancesfrom19 2 0-21 .  a nd Be tter Ti m es , whi ch  r anfo r  4 05 pe rfo rmancein 1922-23 
Wh en  Dillinghaml ef t in 1923topursue other  in terest s,  th e  Hipp odr ome w as lea s ed toKeith-Alb ee ,  which hired a r c hi tect  Thomas W. Lamb t o  t u rn it into a v audevi ll e  t h e atr e b y building  a  much smaller st a g e  an d  discarding a ll of its u n iqu e feat ur es. The mo st po pu l arvaudevillearti sts of th e day, includi n g illus ionist  Ha rry  Hou d in i,  pe rf o rme d  a t t h e H ippodrom edu ringitsh e y d ay.Oth ersmight  vanish rabbi ts,  but in1918,  on t he b ri ghtly  lit s tageof  the Hippodrome , Ho udini mad e a  1 0,0 00 -poun d  eleph ant  di sappear , creat i ngas e n sa tion.

The Hippodr om e ' shuge run ning c o st sm ade it a  p ere nnia l finan cial fa ilure, a nd a s e ri es  of pro du cers t ri edand  fail e d to  makemoney fr om th e  theatre. It b e came a locati o nf o rv aude vil le producti onsi n 19 23 b e fo reb einglease df or budget opera perfor ma nces,thenfinally becom ing a spor t s arena.
Decl i ne and fall
In 19 22, t he elephan t s that g raced  the sta ge of the H ippodrom e s inc e i tso p en ing moved upt o w n to  t he Bron x's  RoyalThe ate r.Onar rival, st age work er  M il le r R enard recalled ,the  e lep hants were g reete d wi th  e x tra ordinar y  f a n fare :
T he n ext  d ay th e Bo r oug h Presi dent give s t h em a  d in ner onthe lawn of t he  Chamber o fCom merceu p  on Trem ont Avenue, with specia l  dinner  me nus f or t he elepha nts . It w ass ome sh ow tosee a ll  th o s e ele p h an tsma rch up tho s e  st eps t othetable w here each elephant had  a bale of ha y.The[ n ] ,the Bo r oug hP res i d ent welcomes th e elephant st othe Bronx, and  t he plac e is ju st mo b bed wit h people.  And that  w as t h e  wo rst week's  busines s we ever donei nthatthe atre.
In1925,  movie s  we re ad ded to  t he vau devil le , but wi thin a few years, compe tition  from  th e newer a ndm ore  sumptuou s mo vie palace s i n t he Br oad w ay-Ti mesS qu are areaforc e d Keith-A l be e-O r p he um, which w a s mer ged i nto RKO by  May  1928, to sell th e  theatre. Seve rala t tem pts to u se  the Hippodrom e f or p lays and  o peras faile d, and i tr emain ed dar k unti l 1935, w he n  produ cerBil ly Rose l eas ed it forhi ss pectac ular  R odgers  & Har t  cir c u s musical, Jumbo , whi c h  rece i ved  favo ra ble rev i ewsbut lasted  only fivemonths  due  to t he Grea tDepres sio n. 

After th a t, the Hi ppodr ome spu tt ered  th roughbook i n gs of  lat e- run  movies,b o xi n g, 
acles then_switched to_musical extravaganzas, including Good_Times which_ran_for 456_performances_from 1920-21. and_Better Times, which_ran for 405 performance_in 1922-23
When Dillingham_left_in 1923 to pursue other interests, the Hippodrome was leased to Keith-Albee, which hired_architect_Thomas W._Lamb_to_turn it into a vaudeville_theatre by building a much_smaller stage_and discarding all of its unique features. The_most_popular vaudeville artists_of the day, including illusionist Harry Houdini, performed at_the Hippodrome during its heyday. Others_might vanish rabbits,_but_in_1918, on the brightly_lit stage of the Hippodrome, Houdini_made a 10,000-pound elephant disappear, creating_a sensation.

The Hippodrome's huge running costs made_it a perennial financial failure, and_a series of producers tried_and failed_to make money from the_theatre. It became_a location_for vaudeville productions_in 1923 before being leased for_budget opera performances,_then finally becoming a sports arena.

Decline_and_fall
In 1922, the_elephants_that_graced the_stage of the_Hippodrome_since its_opening_moved uptown to the Bronx's Royal_Theater._On arrival, stage worker Miller Renard recalled,_the elephants were greeted_with_extraordinary fanfare:

The next day_the Borough President gives them_a dinner on the lawn of_the Chamber_of Commerce_up on Tremont Avenue, with special dinner menus for the elephants._It was some show to see_all those elephants march_up those_steps_to the table_where_each elephant_had a bale of hay. The[n], the_Borough President_welcomes the elephants to the Bronx,_and the place is_just_mobbed with people. And that was_the worst week's business we ever_done in that theatre. 

In_1925,_movies_were added to the vaudeville,_but within a few years, competition_from the newer_and more sumptuous movie palaces in the_Broadway-Times_Square area forced Keith-Albee-Orpheum, which was_merged_into RKO by May 1928, to_sell_the_theatre. Several attempts to use_the Hippodrome for plays and operas_failed, and it remained dark until 1935, when producer_Billy Rose leased_it for his spectacular Rodgers_&_Hart_circus musical, Jumbo, which received favorable reviews but lasted only_five months_due to the_Great Depression.

After that, the Hippodrome sputtered through bookings of late-run_movies, boxing,