Rogers Theatre

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Uploaded on: June 10, 2016

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In 1908, the city was promised a wild, $1 million, 5,000 seat Hippodrome complete with theatre and indoor wild animal exhibits. Since London and New York had similar facilities, this would be exciting. By 1912, the project was reduced to taking an existing structure and mimicking the interior of the London Hippodrome though still with theatre and animal exhibits at 225 W. Woodward.

This much subdued Hippodrome theater opened on July 28, 1912 (grand opening ad upper left). With stockholder’s money on the line, hopes were high but this Hip was below expectations and didn’t deliver the thrills. Within months, the investors wanted out with the stock sold dirt cheap and the building put up for sale (see bottom ads). With that, the original Detroit Hippodrome appears to have gone bust in just eight months. It is likely that the fixtures from this location make there way to the West Warren theatre that will open not long after.