THE HIPPODROME STATE THEATRE

By  Mike Miller November 15, 2025

The Hippodrome State Theatre, commonly known as “The Hipp”, is in downtown Gainesville, Florida.

It's in a 1910 neoclassical post office building with 42,000 square feet and a 490-seat auditorium. Its historic elevator was installed in 1912.

The Post Office closed in 1964. The Hippodrome was founded in 1973 by local artists and produces professional theater.

It draws 40,000 patrons per year for plays, musicals, and cabarets.

The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse was built in 1910 for $150,000. It took 100 train cars full of limestone to build it, with its 2-foot-thick floors and 20-foot-high ceilings.

Construction used a combination of steel and poured concrete that was cutting edge at the time. John Young designed it in Beaux-Arts Classical style.

James Knox Taylor is also listed as one of the architects because he was the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury Dept.

He was named ex officio as the supervising architect of hundreds of federal buildings built during the period. His actual input is unknown.

The bronze doors weighed 1,000 pounds. The Hipp has Florida’s oldest working elevator, a hand-operated Otis, which was in continuous operation from 1912 to 2024 when it closed for renovation.

As of November 2025 it’s completely operational again. The building served as Gainesville's main postal hub until 1964, with the post office on the ground floor and the courthouse on the second floor.

The interior still has most of the original walls, doors and beams. It was owned by the federal government and at risk of demolition until the 1970s transfer to Alachua County.

In 1972, six artists founded the Hippodrome: Bruce Cornwell, Gregory Hausch, Mary Hausch, Kerry McKinney Oliver-Smith, Marilyn Wall and Orin Wechsberg. They leased the space for $1 a year. The group incorporated as a nonprofit in 1973.

In 1977 Tennessee Williams' visited the theater's original warehouse space, where he attended a production and famously quipped about the humble industrial warehouse setting when he arrived.

He said to his companion, "Baby, looks like I'm now playing Off-off-off-off-off-off-Broadway." 

This led to the 1979 world premiere of Tiger Tail, an adaptation of Williams' short story "Oriflamme," staged at the Hippodrome and attended by the playwright at its opening night party.

This was a rare personal endorsement from the iconic playwright during his later years.

The building joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Early shows filled the old mail sorting room. Renovations added lighting and a thrust stage. 

A thrust stage extends forward into the audience, surrounded on three sides by seating (with the fourth side backed by scenery or a proscenium arch).

After these renovations, the auditorium reopened in 1980. The theater hosted Florida Players from the University of Florida.

It survived funding cuts and a 1980s roof collapse. But as you know, the show must go on. And it still does at the Hippodrome.

The theater is at 25 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville, FL 32601. It lies off University Avenue in downtown. Reach it via Interstate 75, exit 387, then east.

Check their website for Box Office and performance times, Tuesday to Sunday. You can download the season calendar from their website.

In addition to its main stage season, the Hippodrome screens first-run foreign, limited-release and avant-garde films.

Street parking is free after 8 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends. Use the lot at 200 SE 1st Street for evening shows. Arrive 30 minutes early for seating. Accessible seats must be booked in advance.

The Hippodrome also houses an art gallery which is available, by invitation, to Florida artists at no charge. Open Thursday-Friday 4 pm to 7 pm, Saturday 2 pm to 8 pm, and Sunday 2 pm to 6 pm.

Auditorium temperatures vary so you may want to wear layers. There are nearby cafes in walking distance to enjoy before or after the show.

THE HIPPODROME STATE THEATRE WEBSITE

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