Hippodrome
Also known as: Waco Theatre
Why it's listed
Located on Austin Avenue, the main commercial street of downtown Waco, this three-story masonry theater began as the Hippodrome in 1913, a vaudeville and silent movie house built by local businessmen. A major 1929 remodeling gave it a new facade and interior in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, with columned arcades, wood lattice grilles, barrel tile roof elements, a pressed-metal canopy and seating for over a thousand. Its design is considered unusual in Waco, particularly for a commercial building. Beginning in 1918 a series of corporations tied to Karl Hoblitzelle's Interstate Amusement Company operated it until 1961. Manager Claude H. Stewart made the Waco Theatre a center of community life through civic promotions, including a police and children's goodwill program that drew national notice. Later owners came and went, and the Cooper Foundation bought the building in 1980, when plans for renovation as a live performance venue were under way. Neighboring buildings have been torn down for open space.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the theater is an important and uncommon example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, especially for a commercial building, in a downtown area that has lost many historic buildings. It was also part of the Interstate Amusement Company chain led by Karl Hoblitzelle and, under manager Claude H. Stewart, became a focal point of Waco's social and cultural life.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83003153, listed April 28, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 724 Austin Ave., Waco |
|---|---|
| County | McLennan County |
| Listed | April 28, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003153 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied with work in progress; a performing arts company planned to renovate it for live performances. The 1929 facade is little changed, though the original vertical marquee has been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.55511, -97.16565 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83003153.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q42303418
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.