July 1919 - AE Lanning opens $10,000 Hippodrome Theatre with two separate street-side rooms for rent to merchants. December 1922 - Lanning is forced to close theatre due to financial losses. March 1923 - PJ Zorn purchases theatre at a sheriff's sale. March 1924 - Zorn personally takes over operation of the theatre and it remains under the management of Zorn/Lowery family members until 1973. April 1973 - Chad and Kay DeCastro purchase the theatre at an estate auction and initiate extensive remodeling, changing the name to "Chaka." June 1982 - DeCastro's daughter Mary and her husband Bill Collins buy the Chaka and continue operations until 1996. June 1996 - The Chaka is placed up for sale. Concerned citizens launch a fund-raising campaign to purchase and reopen the facility. October 1996 - The Hippodrome Arts Centre organization is officially established and the Hippodrome is reborn. Plans are made for the facility to be used as a multi-curtural centre in addition to movies.
Presently the Hippodrome is showing newly released films every weekend and is staffed by volunteers. The building is currently undergoing renovations that will, when completed, allow concerts, plays and other cultural events to be presented.