Hippodrome Barber Shop
Vincent Oliver's Hippodrome Barber Shop was a one-chair 12 x 22-foot barber shop at 5530 1st Avenue North in downtown Woodlawn.
The space has been occupied by a barber shop since 1904. When long-time proprieter Vincent Oliver began working there in 1966 it was known as Fowler's Barber Shop. After he bought it in 1967 he called it the Varsity Barber Shop for a while before settling on "Hippodrome", named for the New York City theater where Harry Houdini performed.
Oliver has decorated the shop with layers of memorabilia, including old bottles, lunchboxes, posters and photographs. There was an old AM tube radio, but no telephone. Haircuts were given on a walk-in basis only; Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Since early 2014 Oliver no longer opened on Saturday. The shop closed in 2018 with Oliver's death.
References
- Knox, David (December 15, 1999) "Hippodrome Barber Shop overflows with stuff he won't reject." Birmingham News
- "Hippodrome Barber Shop" (October 1, 2009) The35212
External links
- Stelter, Linda (April 8, 2007) "Slow day at the Hippodrome" (photograph). The Birmingham News
- Hippodrome photos in the Magic City Flickr Group