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Hippodrome / Coventry Theatre / Apollo show archive

An attempt to list all the shows ever performed at our Hippodromes, beginning with the temporary circus buildings, which from 1884 were specially erected on Pool Meadow for each visit - then, in 1903, to the first permanent, but short-lived, 'Tin' Hippodrome on the Priory Street side of Pool Meadow facing the old Swimming Baths. The popularity of these shows created the demand for a theatre worthy of our city, and so in 1906 began the construction in Hales Street, next to Swanswell Gate, of what we now regard as the Old Hippodrome.
Again, the success of this theatre meant that barely three decades later a greater capacity was required, and so we come to our lovely art-deco New Hippodrome in Hales Street, once known as the Showplace of the Midlands. Opening on the 1st November 1937, it was renamed Coventry Theatre in 1955, then from 1979 became The Apollo, giving its final performance in June 1985. After a short spell as a bingo hall it was eventually realised that such a building could not be put to any practical use, so, sadly, it was demolished in 2002. If anyone still has any tickets or programmes and would like to see them used to illustrate a show, please contact me.



1884 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985

1937

Old Hippodrome, Hales Street

Date(s)ShowNotesImages
Mon 25th Oct until Sat 30th Oct 1937All Star Comedy Bill to Pull Down the HouseFeaturing Tommy Handley, Joe Young, 'Wilson, Kepple & Betty', Bertha Willmott, Collinson & Dean, Dick Henderson, Donald Peers, Martyn & Maye, Six Zio Angels.

1937

New Hippodrome, Hales Street

Date(s)ShowNotesImages
Mon 1st Nov until Sat 6th Nov 1937Harry Roy and his BandThe first ever show at the newly opened New Hippodrome. Also featuring Ann Penn, radio impressionist.
Mon 8th Nov until Sat 13th Nov 1937Mills BrothersQuartet of black American vocalists, using voices to replicate instruments. Also appearances by Clarkson Rose, Robb Wilton, Dawn Davis and the Three Mighty Atoms.
Mon 15th Nov until Sat 20th Nov 1937Henry Hall and his OrchestraAlso the Max Rivers 12 Hippodrome Lovelies.
Mon 22nd Nov until Sat 27th Nov 1937Stanley HollowayComedian. Also Leslie A. "Hutch" Hutchinson.
Mon 29th Nov until Sat 4th Dec 1937Arthur Tracey the Street SingerPlus Rawicz and Landauer, piano duo.
Sun 5th Dec 1937Cheylesmore Senior Girls' SchoolNativity play.
Mon 6th Dec until Sat 11th Dec 1937Ronald FrankauRadio performer. Plus Revnell and West, Royal Command performers - Ivor Moreton and Dave Kaye, pianists.
Mon 13th Dec until Sat 18th Dec 1937Hip! Hip! Zooray CircusIncludes sea lions and dancing elephants!
Mon 27th Dec 1937 until Sat 29th Jan 1938Aladdin and his Wonderful LampPantomime, featuring Vera Lennox, Rex London, Donald Stuart, Heather Gale, the Lassiter Brothers and Alec Pleon. Thereafter on each Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Prev year: 1912   Next year: 1938

1884 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985



Also of interest might be A short history of Coventry's Theatres and Cinemas, by Bill Birch.

 
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