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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 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 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

1974

Coventry Theatre, Hales Street

Date(s)ShowNotesImages
Sun 3rd Feb 1974Electric Light OrchestraELO - billed as "The Incredible Electric Light Orchestra", with guest Raymond Froggatt and his Band. One night only.
Sun 10th Feb 1974Guards Bands SpectacularOne night only.
Sun 24th Feb 1974WizzardRoy Wood's band. One night only.
Tue 5th Mar until Sat 9th Mar 1974Coventry Scouts' 1974 Gang ShowHuge cast of Cubs, Scouts and Leaders.
Thu 14th Mar until Sat 11th May 19741974 Spring ShowFor the season, starring Freddie Starr, with Paul Melba, Jos White, Janet Brown, Dave Arnold, and many others.
Sun 17th Mar 1974George Hamilton IV with Miki & GriffOne night only.
Sun 24th Mar 1974Tony ChristieWith Bobby Crush, George Roper and Ayshea.
Sun 31st Mar 1974Cat StevensSupported by Linda Lewis.
Sun 14th Apr 1974Detroit SpinnersWith Jimmy Ruffin. One night only.
Sun 21st Apr 1974New SeekersOne night only.
Sun 28th Apr 1974SladeOne night only.
Sun 5th May 1974Gilbert O'SullivanOne night only.
Mon 13th May until Sat 18th May 1974Sadler's Wells OperaDifferent Opera each night.
Tue 21st May until Sat 25th May 1974Royal BalletDifferent Ballet each night.
Sun 26th May 1974Steeleye SpanOne night only.
Mon 27th May 1974WizzardOne night only.
Tue 28th May and Wed 29th May 1974Deep PurpleSupported by Elf (featuring Ronnie James Dio). Extra performance added.
Thu 30th May until Sat 1st Jun 1974Peters & LeeWith Ted Rogers and Audrey Jeans.
Sun 2nd Jun 1974Alvin StardustOne night only.
Mon 3rd Jun until Sat 8th Jun 1974The Good Olde DaysMusic Hall, featuring Ken Platt, Mrs. Mills, Nat Gonella and Adelaide Hall.
Sun 9th Jun 1974Black SabbathWith Black Oak Arkansas. One night only.
Sat 15th Jun 1974Kung Fu - Live PresentationOne night only. (Theatre closed next week.)
Mon 24th Jun until Sat 29th Jun 1974London Festival BalletDifferent Ballet each night. (Theatre closed next week.)
Mon 8th Jul until Sat 13th Jul 1974The Yogi Bear ShowLive on stage in a £75,000 Spectacular!
Mon 15th Jul until Sat 20th Jul 1974MameMovie, starring Lucille Ball.
Mon 22nd Jul until Sat 27th Jul 1974CromwellMovie, starring Richard Harris.
Mon 29th Jul until Sat 10th Aug 1974Pink Floyd Live at PompeiiMovie, with full support. Retained for a second week.
Mon 12th Aug until Sat 17th Aug 1974WoodstockX-rated movie.
Mon 19th Aug until Sat 24th Aug 1974The Adventures of NoddyChildren's Live Holiday Show.
Mon 26th Aug until Sat 31st Aug 1974HairThe Tribal Love-Rock Musical.
Mon 2nd Sep until Sat 7th Sep 1974The Devil Rides OutPlus The Lost Continent - both X-rated movies.
Sun 8th Sep 1974The Million Airs OrchestraOne night only.
Thu 12th Sep 1974Procul HarumSupported by Zzebra. One night only.
Sat 14th Sep 1974Leo SayerPlus Wally. One night only.
Sun 15th Sep 197410ccOne night only.
Mon 16th Sep until Sat 21st Sep 1974Percy's ProgressPlus "Made" - both X-rated movies. (Theatre closed next week.)
Fri 4th Oct until Sat 23rd Nov 1974The Good Old DaysFor the season, starring "Chairman" Leonard Sachs, Max Wall, Ronnie Ronalde, Audrey Jeans, and a big company.
Sun 20th Oct 1974Slim WhitmanPlus Springfield Revival. One night only.
Sun 27th Oct 1974The World of Military BandsOne night only.
Sun 3rd Nov 1974QueenOne night only.
Sun 10th Nov 1974SparksSupported by Pilot. One night only.
Sun 17th Nov 1974Ray ConniffWith his Singers and Orchestra, in "Happiness is Music 1974". One night only. (Tickets from £1 to £3.50)
Sun 24th Nov 1974Syd Lawrence OrchestraOne night only.
Thu 28th Nov until Sat 7th Dec 1974CarouselBy The Coventry Amateur Operatic Society. (Theatre closed next week for Pantomime rehearsals.)
Sun 1st Dec 1974Jack JonesOne night only.
Sun 8th Dec 1974Status QuoOne night only.
Sun 15th Dec 1974Rory GallagherSupported by Jackie Lynton. One night only.
Sat 21st Dec 1974 until Sat 1st Mar 1975Jack And The BeanstalkPantomime, starring Ken Goodwin, Frank Ifield, Reg Dixon, Audrey Jeans and a big company.

Prev year: 1973Showing 1974Next year: 1975

1884 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 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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