s well as being a great source of old photographs, postcards can also provide an useful insight into the opinions of visitors to our city. A few candid words will quickly betray their thoughts, giving us the objective view of a neutral observer. It is also interesting to study the handwriting, the sentiments and the humour used by folk in decades gone by.

1953: New Hippodrome

wo years before it was renamed The Coventry Theatre, the Hippodrome managed to impress many visitors to the 'Showplace of the Midlands', including the writer of this 1953 postcard, who had obviously been to see a show there.

The theatre did indeed have a pleasant inside, and in its day was built with every 'mod con' conceivable. There was even a BBC studio inside for live broadcasts (it was the first theatre to be used in this way), plus it boasted one of the largest stages of any in the country. Take a quick look at Derick Parson's page to see how easily the stage could accomodate a large band.

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