n 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.
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1892 | Temporary Circus building, Pool Meadow | ||
| Date(s) | Show | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 11th Jan until Sat 16th Jan 1892 | Clarke's Continental Circus | Brilliant Troupe of British and Foreign Artistes & Magnificent Stud Horses. Miss O'Brian, American Equestrienne. Mdlle. Katie Clarke. Mdlle. Annette. Mdlles.Laura, Bertha, Rosa and Josephine Violette. Mr. Alfred Clarke, the Greatest Rider of the Day. Charles Clarke, Juggler. James Powell, Bareback Rider. Hina, only living rival of Blondin. The Aldeans, Funny Gymnasts. Mendoza Brothers. Clarkonians, Flying Trapeze. Engist & Orsa. Master Ernest St. John. Seven Great Clowns. A Splendid String Band. | |
| Mon 18th Jan until Sat 23rd Jan 1892 | Clarke's Continental Circus | Brilliant Troupe of British and Foreign Artistes & Magnificent Stud Horses. Wallacini, Acrobat. Ben Alie, Tumbler. St. Leon, Aerial Perch. James Powell and Miss O'Brian, Bareback Riders. The Aldeans, Funny Gymnasts. Mendoza Brothers. Mdlle. Annette. Seven Great Clowns. A Splendid String Band. | |
| Mon 25th Jan until Sat 30th Jan 1892 | Clarke's Continental Circus | Brilliant Troupe of British and Foreign Artistes & Magnificent Stud Horses. Mr. Alfred Clarke, the Great Continental Horseman. The Celebrated Powell Family. Mdlle. Leonora, most fearless Horsewoman of the Day. | |
| Mon 1st Feb until Sat 6th Feb 1892 | Clarke's Continental Circus | Brilliant Troupe of British and Foreign Artistes & Magnificent Stud Horses. Mr. Alfred Clarke, the Great Continental Horseman. Leonora, most fearless Horsewoman of the Day. Rocky Mountain Wonders. Mdlle. Marguerite, Backward and Forward Bareback Rider. Mdlle. Louisa, Haute Ecole. Clowns. | |
| Mon 8th Feb until Sat 13th Feb 1892 | Clarke's Continental Circus | Brilliant Troupe of British and Foreign Artistes & Magnificent Stud Horses. Mr. Alfred Clarke, the Great Continental Horseman. Leonora, most fearless Horsewoman of the Day. Rocky Mountain Wonders. Mdlle. Marguerite, Backward and Forward Bareback Rider. Mdlle. Louisa, Haute Ecole. Clowns. | |
| Mon 15th Feb until Sat 20th Feb 1892 | Clarke's Continental Circus | Professor Collier's Celebrated Performing Mammoth and Midget Elephants, Deli and Nana. (Deli is now the largest animal in existence, being only 6 inches less than Jumbo.) Mr. Alfred Clarke. Asseiky the Arab. Thursday 18th, Silver Watch to be won by a Football Player who can kick the football through the Smallest Hoop. Friday 19th Grand Fashionable Night. | |
| Mon 22nd Feb until Sat 5th Mar 1892 | Clarke's Continental Circus | Grand Spectacle of Turpin's Ride to York and Death of Black Bess. Celebrated Stelling Troupe, Double Somersault Artistes and Bar Experts. Mr. Alfred Clarke, Le Jockey Anglaise. Le Groom Voltiguer. | |
| Mon 7th Mar until Sat 19th Mar 1892 | Clarke's Continental Circus | Walter Carnival entitled Gretna Green. The very best Equestrians, Gymnasts and Acrobats, Drollest of Clowns, Superb Stud of Horses. The expensive engagement of Jose Parker - Spring-Heeled Parker, Champion Back and Trick Jumper. | |
| Mon 21st Mar until Sat 26th Mar 1892 | Clarke's Continental Circus | Prince of Jesters, David Abbey Seal. Marti and Julietta. Merry Mora. Mdlle. Rose. Mdlle. Ida, and a host of others. | |
| Mon 28th Mar until Sat 2nd Apr 1892 | Clarke's Continental Circus | Prince of Jesters, David Abbey Seal. Mdlle. Ida, Charming Equestrienne. Monday, Musical Chair Contest. Tuesday, Ladies Night. Wednesday, Race for a Silver Watch. Thursday, Baby Show. Friday, Cycle Meeting. Saturday, Lions! Lions! Lions! | |
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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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