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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1891 | Temporary Circus building, Pool Meadow | ||
| Date(s) | Show | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 5th Jan until Sat 10th Jan 1891 | Rowland's New York Circus | M. and Mdme. Valjean, celebrated Jugglers. Miss Carrolla and M. Thomas, Wonderful Tumblers and Somersault Throwers. Teddy Huxter, celebrated Clown and Grotesque. Fred Burges, Clown and Augoust, &c. | |
| Mon 12th Jan until Sat 17th Jan 1891 | Rowland's New York Circus | Mons. Foote, the most astounding High Tight Rope Performer in the World. M. J. Clemolo, Buffoon, and his Performing Monkeys, giving a practical illustration of the Darwinian Theory. M. and Mdme. Valjean, celebrated Jugglers. Miss Carrolla and M. Thomas, Wonderful Tumblers and Somersault Throwers. Friday 16th, Fashionable Night. | |
| Mon 19th Jan until Sat 24th Jan 1891 | Rowland's New York Circus | Miss Anetta, Dashing Bare-Back Rider. Zaulo and Vicini, Champion Triple Horizontal Bar Performers. Mons. Echo, balancing on a Pyramid of Chairs 26 feet high. Rowland's Great Troupe. La Barbier de Seville. Friday 23rd, Grand Benefit Night in aid of the Weavers' Fund. | |
| Mon 26th Jan until Sat 31st Jan 1891 | Rowland's New York Circus | Florence, Louie & Elba, Aerial Gymnasts and Flying Trapeze Artistes. George Arthur Rowland as The Courtier of St. Petersburg, Riding and Driving Four Horses. M. Armstrong, Musical Grotesque. Thoroughbred Horses Napoleon & Biscay. Miss Anetta Zeba, Dashing Equestrienne. Farce, The Bear and Sentinel. Friday 30th, Grand Cycling Club. | |
| Mon 2nd Feb until Sat 7th Feb 1891 | Rowland's New York Circus | Florence, Louie & Elba, Aerial Gymnasts and Flying Trapeze Artistes. Rowland's Clowns. Trick Horses and Ponies. Drama, Dick Turpin's Ride to York. Friday 6th, Grand Competition for Juvenile Cyclists. | |
| Mon 9th Feb until Sat 14th Feb 1891 | Rowland's New York Circus | Pantomime, The Mystery of a Foul-Wheel Cab. Roman Gladiators. Zampa, the Retriever Cob. COmical Donkey, Croydon. Comic Sketch, The Village Belle. Tuesday 10th, Benefit for Mr. W. Rowland. Thursday 12th, Riding Contest for Silver Watch. Friday 13th, Benefit for Mr. F. Herman. | |
| Mon 16th Feb until Mon 9th Mar 1891 | Rowland's New York Circus | Cinderella and the Little Glass Slipper, played by nearly 100 Children of Coventry. Moras, Champion Double and Triple Somersault Artistes. Louise, Charming and Dashing Equestrienne. Plus, Grand Sparring Exhibition between Mike Moran, Bantam-weight Champion of America, and Jack O'Neill of Birmingham. | |
| Sat 19th Sep 1891 | Wombwell's Menagerie, Circus & Museum | A larger menagerie than any other that has yet travelled; 25 waggons of Wild Beasts, Birds and Reptiles, over 600 rare, wonderful, and valuable specimens of Natural History. Plus a Circus of Artistes, Jugglers, Gymnasts and Acrobats, Wire Walkers, Clowns, Sharp Shooters, Horses, Ponies, Mules, Dogs, Donkeys, Goats, Bulls and Monkeys. | |
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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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