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.
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 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 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
1918 | Old Hippodrome, Hales Street | ||
| Date(s) | Show | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 7th Jan until Sat 12th Jan 1918 | Symphonia | Henry J. Corner musical ensemble. Plus, Dale & O'Malley, The Five Olracs, the Esa Japanese Trio, and much more. | |
| Mon 14th Jan until Sat 19th Jan 1918 | Johnson Clark | With 'hodge' the yokel. Plus, The Mandos, military comedy 'A Cushy Job', Gaby Revette, and others. | |
| Mon 21st Jan until Sat 26th Jan 1918 | The Elgar Hudson Quintette | Plus, Phil Parsons, Niblo and Doris, Emeric and Ainslie, the Akebono Trio, and more. | |
| Mon 28th Jan until Sat 2nd Feb 1918 | Hypnotism | Comedy featuring Carlton and his Satellites. Plus, the Real McKays, Fred Keeton, Dorothy Varick, and many more. | |
| Mon 4th Feb until Sat 9th Feb 1918 | Manny & Roberts | The messenger boys from Broadway. Plus, J. P. Ling, Mary Moran and Co., The Diving Belles, and others. | |
| Mon 11th Feb until Sat 16th Feb 1918 | Winifred Ward | The 'immaculate boy'. Plus, Duncan & Godfrey, May Erne & Erne Chester, Radford and Valentine, and many more. | |
| Mon 18th Feb until Sat 23rd Feb 1918 | The Kodak Girl | With 40 artiste company. Plus, Felovis, Miss May Gordon, and the latest War Films. | |
| Mon 25th Feb until Sat 2nd Mar 1918 | The Babes in the Wood | Pantomime starring Kitty Denton's 'Go Bang Girls' and full beauty chorus. | |
| Mon 4th Mar until Sat 9th Mar 1918 | The Magical Master | Illusionary fantasy followed by Scientific Electric Demonstrations. Plus, Charlie Rich, Sam Springston, and more. | |
| Mon 11th Mar until Sat 16th Mar 1918 | Three Cameos | Starring Cicely Courtneidge. Plus, Violet Black and Co., Brock's Cycling Maniacs, Mamie Morris, and others. | |
| Mon 18th Mar until Sat 23rd Mar 1918 | The Finales | Revue starring Walter Subtel. Plus, Tom E. Hughes, Den and Mark, Mabel Costello, and many more. | |
| Mon 25th Mar until Sat 30th Mar 1918 | Miss Hetty King | Plus, Jay Whidden, Private Evans, Adkin and Co., the Tom Wong Troupe, and others. | |
| Mon 1st Apr until Sat 6th Apr 1918 | Bubble & Squeak | Starring George Carney and Deane Tribune. Plus, The Levards, Marcelle Caron, and the latest War Films. | |
| Mon 8th Apr until Sat 13th Apr 1918 | Fred Barnes | With comedy and song. Plus, Wilson and Waring, play 'A Double Escape', Zellini, Alex Prince, and others. | |
| Mon 15th Apr until Sat 20th Apr 1918 | Victoria Monks | 'John Bull's Girl'. Plus, Barker & Tarling, The Monzos, Bob and Harry, and many others. | |
| Mon 22nd Apr until Sat 27th Apr 1918 | His Own Way | Musical comedy starring Florence Wray and company. Plus, episode 'True Values', Walter Wade, Lowdini, and more. | |
| Mon 29th Apr until Sat 4th May 1918 | Mrs. Langtry | With Henry Deas and Walter Pearce in small play 'Ashes'. Plus, Les Bastiens, Bunny and Gladys, and others. | |
| Mon 6th May until Sat 11th May 1918 | All Clear | Musical farce with Billy Denvers and Dene Williams. Plus, Foster Kershaw, Sisters Mestrys, Renee, and more. | |
| Mon 13th May until Sat 18th May 1918 | The Johnson 'Ole | 'Trench humour' play with Harry Thurston and Co. Plus, Walkers Juveniles, Vivian Foster, Dorothy Lena, and others. | |
| Mon 20th May until Sat 25th May 1918 | Odds On | Revue starring W. H. Kirby & Gwen Clifford. Plus, Woodward and Page, and Toots Hanlon. | |
| Mon 27th May until Sat 1st Jun 1918 | Morritt, the Mystery Man | Plus, Gillin, Magini, the Claymore Trio, McAllister and Smith, and more. | |
| Mon 3rd Jun until Sat 8th Jun 1918 | Zomah, the Psychic Phenomenon | Plus, The Harmony Four, Lawrence Barclay, Anita Hayes, and many others. | |
| Mon 10th Jun until Sat 15th Jun 1918 | The House that Jerry Built | Starring Lew Lake and a colossal company. Plus, W. E. Chapman, Herbert Winter and Bunny, and more. | |
| Mon 17th Jun until Sat 22nd Jun 1918 | Rejected Remounts | By Fred Ginnett's company. Plus, Sandy Powell, Jen Latona, and many others. | |
| Mon 24th Jun until Sat 29th Jun 1918 | Frills and Drills | Musical comedy starring Lorna Della and George Gregory. Plus, Costa and Geo, Veda Le Court, and more. | |
| Mon 1st Jul until Sat 6th Jul 1918 | Phew! | Starring Goodfellow and Gregson. Plus, the 9 Dainty Dots, Granby and Grant, May Locke, and others. | |
| Mon 8th Jul until Sat 13th Jul 1918 | Entre Nous | A 'musical something' featuring Cora Lingard and W. L. Rowland. Plus, Gwennie Morgan, and the Milly and Gordon Trio. | |
| Mon 15th Jul until Sat 20th Jul 1918 | Nights of Gladness | Musical mix-up starring Tom Shenton, GLadys Nelson and Harry Morgan. Plus, Stidder, Dave Morris, and more. | |
| Mon 22nd Jul until Sat 27th Jul 1918 | Nosey Knows | Musical farce starring Will Hay and Dorothy Frostick. Plus, Herbert Cave, Franco, Evelyn Earle, and more. | |
| Mon 29th Jul until Sat 3rd Aug 1918 | Air Birds | With the Six Brothers Luck and Billy Lytton. Plus, the Carina Trio, Tina Paynola, and more. | |
| Mon 5th Aug until Sat 10th Aug 1918 | She Slipped | Musical farce by Fred Le Cren. Plus, W. V. Robinson, Alice Gill, and latest War Films. | |
| Mon 12th Aug until Sat 17th Aug 1918 | J. W. Rickaby | Burlesque character comedian. Plus, The 4 Lisbons, Jack Shields, Betty Butters and Boob, and more. | |
| Mon 19th Aug until Sat 24th Aug 1918 | Sarah Sleeps Out | By Charles Windermere and Company. Plus, Alfred Leonard and Co., Sam Stern, Haley's Komets, and others. | |
| Mon 26th Aug until Sat 31st Aug 1918 | Something To His Advantage | Comedy starring Miss Jean Aylwin. Plus, Emilie Hayes, Torino, Angel Blanco, Josephine La Barte, and more. | |
| Mon 2nd Sep until Sat 7th Sep 1918 | Ching Wu | Chinese magician. Plus, Jennie Hartley, the Yamagata Troupe, Morgan and Burke, and more. | |
| Mon 9th Sep until Sat 14th Sep 1918 | Hiawatha & Minnehaha | Plus, Pauline Travis, Mary Moran, H. O. Wills, O'Wray and O'Dare, and others. | |
| Mon 16th Sep until Sat 21st Sep 1918 | The Hon. Gertrude | Comedy starring Miss Esme Beringer and West End company. Plus, Jerry & Co., Tom D. Newall, and more. | |
| Mon 23rd Sep until Sat 28th Sep 1918 | Billy Merson | Comedian. Plus, Murphy and Mack, The Quaint Q's, Marie Lawton, Ricardo and Montford, and more. | |
| Mon 30th Sep until Sat 5th Oct 1918 | The New Slavey | Comedy starring Anita Edis and Freddie Forbes. Plus, Ray Wallace, L'Incognita, The Q's, and others. | |
| Mon 7th Oct until Sat 12th Oct 1918 | Nellie Wallace | Plus, The Mongadors, the Femina Quartette, the Sisters Urma, Harry Helmsley, and more. | |
| Mon 14th Oct until Sat 19th Oct 1918 | The Years Between | Featuring Horace Hunter and Lily Hammersley. Plus, Cullen and Carthy, The Ketos, Phil Kauffman, and more. | |
| Mon 21st Oct until Sat 26th Oct 1918 | Elliot Savonas | Musicians. Plus, Miss Edna Latonne, James Fawn, Harry Hewitt, Sam Hilton, and many more. | |
| Mon 28th Oct until Sat 2nd Nov 1918 | Mdlle. Margo and Company | The 'modern enchantress'. Plus, the Neptune Quintette, Fred Ellis, Jubb and Jerome, and many others. | |
| Mon 4th Nov until Sat 9th Nov 1918 | The Sugar Baby | Musical comedy with Brandow and Brand. Plus, W. J. Churchill (Uncle Willie), The Bracks, and more. | |
| Mon 11th Nov until Sat 16th Nov 1918 | Chas. R. Whittle | Comedian. Plus, the Two Cures, episode 'All Wrong', Madge Velma and her Ruffles, and others. | |
| Mon 18th Nov until Sat 23rd Nov 1918 | Tucker | Singing violinist. Plus, Queenie Leighton, Victor Kelly, Page's Animated Dolls, and many more. | |
| Mon 25th Nov until Sat 30th Nov 1918 | The Great Carmo | Versatile Australian artiste. Plus, M. Gintaro, Lee and Kingston, The Heywoods, and more. | |
| Mon 2nd Dec until Sat 7th Dec 1918 | Go As You Please | Musical extravaganza starring Happy Attwood. Plus, Mareski, George Hyman, Colbert, and Special War Films. | |
| Mon 9th Dec until Sat 14th Dec 1918 | Don't Tempt Me | Revue starring Webb & Page. Plus, Phardos, Violet King, Dusty Rhodes, and more. | |
| Mon 16th Dec until Sat 21st Dec 1918 | Nixon Grey | Comedian. Plus, the Marvellous Merrils, Garadini, Elven Hedges, Alice Edwards, and others. | |
| Mon 23rd Dec until Sat 28th Dec 1918 | She's a Daisy | music and comedy starring Gus Chevalier and Vera Hind. Plus, Leonie Dixon, and The Mountfords. | |
| Mon 30th Dec 1918 until Sat 4th Jan 1919 | Harry Champion | Character comedian. Plus, Will Lacey, the Sutcliffe Family, Elsie Robey, Mark Coney, and many others. | |
Prev year: 1917 Next year: 1919
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 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 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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