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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.



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1932

Old Hippodrome, Hales Street

Date(s)ShowNotesImages
Mon 4th Jan until Sat 9th Jan 1932Talbot O'FarrellVariety bill, also featuring the 5 Sherry Brothers, Charlie Higgins, and more.
Mon 11th Jan until Sat 16th Jan 1932Babes in the WoodPantomime, starring Randolph Sutton and 40 other artistes.
Mon 18th Jan until Sat 23rd Jan 1932Alfred Rode and his Royal Tzigane BandVariety, including Max Miller, Cornalla & Eddie, and many more.
Mon 25th Jan until Sat 30th Jan 1932Hello! FolksStars of the BBC, featuring Tommy Handley and many others.
Mon 1st Feb until Sat 6th Feb 1932Robinson CrusoePantomime, starring Flanagan & Allen and full cast.
Mon 8th Feb until Sat 13th Feb 1932Layton & JohnstoneThe world's most popular singers, plus Payne & Hilliard, and many others.
Mon 15th Feb until Sat 20th Feb 1932Shanghai Nights'Exotic revue from the glorious orient'.
Mon 22nd Feb until Sat 27th Feb 1932Folly to be WiseMusical cocktail, starring Harry Angers, Henry Lytton Jnr. and Doris Bransgrove.
Mon 29th Feb until Sat 5th Mar 1932Wee Georgie WoodVariety, also including Mona Vivian, Daphne the wonder chimpanzee,Peel & Curtis, and more.
Mon 7th Mar until Sat 12th Mar 1932The GeishaBy the Coventry Amateur Operatic Society.
Mon 14th Mar until Sat 19th Mar 1932Ernie's EndMusical comedy burlesque, featuring Albert Burdon.
Mon 21st Mar until Sat 26th Mar 1932Alexander & MoseBlack-faced comedians. Plus, Albert Whelan, Billy Bennett, and many more.
Mon 28th Mar until Sat 2nd Apr 1932Will Hay & Co.In an episode of St. Michael's. Plus Haver & Lee, Doris Ashton, and others.
Mon 4th Apr until Sat 9th Apr 1932Edith Day & Robert NaylorPlus, Zomah, Elsie Videau & Walter Kirby, the 4 Rodney Hudson Girls, and many more.
Mon 11th Apr until Sat 16th Apr 1932Les Folies de ParisRevue with 30 artistes, plus variety with Willie Lancet, Jack Stanford, Eddie Windsor, and many others.
Mon 18th Apr until Sat 23rd Apr 1932The Queen of ClubsStarring Nellie Wallace, plus Pat Kendall, Ernest Lester, and others.
Mon 25th Apr until Sat 30th Apr 1932London Palladium Crazy ComediansTwo hours of mad fooling, plus Billy Caryll, Naughton & Gold, and others.
Mon 2nd May until Sat 7th May 1932Houston SistersCrazy comedy bill, also featuring Vine & More, Four Hearts, Charles Shadwell and his Orchestra, and more.
Mon 9th May until Sat 14th May 1932Lily MorrisWith comedy songs. Plus, Elsie Bower & Billy Rutherford, Lee Don, Robert Algar, and more.
Mon 16th May until Sat 21st May 1932Billy Cotton and His Famous BandPlus, Max & Harry Nesbitt, Barry Twins & Sister Molly, and many others.
Mon 23rd May until Sat 28th May 1932Teddy BrownThe world's greatest xylophonist, plus Ben Leven, Clifford Hellier, Florence Oldham, and more.
Mon 30th May until Sat 4th Jun 1932Birds of the NightParisian success with 50 artistes, including Janice Hart and Frank O'Brian.
Mon 6th Jun until Sat 11th Jun 1932G. S. MelvinVersatile comedian, plus Joe Young & Co., the Brothers Alvarez, and many others.
Mon 13th Jun until Sat 18th Jun 1932Good Evening Ev'rybodyFeaturing Dan Young, plus, Nat and Joy Jackley, Sybil Stanford, and others.
Mon 20th Jun until Sat 25th Jun 1932Oranges and LemonsFeaturing Freddie Forbes. Plus, Stetson Hatter, Little Doreen, Max Wall, Al Maurice, and more.
Mon 27th Jun until Sat 2nd Jul 1932Will FyffeScotland's greatest character comedian. Plus, Leslie Weston, Lalla Dodd, and many more.
Mon 4th Jul until Sat 9th Jul 1932Ridgeway ParadeWith Philip Ridgeway, from the BBC, London.
Mon 11th Jul until Sat 16th Jul 1932The Spice of ParisBiggest show ever to visit Coventry, with 100 people on stage.
Mon 18th Jul until Sat 23rd Jul 1932Les Femmes de Paris (The Ladies of Paris)Jack Taylor's £20,000 revue.
Mon 25th Jul until Sat 30th Jul 1932La Revue de ParisStarring Ken Douglas, comedian, and full London Company.
Mon 1st Aug until Sat 6th Aug 1932Arthur PrinceAnd his 'Jim' in 'Naval History'. Plus, Sam Mayo, Michel and Partner, and many more.
Mon 8th Aug until Sat 13th Aug 1932Walk This WayTom Arnold's gerat comedy attraction, starring Douglas Wakefield.
Mon 15th Aug until Sat 20th Aug 1932Vaudeville RevelsFeaturing Terry's 50 stars of the future, Frederic Culpitt, Ernie Allen & George Levoie, and more.
Mon 22nd Aug until Sat 27th Aug 1932Randolph SuttonAt the piano. Plus, Stewart Macbean, Clare Solly, Helen Binnie, A. J. Powers, and others.
Mon 29th Aug until Sat 3rd Sep 1932Herschel HenlereThe mirthful music master. Plus, Mason & Armes, Harry Hemsley, and many more.
Mon 5th Sep until Sat 10th Sep 1932The Millionaire KidThe entire Gaiety Theatre production with an enormous cast.
Mon 12th Sep until Sat 17th Sep 1932The Big ShowRevue, featuring Gwladys Stanley, Lawrie Howe, Jimmy Young, Tony Sympson, and many others.
Mon 19th Sep until Sat 24th Sep 1932By GeorgeRevue, starring George Clarke, 'England's funniest revue comedian'.
Mon 26th Sep until Sat 1st Oct 1932PhantasiesMusic, mirth and spectacular settings, with Frank E. Franks, and company of 45.
Mon 3rd Oct until Sat 8th Oct 1932Sous le RideauRevue of French frivolities, starring George Formby and large cast.
Mon 10th Oct until Sat 15th Oct 1932Balliol & MertonThe world's most sensational dancers. Plus, Howard Rogers, Walter WIlliams and Percy Hayden, and many more.
Mon 17th Oct until Sat 22nd Oct 1932ParisExotic revue, featuring Queenie May and Dan Young.
Mon 24th Oct until Sat 29th Oct 1932Coram and JerryWorld famous ventriloquist. Plus, Gretl Vernon, Jock McKay, Lapp and Habel, Betty Jumel, and much more.
Mon 31st Oct until Sat 5th Nov 1932Mr. Flotsam and Mr. JetsamVaudeville and film artistes. Plus, Billy Danvers, Gladdy Sewell, Duncan Grey, and many others.
Mon 7th Nov until Sat 12th Nov 1932Alfredo and his Gipsy BandMammoth musical ensemble. Plus, Fred Sylvester and his Nephews, Billy Russell, and many more.
Mon 14th Nov until Sat 19th Nov 1932Nat Mills & BobbiePlus, Little Mary Hagen, Mamie Soutter, George Doonan, Martin and Ruane, and more.
Mon 21st Nov until Sat 26th Nov 1932Wonder BarMusical play of continental night life.
Mon 28th Nov until Sat 3rd Dec 1932Gertie Gitana'The idol of the people'. Plus, G. H. Elliott, Ted Ray, Beryl Beresford, 8 Dainty Maids, and much more.
Mon 5th Dec until Sat 10th Dec 1932Marry At LeisureComedy play, by the Coventry Dramatic Society.
Mon 12th Dec until Sat 17th Dec 1932DesiresGigantic comedy revue with cast of 50.
Mon 19th Dec until Sat 24th Dec 1932Follow The CrowdStarring Billy Percy, with Kathleen Ellis, Marjorie Leon, and many more.
Mon 26th Dec until Sat 31st Dec 1932The Rio State Marimba BandPlus, A. C. Astor, Olive Fox, Taps and Tempo, Teddy Carlton, and many others.

Prev year: 1931Showing 1932Next year: 1933

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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