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 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
'Tin' Hippodrome, Pool Meadow | |||
| Date(s) | Show | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 27th Jun until Sat 2nd Jul 1904 | Capt. Alfonso Gerard's Troupe of Performing Lions | With, Bros. Hannaway, Amstell and Luie, Ford Wallace, Tom Prichard, Minni Munroe, Bioscope, and more. | |
Old Hippodrome, Hales Street | |||
| Date(s) | Show | Notes | Images |
| Mon 20th Jan until Sat 25th Jan 1908 | Grand Amateur Ladies Singing Competition | All week, with £10 cash prizes. Plus, Talberto and Douglas, Francis Gerard, Miss Lily Burnand, Miss Louie Freear, and others. | |
| Mon 19th Jun until Sat 24th Jun 1911 | Zona Vevey | America's idol, with Max Erard and his piano. Plus, George Rapley, the Sisters Geretti, and many more. | |
| Mon 19th Feb until Sat 24th Feb 1912 | Zona Vevey | Assisted by composer Max Erard. Plus, Mooney and Holbein, Stacey and Williams, Owen McGiveney, and more. | |
| Mon 8th Jul until Sat 13th Jul 1912 | Erard's Great Company of Vaudevillians | Plus, W. F. Reno and his Bike, Charles Norton, the Bellonis, Cassie Walmer, and others. | |
| Mon 15th Sep until Sat 20th Sep 1913 | Loss Of The Titanic | The immortal tale of simple heroism. Plus, Chas. Erard, Lona Wayne, Lotto, Lilo and Otto, Gilday and Fox, and more. | |
| Mon 21st Apr until Sat 26th Apr 1919 | Miss Zona Vevey and Max Erard | With his 8 ton cathedral organ. Plus, Smith and Joyce, Ragolio, and much more. | |
| Mon 27th Sep until Sat 2nd Oct 1920 | Miss Zona Vevey and Max Erard | And a great organ. Plus, Johnny Dundee, May Edney, Maudie & Syd McLloyd, and others. | |
| Mon 23rd Jan until Sat 28th Jan 1922 | Zona Vevey & Max Erard | And a great organ. Plus, Jack Boot, Roelgin's Comedy Parrots, and much more. | |
| Mon 2nd Aug until Sat 7th Aug 1926 | The Fun Box | Starring Zena Vevey, Max Erard, Clive Erard, Reg Heaton, and more. | |
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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