Hippodrome
The original structure know as the Empire opened on the 4th July 1895 and offered a mixture of dancing and variety. It claimed that 6000 people could watch or to take part in the entertainment at any one time. In 1897 the Empire changed ownership and concentrated on variety, recruiting talent from London. At the time it was the only music hall in Blackpool. Three years later the Empire changed its name to the Hippodrome and became a circus. It is said to have housed Louis Tussauds Waxworks in the basement at some time.
Harry Houdini visited the Hippodrome on June 14th 1905.
The old Hippodrome was sold in 1910 to cinema interests and subsequently became one of Blackpool’s leading theatres.
Hippodrome, Church Street.
Closed on the 28th October 1961 and altered to become the New ABC Theatre, which opened on 31st May 1963.
From the 9th September, which was the last night of the Summer Show, ‘Rose Marie’, until its closure, a few films were shown, with the last films being, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” along with the “B” film “The Third Alibi”.
The information board outside stated that, “This theatre closes to the public after the evening performance tonight for major alterations and renovations.” The Hippodrome closed on 28th October 1961.
Programme for the Hippodrome & Princess theatres – 1924
King Revel – 1938 – Programme
Sandy Powell, Douglas Wakefield, Norman Evans, Nat Gonella
King Revel – 1938 – Brochure
Norman Evans, Douglas Wakefield, Sandy Powell and Gloria Gilbert
Coconut Grove – 1948
Josef Locke, Jimmy Jewel, Ben Warriss, The Five Smith Brothers, Gloria King, Evie and Joe Slack, Ken Whitmer
Coconut Grove – 1949
Jewel and Warriss, Josef Locke, Julie Andrews, Wally Boag and Jean Carson.
Julie Andrews (born Julia Wells) first appeared in the town in July 1949, at the Hippodrome, in the show “Coconut Grove – entertainment in the modern manner”. Josef Locke topped the bill, with Jean Carson, Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss, and Wally Boag (the balloon-artist from “Starlight Roof”). Young Julie was billed as “the Melody of Youth”.
Fiesta at the Coconut Grove – 1950 – Brochure
Jewel and Warriss, Robert Wilson, Elsa and Waldo, Bob Bromley and Henry Lytton
Fiesta at the Coconut Grove – 1950 – Programme
Moulin Rouge – 1951 – Brochure
Moulin Rogue – 1951 – Programme
Vic Oliver and Josef Locke
Life with the Lyons – 1952 – Brochure
Life with the Lyons – 1952 – Programme
Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon and Diana Dors
Latin Quarter – 1953 – Brochure
Max Bygraves, Winifred Attwell, Hylda Baker
Gazette article about 1953 at the Hippodrome
Latin Quarter – Luxury Musical – 1953 – Programme
Hylda Baker, Winifred Atwell, Patrick O’Hagan and Max Bygraves
Turned out Nice Again – 1954 – Brochure
George Formby, Albert and Les Ward, Jimmy James, Joan Hind, Les Trio Dorre, Margo Henderson and Sam Kemp.
Turned out Nice Again – 1954 – Programme
George Formby, Albert and Les Ward, Jimmy James, Joan Hind, Les Trio Dorre, Margo Henderson and Sam Kemp.
The Dickie Valentine Show – 1955
Dickie Valentine, Bonar Colleano, Babs Adams, Bill Adams, Anna Alexis
This’ll Make You Laugh – 1956
Tessie O’Shea, Arthur Worsley, Sabrina and Nat Jackley
Rocking with Laughter – 1957
Ken Dodd, Stan Stennett and Jill Day
Light Up the Town – 1958
Jack Storey, Winifred Atwell, Michael Holliday, The Nitwits, The Kaye Sisters, The Skylons and Baker and Douglas.
The Army Game – 1959
Ted Lune, Alfie Bass, Norman Rossington, Bill Fraser, Michael Medwin, Rosemary Squires, Fredianis, Albert and Les Ward, Saveen, Kenneth Wynne and Michael Stainton
Seeing Stars – 1960
Adam Faith, Lana Sisters, Emile Ford, The Checkmates, The John Barry Seven
Rose Marie – 1961 – Final Summer Season for the Hippodrome
David Whitfield
The last night of this show was on 9th September 1961
There was no Summer Season for programme 1962, the theatre was altered prior to it re-opening as the New ABC Theatre in 1963.
