Aston Hippodrome

Aston Hippodrome, also known as The Hipp, was a theatre and popular entertainment venue in the Aston area of Birmingham, England. It opened to the public on 7 December 1908 following the completion of a building project reported to have cost £10,000. The theatre was designed by James and Lister Lea, architects also associated with the nearby Bartons Arms public house, which stands across the street from the former theatre site. The venue operated as a traditional variety and theatre house, with performances held twice daily. Its programme included touring comedians, singers, revue performers and other popular entertainers. Acts associated with the Hippodrome included Laurel and Hardy, George Formby, Gracie Fields, Larry Grayson, Morecambe and Wise, and Judy Garland, who performed there in 1951. The venue therefore formed part of the regional circuit through which major British and international stage performers reached audiences outside London. A major fire seriously damaged the building in 1938. The theatre was subsequently refurbished at a reported cost of £38,000, allowing it to continue operating as an entertainment venue. During the mid-to-late 1950s, its programme was strongly associated with revue and striptease shows. Ron Dawson’s novel The Last Viking later used one of these shows, Heatwave, as the setting for its opening chapter, reflecting the atmosphere surrounding this period of the venue’s history. The theatre ceased presenting performances on 4 June 1960. Its final show was a revue titled A to Z of Striptease. After theatrical operations ended, the building was converted into a bingo hall. It remained in that use until the structure was demolished in September 1980. The Drum, an arts centre, now occupies the theatre’s former site. Aston Hippodrome is consequently a defunct local entertainment brand and historic venue rather than an operating theatre or contemporary commercial business.

Aston Hippodrome was a theatre in Aston, Birmingham, England, commonly known as The Hipp. It was built for the local popular entertainment market and opened on 7 December 1908. The theatre was designed by James and Lister Lea, whose work also included the Bartons Arms public house located nearby on the opposite side of the street. Construction reportedly cost £10,000. The Hippodrome operated as a busy variety theatre, presenting two performances a day. Its programming connected Aston audiences with both major touring stars and popular British entertainers. Acts associated with the venue included Laurel and Hardy, George Formby, Gracie Fields, Larry Grayson, Morecambe and Wise, and Judy Garland, who appeared there in 1951. These bookings illustrate the role the theatre played in Birmingham’s wider network of commercial entertainment venues. In 1938, a serious fire damaged the building. The theatre underwent a major refurbishment, with the work reported to have cost £38,000. It subsequently continued to operate, although its later programming developed a strong emphasis on revue and striptease shows. Such productions were particularly prominent during the mid-to-late 1950s. The revue Heatwave is also remembered through its appearance in the opening chapter of Ron Dawson’s novel The Last Viking, which depicts the atmosphere of one of the Hippodrome’s striptease performances. The building’s theatrical life ended on 4 June 1960, when it hosted its final performance, A to Z of Striptease. Rather than being immediately demolished, the structure was converted into a bingo hall and remained in that use for approximately two decades. The former theatre was demolished in September 1980. The Drum, an arts centre, is now located on the site, linking the location to Birmingham’s continuing cultural infrastructure even though the Aston Hippodrome itself no longer exists.

• 1980

  Demolition

  [1]Aston Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The former theatre and bingo hall was demolished in September.

• 1960

  Final theatrical performance

  [1]Aston Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre closed as a performance venue on 4 June after presenting A to Z of Striptease.

• 1951

  Judy Garland appearance

  [1]Aston Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  Judy Garland performed at the venue during its period as a major popular entertainment theatre.

• 1938

  Fire and refurbishment

  [1]Aston Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  A serious fire damaged the theatre, followed by a reported £38,000 refurbishment.

• 1908

  Public opening

  [1]Aston Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  Aston Hippodrome opened to the public on 7 December as a new theatre in Aston, Birmingham.

A popular regional theatre serving Aston and the wider Birmingham entertainment market, with programming spanning variety performances, touring acts, revues and later adult-oriented stage shows.

• 1960

  Conversion from theatre to bingo hallStrategy

  Background

  After theatrical performances ended, the former entertainment venue was repurposed rather than continuing as a theatre.

  Action taken

  The building was renovated into a bingo hall following its final performance on 4 June 1960.

  Aftermath

  The bingo hall remained in operation until the building was demolished in September 1980.

  Source

1. 1Aston Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org