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The Derby Hippodrome was designed by Marshall & Tweedy as a large Variety Theatre and opened on the 20th of July 1914 with a production called 'September Morn'

The auditorium of the Hippodrome was constructed on three levels with Stalls, below ground, and two Circles, with a capacity of over 2,000, although currently this is estimated as a slightly lower 1,800.

The Theatre had a successful few decades as a live theatre before being converted for cinema use in September 1930. The first film to be shown at the new Cinema was 'Sunnyside Up' on the 15th of September that year. Cinema use continued up until 1950 when the then owners, J. Arthur Rank, sold the building providing it was not to be used as a Cinema.

Above - A short film made about the history of the Derby Hippodrome called 'My Golden Memories of Derby's Silver Screens' by the late Colin Wardle during its Bingo Days.

(You will need to have the Macromedia Flash Player plug-in installed to be able to view this Video)

Consequently the Derby Hippodrome reopened on the 23rd of December 1950 having been converted back to live theatre use after a short closure of two months. This was timely as the other Theatre in Derby, The Grand, had closed only two weeks earlier.

The Theatre was again successful, this time run by the Stoll Theatres Corporation, putting on all manor of shows, although Variety was its main fair. However, with the blossoming of Television in the 1950s, like so many other Theatres around the Country, the Hippodrome's success was not to last.

In January 1959, after the Christmas Pantomime was over, the Hippodrome closed its doors as a live Theatre for the last time. The Theatre remained dark and its future looked uncertain but in 1962 it was bought by Mecca and converted for Bingo use.

Bingo at the Hippodrome went on right up until 2007 but since then the Theatre's future has really hung in the balance. The Theatre was Grade II Listed in 1992 and you would think that this would have protected the building but not so. In March 2008 contractors for the current owner, Christopher Anthony, who were supposed to be carrying out work to repair the roof, as ordered by the local Council, managed to destroy it instead, and caused a huge amount of damage to the auditorium in the process. In fact local residents feared that the Theatre was being demolished, such was the extent of the destruction. Derby City Council acted fast and stopped any further destruction and the owners were ordered to make the building safe. However, a protracted battle has ensued with the developers saying they would appeal the Council's decision and the Council backing down from enforcing their earlier orders.

Above - A video by the Derby Telegraph on the destruction of the Theatre on the 28th of March 2008

(You will need to have the Macromedia Flash Player plug-in installed to be able to view this Video)

In February 2009 the Theatres Trust were notified of a pre-application to demolish the auditorium of the Grade II listed Hippodrome Theatre and replace it with a multi-storey car park. They say that there is a tight deadline as it has been registered as a pre app.

If you would like to see details of this planning application and...
make your feelings known Click Here.

There is also a great deal of information about the Derby Hippodrome here, and much information on the recent history of the building here.

The Grand Theatre, 9, Babbington Lane, Derby

Formerly Tiffanys / The Ritzy - Later Eclipse / McClusky’s

Above - The Facade of the former Derby Grand in 2008 - Courtesy Roger Fox

The Grand Theatre, Derby was built in 1886 by Oliver Essex.

In 1889 Frank Matcham altered the auditorium and the main entrance canopy.

In 1897 electricity was installed in the Theatre.

The auditorium was again reconstructed by Frank Matcham in 1900 and by 1908 the capacity is known to have been around 2,500.

Right - A programme for 'On Monday Next' at the Grand Theatre Derby in 1949, which was also running at the Comedy Theatre in London at the same time and was quite a success - Courtesy Alan Chudley.

The Grand closed as a live Theatre on the 9th of December 1950 and in 1959 the building was converted into a Dance Hall.

The Theatre's facade is all that remains today but the space it occupied is currently being used as a Nightclub called McClusky's.

Above - A programme for 'On Monday Next' at the Grand Theatre Derby in 1949, which was also running at the Comedy Theatre in London at the same time and was quite a success - Courtesy Alan Chudley.

If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.