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____________________________________________________________________________________________ Hulme Hippodrome Theatre, Preston
Street, Hulme, Manchester
Above - The auditorium of the Hulme Hippodrome in 1980 - Photo Courtesy Ted Bottle.
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The Hulme Hippodrome in Preston Street, Hulme, Manchester was built next door to the Hulme Playhouse by J. J. Alley who also built several other Theatres in Manchester, including the Metropole, the Royal Osborne, the Hulme Playhouse, and the Queens Park Hippodrome along with the Pavilion Theatre in Liverpool, and several others in the Broadhead Circuit. The Hulme Hippodrome was built as a Theatre for melodrama, called the Grand Junction Theatre and Floral Hall, and opened in 1901. Both Theatres were connected by an arcade.
In 1942 the Theatre was renamed the Second Manchester Repertory Theatre. Right - The stage and auditorium of the Hulme Hippodrome in 1980 - Photo Courtesy Ted Bottle. In 1950 the Theatre was refurbished and the Gallery was reopened. In 1962 the Theatre was converted for Bingo and Casino use. The building is Grade II listed and whilst the auditorium with its two galleries remains in its original state the same can't be said for its orginal exterior which has been completly hidden by modern twentieth century cladding. On the Monday after the week at St Helens I took the costumes props and scenery to the Hulme Hippodrome Manchester; the first of the Jimmy Brennan dates that we were to play on salary in three weeks time. I stored it in the scene dock there and went home to Dewsbury. My calling up papers were waiting for me. I was to go to Devizes and join the Pay Corps on the Thursday of the Hulme Hippodrome week.
Above - The auditorium of the Hulme Hippodrome in 1980 - Photo Courtesy Ted Bottle. Hulme was a pleasure to work it was a clean well run theatre with an excellent staff well equipped and a good orchestra. I had a wonderful three days there. I left at the end of the first house on Wednesday night to join the Army. All the cast hugged and kissed me even the musical director shook hands. I wept profusely. I visited the show at various times when on leave. One week just before Christmas when the show was called 'Memories of Old Ireland' it was to go to the Alexandra Gardens Weymouth the following week as a pantomime, and be called 'Babes In The Wood' with very few changes. Even though I visited the show when ever I could I was not part of the family any more and felt this deeply even though the cast were wonderful to me, and there was a new cheerful musical director. So to the cast of 'Don't Be Shy Girls' and whatever else it was called I drink a toast. I love you all. From Twilight of the Touring Revue By Donald Auty. |
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The
Theatre originally seaed 3000 and was renamed the Hulme Hippodrome in
