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____________________________________________________________________________________________ Tameside Hippodrome, Oldham Road,
Ashton-under-Lyne,
Above - The Tameside Hippodrome
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In 1932 the Theatre was closed and altered for Cinema use and reopened on the 22nd of August the same year with the film 'Carnival Boat’ starring Bill Boyd. In 1933 the Theatre again closed but this time it was to be entirely reconstructed as a Cinema and renamed the New Empire. The auditorium was radically altered by removal of the Gallery and boxes and was replaced with one single large balcony which could seat 600 people. The decor was remodeled in the Art Deco style and a new Cinema Organ was installed. The backstage area and the stage itself were retained however. The New Empire Cinema reopened for business on the 4th of November 1933. Right - Advertising Leaflet for an 'All Star Matinee' at the Ashton Empire Hippodrome in 1920 - Courtesy Richard Fair. In 1964 the Theatre was bought by the EMI group and renamed the ABC. This name was to continue until 1974 when it was closed and an application to convert it for Bingo was submitted. This however was refused by the local Council due to local pressure to retain it for live use and the fact that two local Operatic Societies still used the Theatre. Instead the Council took a 21 year lease on the building, removed the organ, refurbished the Theatre, and reopened it as a live venue with a capacity of 1,262 in 1976. In 1983 the Council bought the Theatre from EMI but in 1992 they appointed Apollo Leisure to run it, and it was at this time that the Theatre was renamed the Tameside Hippodrome. Currently the Theatre is run by Live Nation but the local Council have not renewed their contract and the Theatre is faced with closure in March 2008 unless new management can be found. If you are concerned about the fate of this much loved and historic Theatre you might like to consider signing the online petition against its closure here... |
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The
Tameside Hippodrome in Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne originally opened
as the Ashton Empire Hippodrome Theatre on the 21st of November 
