Cannon Huddersfield

The Hippodrome Theatre went over to film use as the Tudor Picture House on 6th October 1930, operated by Northern Cinemas, although there was still some occasional live stage shows.

In 1958 it was taken over by the Essoldo chain and re-named Essoldo. It was during their tenure in 1967 that the fire happened. The cinema was re-built, opening again in July 1969. The Essoldo chain was taken over by Classic Cinemas in 1972 and it was re-named Classic Cinema who added a second screen on the stage area. 10 years later in 1982 it was acquired by the Cannon Cinemas and was re-named for the final time.

After final closure as the Cannon Cinema (date unknown at present), it was converted into the current use as a bar, named the Rat & Parrot in Spring 1999.

The Cannon Cinema closed on 23rd February 1995.

Photo of the Cannon whilst still a cinema here:-

http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/331949539/

The Hippodrome Theatre was one of Huddersfields two variety theatres, the other being the Palace (also still standing) which operated in nearby Kirkgate. Even after it reopened as The Tudor, it continued to offer some live shows, the last to my knowledge being a Dusty Springfield concert in the early 1960's. When Classic cinemas took it over in 1972, a cinema showing 'adult films' and called The Tatler- was opened on the former theatre stage area. It did not finally close as a Cannon Cinema, and infact operated as an independant cinema for about a year in 1993/4, when the name of Essoldo was restored albeit for a brief period. The proprietor infact hosted Huddersfield first Lesbian & Gay film festival at the venue, which included a showing of the newly released 'Pricilla Queen Of The Desert' as a 'lighter offering'.As a note, the 1967 fire resulted in the destruction of the auditorium only, to my knowledge the 'fly tower' was never reduced in height, and the stage remained undamaged. If one observes the structure from Back Queen Street, it is possible to see the roof line that origionally existed above the hippodromes gallery. Up to about 15 years ago if one observed the building from the heights of the central services tower at the university of Huddersfield it was possible to see the words 'Hippodrome' painted in big white letters accross the roof of the flytower

Adendum: Ive got it wrong when the cinema briefly reopened in 1993/4 it tokk on the name of TUDOR- not Essoldo as said above.

If you compare this photograph, taken in 1994 by myself,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/331949539/

with this photograph taken more recently:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7540239@N05/495918837/in/pool-43112408@N00/

it is very clear that the fly-tower has been reduced in height.

Point taken Ian

Here is another recent photo.

indeed the cinema did re open for a while in 1993.....I seem to remember it was open for more than twelve months maybe three years.
It was run by two lads David Hepworth and Colin Platt under a company called Page Media Limited. They also took on the running of the Palace Cinmea Malton and I worked for them at the Palace as Manager / Projectionist. I left in 95 after a falling out but the Palace went on for a further Twelve months until the Tudor Huddersfield closed and the company went into administration.
The Palace Malton reopened five years later run I believe by two university media studies graduates and is still open and just holding its own!

This is a December 2008 photo.

Another 2008 photo can be seen here.

Wow what a blast from the past! I can remember working here as a volunteer in the early to mid 80's. Then the manager was a great friend Philip Bradley whome I would love to be able to contact if possible. I do have photo's somewhere of the projection room at the time with Peter Quinn head projectionist who sadly died. Every Thursday i would be the one in all weathers changing posters and letters above the canopy on classic one and number 2 on Zetland street. If anyone from that era remembers me it would be great to here from you, if anyone else would like any info about the cinema at that time please ask, I got to know the place quite well.

Another exterior shot from 2009:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3933714762/