Hippodrome Cinema

In the early Edwardian era a fine theatre was opened on 1st June 1903. Located on Corporation Street, it was the Empire Theatre of Varieties. It was built for a consortium of businessmen, one of whom was Thomas Barrasford, who operated many music halls around the country. It had been designed by local architect J. A. Barron and was on the site of an earlier theatre known as the Peoples Palace. It had two balconies, a range of stage boxes and a capacity of 2,300 was claimed, although such boasts were often exaggerated. It later was renamed the Hippodrome Theatre and films were regulary shown as part of the variety programme.

Although no photographs seem to have survived there is a full list of the contractors involved with the construction:–

• McNelly (St Helens) – Consultant: Painting, Leadlightwork
• Brockfield Foundry Co (St Helens) – Consultant: Iron Work
• Stoft & Co (Manchester) – Consultant: Sunburner
• Bispham Hall Terracotta (Orrell) – Consultant: Terracotta
• Withnall Brick Co (Accrington) – Consultant: Bricks
• J. Mans (Liverpool) – Consultant: Painting Scenery
• Craven Dunhill Tiling Co (Jackfield Sallop) – Consultant: Mosaic And Tiling
• Thomson & Co (Liverpool) – Consultant: Seats
• Johnson & Sons (Liverpool) – Consultant: Fibrous Plaster
• Alex White & Son (Liverpool & Birkenhead) – Consultant: Decoration

In the late-1930’s (after 1937), the auditorium was reconstructed as a cinema by an unknown architect, reducing the two balconies to one and the capacity to 900. It was then operated as the New Hippodrome Cinema. In 1956 the proscenium was widened to 43 feet (from 25 feet) for Cinemascope and the capacity further reduced to 700. The stage was 35 feet deep and there were 14 dressing rooms. Oddly however the Edwardian ceiling was retained with its central dome and plasterwork and can still be seen today.

Never part of the major circuits, the Hippodrome Cinema continued successfully until 1968 when it was converted to a bingo hall which continues to operate in 2008.

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

Ian on March 9, 2008 at 12:33 pm

Photographs of the Hippodrome, taken in 1996, can be seen here:–

Exterior
View link

View link

Interior
View link

View link

View link

View link

View link

lostmemory on February 6, 2009 at 8:17 pm

This is a nice 2008 photo of the Hippodrome.