Hippodrome Cinema

Located in Selby, Yorkshire. Plans were proposed in 1914 by Mr. Tuck, owner of the Globe Cinema, to build a modern cinema/theatre, but these were shelved due to the outbreak of World War I. The site chosen was adjoining the River Ouse. Piling was needed to support the weight of the stage fly tower. Eventually construction work began and the Hippodrome Cinema was opened on 12th February 1917. It had a 26ft wide proscenium, the stage was 30ft deepand there were eight dressing rooms.

By 1923 a Mr W. West was the owner of the Hippodrome Cinema, but it was finding it hard to compete with the Central Picture Hall in the town. In 1925 it was taken over by the European Theatre Company and on 25th May 1931 it was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system.

In the severe winter weather of 1946/47 the River Ouse broke its banks after a sudden thaw, and the Hippodrome Cinema was flooded. The audience had to be rescued with buses and taken to dry land. The Central Picture Hall and the Ritz Cinema also suffered flooding, but were only closed for a few weeks. It took longer for the Hippdrome Cinema to re-open.

By 1954 the Hippodrome Cinema was presenting variety shows on Sundays. It was closed to be equipped with CinemaScope in February 1955, but it never happened and the building was converted into retail and storage use. It was demolished in 1978.

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