Hippodrome Heritage Highlights - January Through The Ages

Did you know that songbird Vera Lynn visited Birmingham in 1939? Or that musical virtuoso Ivor Novello first trod the boards here in his own hit musical back in 1945? Or that the first Hot Ice Show to be staged here took place as early as 1946 and featured a repertoire of over 40 international dance artists?

In our latest Hippodrome Heritage blog series, Volunteer Archivist and all-round theatre expert Ivan Heard treats us to a potted history of Birmingham’s premiere theatre…one month at a time, from the glorious years of variety theatre and musical revue right through to the present day!

First up…January!

• 4^th Jan – 1942. Birmingham Hippodrome stages its first full-length play, a thriller entitled “No Orchids For Miss Blandish”
• 6^th Jan – 1936 – Comedian Tommy Trinder debuts at Birmingham Hippodrome
• 10^th Jan – 1943. Birmingham Hippodrome stages its first Adults Only play – ” Damaged Goods”- An advisory play exploring venereal disease.
• 11^th Jan – 1926. Birmingham Hippodrome plays host to its first Jazz show with the Jazz Hounds
• 15^th Jan – 1940. Golf Champion Henry Cotton stars in a week of variety- demonstrating his pot shots!
• 15^th Jan -1945 – Ivor Novello stars in his own hit musical “The Dancing Years” for 2 weeks at Birmingham Hippodrome.
• 17^th Jan – 1965 – Birmingham Hippodrome plays host to Chuck Berry and The Moody Blues
• 19^th Jan – 1942. Singer Anne Shelton debuts at Birmingham Hippodrome with pianist George Shearing on the same bill
• 21^st Jan – 1946. “Hot Ice” opens at Birmingham Hippodrome featuring a cast of 40 international skaters.
• 23^rd Jan – 1928. Singer ” Whispering” Jack Smith makes his Birmingham Hippodrome debut
• Birmingham Hippodrome stages its first full-length musical “Me and My Girl”
• 26^th Jan – 1914. Birmingham Hippodrome is first theatre in Birmingham to stage Revue.
• 30^th Jan – 1939. Singer Vera Lynn makes her Birmingham Hippodrome debut, billed as ” the sweet singer of sweet songs”
• 31^st Jan – 1977- Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet appear at Birmingham Hippodrome for two weeks.

Do you have Birmingham Hippodrome memories or memorabilia?

Please contact the heritage team on
0121 689 3191 or email us.

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