Dates

• Existence: 1895 - 2014
• Usage: 1900 - 1910

Biography

Blackpool Hippodrome was a variety theatre situated on Church Street. It was built in 1895 as a large ballroom and music-hall, called The Empire Theatre and Opera House. A year after opening The Empire was in financial difficulties and by 1900 it had been converted into a circus venue and renamed Hippodrome. The Hippodrome did not manage to achieve great financial success either and ten years later was converted once again to a variety theatre and cinema venue. In 1929, the management of the Hippodrome was taken over by the Associated British Cinemas (ABC). The ABC continued to host stage shows as well as films and concerts. During the 1960s the ABC used this venue to broadcast ‘Blackpool Night Out’ a television variety show. The theatre stopped operating as a Cinema in 1998. After a four year hiatus the theatre was converted to a nightclub under the name The Syndicate which operated between 2002 and 2014 when the building was demolished.

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