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Great Yarmouth Hippodrome (Established 1903)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: Established 1903

Biography

The Great Yarmouth Hippodrome was built by the showman George Gilbert in 1903 and designed by architect Ralph Scott Cockrill. It is one of only two purpose-built permanent circuses in England still in operation, and one of only three in the world with a circus floor that sinks into a pool.

Since its opening, the Hippodrome has operated as a circus venue, presenting other type of shows from time to time uninterrupted, except for the Second World War years, when it was requisitioned by the government and used by the RAF for shooting practice. Between the 1950s and 1960s the Hippodrome presented Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular, which included three televised circus shows in 1962, broadcasted by the BBC.

The current owner, 1960s pop start Peter Jay (b.1944), from ‘Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers’, bought the building in 1979 to stop it from being turned into a Bingo. In 1981 Peter presented the first circus show after restoring its iconic water feature and over the years added elements form his past career to the shows departing from the more traditional circus spectacle and creating a new identity with a strong pop music flair.

The Hippodrome produced four shows a year and Peter’s sons Jack and Ben eventually joined the family business. Jack is the current Ringmaster and Producer and Ben the Manager and they continue producing four shows a year at Halloween, Christmas, Easter and Summer showcasing international troupes of circus performers.

Found in 83 Collections and/or Records:

One Ring Rules Them All Programme, 2001

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.332
Scope and Contents

Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour photograph of eight sinchronise swimmers performing on the bottom of the page over a purple, red and blue background and a black and white star with the words one right rules them all around it above on the front cover, inside introduction, colour and black and white photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 2001

One Ring Rules Them All Programme, 2002

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.333
Scope and Contents

Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black and white star with the words one right rules them all around on top section on a blue, purple and black background on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, 6p.p.

Dates: 2002

Peter Jay's All New Circus and Water Spectacular Programme, 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.326
Scope and Contents

Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour photograph of female in red, yellow and black swimming costume, clown's face and white horse over a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white and colour photographs of acts and performers with text and programme in the centre, 8p.p.

Dates: 1999

Peter Jay's Circus Greatest Hists Programme, 2003

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.335
Scope and Contents

Celebrating 100 years 1903-2003, the Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour photograph of the Hippodrome on a black background with colour beams of light coming out of it on the top section on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, 8p.p.

Dates: 2003

Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178C108
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs, negatives and photographic albums mainly containing images of British circus, circus performers, animals and circus personalities but also some menageries such as Bostock and Wombwell and other associated entertainments and non-British circuses taken by David Jamieson, Lindsay Temple, Den Curtis, Capt. Middleton, Jack Niblett and other photographers.

Dates: c1800 - 1999

Posters, c1800 - 2011

 Series
Reference code: 178R47
Scope and Contents

A wide range of British and international circus and menagerie posters ranging from the 19th to the 21st century including Astley's Amphitheatre, Pablo Fanque, Polito, Bostock and Wombwell, Ducrow, Cooke, Hengler, Sanger, Smart, Gerry Cottle, Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's, Robert Brothers, Fossett, Blackpool Tower, Billy Russell, Belle Vue, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Austen Brothers and many more.

Dates: c1800 - 2011

Posters, c1887 - 2010

 Series
Reference code: 178R27
Scope and Contents

Circus, variety, pantomime and magic posters including Argyle theatre, Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Tower Circus, Robert Brothers, Austen Brothers, Sorcar, Vesta Tilley, Ken Dodd, Dan Leno, Florrie Forde and others.

Dates: c1887 - 2010

Programmes, 1970 - 1981

 Series
Reference code: 178K41
Scope and Contents

Programmes for various British and international circuses including Billy Russell's, Blackpool Tower, Fossett's, Chipperfield's and the Toni Boltini's Circus.

Dates: 1970 - 1981

Programmes, c1800 - 2019

 Series
Reference code: 178K43
Scope and Contents

A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.

Dates: c1800 - 2019

Programmes, 1949 - 1970

 Series
Reference code: 178K56
Scope and Contents

Programmes from British, European and American circuses and some variety venues in the United Kingdom, in various languages. Also includes a Boswell-Wilkie Circus programme from South Africa.

Dates: 1949 - 1970

Sally Chipperfield's Christmas Circus Programme, 26 December - 13 January c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.321
Scope and Contents

The Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Blue type on yellow background.

Dates: 26 December - 13 January c1900 - 1999

Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1961 - 1964

 Item
Reference code: 178G21.53
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings, black and white photographs, and correspondance, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Billy Smarts, Billy Russell's, Bertram Mills, Soviet State Circus and Chipperfield's, 108p.p.

Dates: 1961 - 1964

Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1955 - 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178G21.67
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chipperfield's, Bertram Mills, Rosaire's, Billy Russell's, 45p.p.

Dates: 1955 - 1957

Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1954 - 1958

 Item
Reference code: 178G21.69
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and black and white photographs relating to multiple circuses and acts including Chipperfield's, Rosaire's, Bertram Mills and Billy Russell's, as well as many pictures of Pekingese dogs, 46p.p.

Dates: 1954 - 1958

Super Circus Programme, 1984

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.315
Scope and Contents

Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Presented by Peter Jay. Colour illustration of smily clown face on top left, water fountain act on bottom left, wheel of death act and elephant's head on blue and black background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 1984

Super Circus Programme, 1984

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.316
Scope and Contents

Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Presented by Peter Jay. Colour illustration of smily clown face on top left, water fountain act on bottom left, wheel of death act and elephant's head on blue and black background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 1984

The Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth Monograph, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178B30.28
Scope and Contents

History and uses of the Hippodrome and the acts appearing in it, a well as details of George Gilbert's temporary circus building in Great Yarmouth and winter circus seasons at the Agricultural Hall, 1893-1954, Norwich by H.T.G. Tinkler, bound volume in brown leather and fabric covers with gold type on spine, approximately 300p.p. Typescript.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

The Hippodrome Programme, 2004

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.334
Scope and Contents

All New 25th Anniversary Circus and Water Spectacular. Colour photograph of the Hippodrome on a black background with colourful circles around it on the front cover, inside introduction, colour photographs of acts and performers with text, programme in the centre, 8p.p.

Dates: 2004

The History of The Great Yarmouth Hippodrome Research Material, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178B30.9
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of typescript compiled by H. T. G. Tinkler and some photocopies of circus programmes, taken from a copy in the collection of Malcolm S. Clay. Multiple pages.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

The Yarmouth Hippodrome Programme, 20 July 1903

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.27
Scope and Contents

Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth. Aquatic Variety Spectacle and Circus, Miss Nellie Cockrill, Baby Tilley, lion taming act, The Marvellous Freres Phillipe, Vasco, The Lizzette Troupe crobatic act, Alexandra and Bertie aerial act, The Two Yoricks, Mdlle. Yvette equestrian act, Baby Culeen equestrian act, Miss Rubini, Rabbitt. Black type on white background listing the cast of performers.

Dates: 20 July 1903