Great Yarmouth Hippodrome (Established 1903)
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 45 Collections and/or Records:
Billy Russell’s Circus Spectacular Programme, 1974
Billy Russell’s Circus Spectacular Programme, 1975
Billy Russell’s Circus Spectacular Programme, 1976
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth, Jerry, Jimmy and Johnny equestrians, Udo Heltano equilibrist, Mary Chipperfield’s kindergarten animals, chimpanzees and Liberty horses, Senorita Manolita aerial act, Miss Wendy’s Poodle Party, Jacko Fossett and Little Billy clowns, The Belios acrobats, The Halfwits comedy acrobats, The Tonitas Veracruz trapeze, Miss Conti balancing roller act, Jorge Tonito tightwire, The Herculeans moustachioed acrobats. Contains illustrations with photos, 24p.p.
Billy Russell’s Circus Spectacular Programme, 1977
The Two Bohumils jugglers, The Robert Brothers Camel Caravan, elephants and ponies, Skippy the Boxing Kangaroo, Blanini aerialist, Jacko Fossett and Little Billy clowns, Markus and Rosita strongman, The Valla Bertini Troupe trick cyclist, The Wychwoods magic and dog act, Chyfudey contortion, acrobatic and balancing act, The Bjoerlings equestrian act, Bobby Dixon comedy acrobat, The Tanger troupe tumblers. Contains illustration with photos, 24p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1976
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of two clowns appearing on the right edge and a seal holding a red ball on its nose in the centre over a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1978
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of two clowns appearing on the right edge and a seal holding a red ball on its nose in the centre over a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1975
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of two clowns appearing on the right edge and a seal holding a red ball on its nose in the centre over a blue background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1977
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of two clowns appearing on the right edge and a seal holding a red ball on its nose in the centre over a blue background on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Circus Spectacular Programme, 1970
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of circus acts including trapeze on top section and clowns, performing animals and poodles with performers on the bottom section over a yellow and orange background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Circus Programme, 3 June - 16 September 1961
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, yellow and red background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, black illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Circus Programme, 4 June - 22 September 1962
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, yellow and red background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, black illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Circus Programme, 3 June - 21 September 1963
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, yellow and red background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 12p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus Programme, 1952
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, orange and yellow background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right 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.
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1956
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, orange and yellow background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, pink illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1957
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, orange and yellow background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, blue illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1958
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, orange and yellow background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, blue illustrations, autographed programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1959
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black, red, white and blue type on blue, orange and yellow background and colour illustration of cartoon clown's face with mouth open on top right on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, blue illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.
Christopher Palmer Collection
Circus programmes and VHS tapes from Billy Smart’s Circus and Chipperfields’s Circus collected during the 1970s and early 1980s by the TV producer, Christopher John Palmer. There are also a number of promotional photographs of artistes and other ephemera related to the circus.
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses