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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:

Billy Russell's Grand Circus Programme, 4 June - 22 September 1962

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.289
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 4 June - 22 September 1962

Billy Russell's Grand Circus Programme, 3 June - 21 September 1963

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.290
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 3 June - 21 September 1963

Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus and Water Spectacular Programme, 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.282
Scope and Contents

Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of fountain act on top right, clown's head with a trumpet on top left, chimpanzees in band uniforms playing drums on bottom left and elephant's head on centre right in mainly red and blue 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, 6p.p.

Dates: 1953

Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus Programme, 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.281
Scope and Contents

Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Colour illustration of seal, elephant, three men dressed as Mexicans around a pond and a woman in a long green skirt and bikini top with fruit head dress on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, pink illustrations, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 8p.p.

Dates: 1955

Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus Programme, 1952

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.283
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1952

Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1956

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.284
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1956

Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.285
Scope and Contents

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

Dates: 1957

Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1958

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.286
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1958

Billy Russell's Grand Family Circus, Zoo and Pets Corner Programme, 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.287
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1959

British Circus and Variety Programmes, 1949 - 1970

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K56.1-32
Scope and Contents Circus and variety programmes includig Palace Theatre Manchester, Cunard White Star concert programme, Chipperfield Circus, Robert Brothers, Billy Smart's Circus, Billy Russell Hippodrome Circus, Big Top Circus, Prince's Royal International Circus and Tom Arnorld's Harringay Circus, contain photographs of the acts and information and including circus, variety and animal acts and featuring Sheila Pugh's Showgirls, The Digger Pugh Girls and the Wallabies. all programmes contain photographs of...
Dates: 1949 - 1970

British Circuses Programmes, 1921 - 2018

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.654
Scope and Contents Programmes for British circuses including Circus Fiesta, John Lawson's Circus, Gilberts Circus, Tom and Sheila Sandow, Tamara Coco's Circus, Blackpool Tower Circus, Bertram Mills, Billy Smart Circus, Peter Jay Superdrome Circus, Billy Russell's Circus, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Gerry Cottle's Circus, Jay Miller's Circus, Gandey's Circus, Monday Circus, Circus Hassani, Charles Weight's Empire Circus, Coleman Bros. Circus, Paulo's Circus, John Lester's Royal Midget Circus, Trevor's British...
Dates: 1921 - 2018

Christopher Palmer Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0105
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1973 - 1983

Circus Friends Association Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122
Scope and Contents

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

Dates: 1795 - 2020

Circus Friends Association of Great Britain's Notes Scrapbook, 1953 - 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178G21.66
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and photographs of The Circus Fans' Association Notes by 'Dicky Bird', 'The President' and 'The Hon Secretary', as well as articles on Billy Smart's, Chipperfield's, Rosaire's, Fossett's, Sanger's, Billy Russell's and Bertram Mills, 45p.p.

Dates: 1953 - 1954

Cyril Critchlow Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0089
Scope and Contents The Cyril Critchlow collection contains programmes, posters, handbills, books and magic journals, many of which relate to shows in Blackpool where Cyril resided and includes material on entertainment venues such as Blackpool’s North Pier, Central Pier, South Pier, Tower Circus and a small collection of programmes from other national venues. Additionally, it contains circus photographs and postcards mainly of the Ohmy Circus and Sanger Circus including individual circus troupes and performers...
Dates: c1837 - 2008

Early Circus Programmes, c1800 - 1999

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.1-28
Scope and Contents

Early British circus and variety programmes including Astley's, Batty's and Lord George Sanger's circus.

Dates: c1800 - 1999

Gandey's Circus Poster, 8 July - 6 September 1992

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.185
Scope and Contents

Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Contains colour illustration.

Dates: 8 July - 6 September 1992

Great Yarmouth Hippodrome and Chipperfield Circus Programmes, c1900 - 1999

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.610-612
Scope and Contents

Great Yarmouth Hippodrome and Chipperfield Circus programmes.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Great Yarmouth Hippodrome Circus and Liverpool Stadium Programmes, c1900 - 2004

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.281-335
Scope and Contents

Great Yarmouth Hippodrome and Liverpool Stadium circus programmes including Billy Russell, Peter Jay, Jasmine Smart and Sally Chipperfield among others.

Dates: c1900 - 2004

Great Yarmouth Hippodrome Leaflet, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178I22.32
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of laughing clown's face on top left corner and showgirl in bikini seating on an elephant's head on centre right, over a blue background and yellow, red and black type on top section, on bottom section booking form and the hillarious Grumbleweed and other acts on reverse with colour photographs.

Dates: c1900 - 1999