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 83 Collections and/or Records:
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome Photographs, 1904 - 1934
Black and white photographs of the interior and exterior of the Hippodrome.
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome programme, 1903 - 1978
Black and white photocopies of programmes.
Hippodrome Circus Great Yarmouth Programme, 1987
Presented by Peter Jay. Colour illustration of smiley clown's face on top left, Chinese acrobats and dragon, aerial act, woman seating on elephant's head, Bulgarian troupe of acrobats and fountain in centre on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 10p.p.
Hippodrome Circus Great Yarmouth Programme, 1934
Three fold programme with colour illustration of three clown faces breaking through a paper ring in the centre and four circus acts on the edges including weight lifting, equestrian act, trapeze act and balancing act over a redish background on the front cover, inside programme in the centre and commercial advertising on the sides, on reverse equestrian act with eight horses.
Hippodrome Circus Great Yarmouth Programme, 1935
Three fold programme with colour illustration of three clown faces breaking through a paper ring in the centre and four circus acts on the edges including weight lifting, equestrian act, trapeze act and balancing act over a redish background on the front cover, inside programme in the centre and commercial advertising on the sides, on reverse equestrian act with eight horses.
Hippodrome Circus Great Yarmouth Programme, 1938
Three fold programme with colour illustration of three clown faces breaking through a paper ring in the centre and four circus acts on the edges including weight lifting, equestrian act, trapeze act and balancing act over a redish background on the front cover, inside programme in the centre and commercial advertising on the sides, on reverse equestrian act with eight horses.
Hippodrome Poster, Week commencing 24 December 1928
Yarmouth. Billy Dale presents the comedy musicality C.O.D. Joe Hodson & Syd Vance, Tom Crook, Vera May, Victor Brooker and his violin, Billy Dale, The Elsas, The C.O.D. Parcelles, Gertie Holden, Jack Kelly, Geo. And Fay, Staples, Gaye Gordon. Red type on white background. Printed by Jarrold & Sons, Ltd, 182 King Street, Great Yarmouth.
Hippodrome Poster, Week commencing Monday 24 December 1928
Yarmouth. Billy Dale Presents the Comedy Musicality C.O.D.-Cheerio Old Dear, Joe Hodson & Syd Vance, Gaye Gordon. Red type on white background. Printed by Jarrold & Sons Ltd, 182 King Street Great Yarmouth.
Hippodrome Super Circus Great Yarmouth Programme, 1985
Presented by Peter Jay. Colour illustration of smiley clown's face on top left, fountain on bottom left and wild animals and horse on bottom 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.
International Circus Programme, 21 June - 9 September 1989
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth, 10th anniversary. Presented by Peter Jay. Colour illustration of smily clown face on top left, female aerial act in red bikini, white horses, elephant, lion, tiger and clowns' heads on the bottom and David Hibling wearing a red jacket and black top hat on his had on 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, 8p.p.
International Circus Programme, 21 June - 9 September 1989
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth, 10th anniversary. Presented by Peter Jay. Colour illustration of smily clown face on top left, female aerial act in red bikini, white horses, elephant, lion, tiger and clowns' heads on the bottom and David Hibling wearing a red jacket and black top hat on his had on 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, 8p.p.
International Festival of Circus Programme, 1983
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Presented by Peter Jay. Colour illustration of smily clown face on top left, trapeze act, two bicycle riders and lady seating on elephant's head on an orange background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 10p.p.
International Super Circus Programme, 1982
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Presented by Jack and Peter Jay. Colour illustrations of circus acts including roaring tiger's face on top left, trapeze act, acrobatic troupe, elephants, horses, clowns, mermaides and ventriloquist with monkey doll on the front cover, inside introduction, black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.
International Super Circus Programme, 1983
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth, Presented by Peter Jay. Colour illustration of roaring tiger's face on bottom right, smily clown face on top left and water fountain on bottom left on 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, 6p.p.
Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World Programme, c1900 - 1999
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black and white illustration of clown's face and circus animals in the centre, black and white type on red background on the front cover, inside introduction and historical background, black and white photographs of acts and perfomers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p
Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World Programme, c1900 - 1999
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black and white illustration of clown's face and circus animals in the centre, black and white type on red background on the front cover, inside introduction and historical background, black and white photographs of acts and perfomers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.
Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World Programme, c1900 - 1999
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth. Black and white photograh of equestrian act with two horses and female trainer on red background on the front cover, inside introduction and historical background, black and white photographs of acts and perfomers with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising, 6p.p.
Lindsay Temple's Circus Photographs and Postcards, 1958 - 1960
Black and white photographs and postcards of circus acts, performers and animals on and off the ring from various circuses including Bertram Mills, Chipperfields at various locations in the United Kingdom including Kelvin Hall, Belle Vue, Olympia, Blackpool Tower, Great Yarmouth, Birmingham and Kendal, some contain annotations on reverse.
Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1795 - 1999
Compilation of monographs, articles, manuscripts and a range of research material about circus companies and performers in the United Kingdom, Europe and other parts of the world by various authors, the research was mainly compiled by Hal Thomas.
Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007
A collection of newspaper cuttings on circus, circus proprietors and performers and scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, posters, programmes and other items of ephemera, covering mainly British circuses and venues such as Belle Vue and also some international circuses.