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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:

Great Yarmouth Hippodrome Photographs, 1904 - 1934

 File
Reference code: 178C108.787-788
Scope and Contents

Black and white photographs of the interior and exterior of the Hippodrome.

Dates: 1904 - 1934

Great Yarmouth Hippodrome programme, 1903 - 1978

 File
Reference code: 178K43.610
Scope and Contents

Black and white photocopies of programmes.

Dates: 1903 - 1978

Hippodrome Circus Great Yarmouth Programme, 1934

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.296
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1934

Hippodrome Circus Great Yarmouth Programme, 1935

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.297
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1935

Hippodrome Circus Great Yarmouth Programme, 1938

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.298
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1938

Hippodrome Circus Great Yarmouth Programme, 1987

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.318
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1987

Hippodrome Poster, Week commencing 24 December 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.221
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: Week commencing 24 December 1928

Hippodrome Poster, Week commencing Monday 24 December 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.24
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: Week commencing Monday 24 December 1928

Hippodrome Super Circus Great Yarmouth Programme, 1985

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.319
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1985

International Circus Programme, 21 June - 9 September 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.313
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 21 June - 9 September 1989

International Circus Programme, 21 June - 9 September 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.314
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 21 June - 9 September 1989

International Festival of Circus Programme, 1983

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.312
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1983

International Super Circus Programme, 1982

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.310
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1982

International Super Circus Programme, 1983

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.311
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1983

Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.323
Scope and Contents

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

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.324
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Jimmy Chipperfield's Circus World Programme, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.325
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Lindsay Temple's Circus Photographs and Postcards, 1958 - 1960

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178C108.186-323
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1958 - 1960

Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1795 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178B30
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1795 - 1999

Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007

 Series
Reference code: 178G21
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1838 - 2007