Just how much history can you get from one theatre programme? …… the Manchester Hippodrome

Well, the answer is a lot, and for that I have David Harrop to thank who shared this 1954 programme from the Manchester Hippodrome.

Anniversay programme, 1954

It was something a bit more special than normal because it was their “50th Anniversary Programme" and on the bill amongst the usual variety acts were “The “Popular T.V. Stars”, Morcombe and Wise and David Hughes who in the 1950s was a very successful  pop star who later made a career as an opera singer.

All the stars for July 26th, 1954

And for those who grew up in the 1950s the following week offered up Michael Miles the doyen of radio and television quiz shows and Issy Bonn “Britain’s Wise Cracking Songster Singing Your Favourite Melodies".

Together the two bills provide an insight into that last period of the variety show which could be seen in our towns, cities and seaside venues.

But with the traditional music hall acts were the future in the form of television comics, and personalities.

That makes it a wonderful piece of theatrical history but added to that there are the adverts.

Adverts like the one for Barker & Dobson, "Cameo Chocolates & Manchester Hippodrome Regal Fruit drops”.  

They began in Liverpool in 1834 expanded and diversified and taking over other companies as well as being the subject of take overs themselves.  

They even got a mention in Hansard in 1988, described as “a small confectionary manufacturer and supermarket chain” engaged in a "hostile bid for Dee Corporation the third largest food retailer".

Alas after another take over the brand name was withdrawn in the early 2000s, but in the course of the research I discovered they made Palm Toffee which came in a number of flavours from chocolate, banana, strawberry and plain.  

Barker & Dobson, 1954

For me the chocolate and plain bars won out over the rest of the range and a little bit of my early years in south east London clashed with the Manchester of 1954.

And that Manchester of over seventy years ago made me check out the other adverts, starting with the Squirrel Restaurant at 65 Deansgate.  Back then they boasted “Good Food, Reasonable Prices and Quick Service”. 

Today it is a Greek Grill House and before that a Mexican, and in 2008 still retained its link with food as Thomas William dealing in all things to do with the kitchen.

Planned Payment, 1954

But for a real favour of the 1950s which were fast becoming the decade of popular consumerism the prize must go to the clothes shop Gerald Stuart of 43 Piccadilly which embraced the age advertising its clothes with “’Planned Payment’ Easily the Best way to Pay”.  

We knew it as HP, and mother regularly fell back on the “tally man” with his van of clothes and seductive promise of stuff up front for a weekly payment.

Hippodrome Manchester, 1907

All of which is fine and captures the spirit of the time, but our 50th anniversary programme throws up a problem, because the Manchester Hippodrome closed in 1935, just thirty-one years after it opened on Oxford Street and a full 19 years before the magic date of 1954.

Added to which after its purchase to a cinema chain it was demolished and replaced by a Gaumont.

All of which might cast doubt on the theatre’s anniversary programme, but that font of all knowledge to do with “Music Hall and Theatre History” offered up the answer which was simply that the owner of the Manchester Hip’ also owned the Ardwick Empire and just renamed it after the Oxford Street theatre.*

The Hippodrome Manchester, 1910

And that allowed the former Ardwick Empire to assume the mantle and history of the Manchester Hippodrome.  A tad audacious if nit a little economical with the truth but there you are.

Leaving me just to thank David who has two exhibitions featuring much of the memorabilia of Morecambe and Wise.  

The first is at Morcombe Library and runs for two months from April 17th, and then between May 16-17 at theMorcombe  Winter Gardens.

And that is it.

Other than to offer up two of the items which will be on display at Mr. Harrop's exhibitions.

June with Morcombe & Wise, 1988

Location, Manchester 1954

Photo of the two comics undated

Pictures; The Manchester Hippodrome, 1907 m06511 7 in 1910, m06513, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass and selections from the 1954 50th anniversary programme, from the collection of David Harrop

 

*The Hippodrome Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester, Later - The Gaumont Theatre Manchester Theatres Index, Arthur Lloyd, http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/ManchesterTheatres/HippodromeTheatreManchester.htm