Croydon Empire (1849 - 1956)
Dates
- Existence: 23 April 1849 - 3 November 1956
- Usage: 1849 - 1868
- Usage: 1868 - 1897
- Usage: 1897 - 1898
- Usage: 1899 - 1908
- Usage: 1908 - 1918
- Usage: 1918 - 1956
Biography
The Croydon Theatre in Crown Hill, London, was first opened on 23 April 1849 as The Theatre. The building was of poor structural quality and by 1858 it was declared unsafe and was in decline. Ten years later The Theatre was rebuilt and renamed The Theatre Royal. In 1897, the building was closed and redecorated and renamed The Empire Theatre of Varieties. It enjoyed success but it was short lived and a year later it closed once more. In 1898 The Theatre was bought by Ronald Graham who rebuilt and reopened it as New Theatre Royal in 1899.
The Theatre was renamed the Hippodrome in 1908 and reopened as a variety theatre. The Hippodrome, which had always held moving picture shows between the variety acts, became the Hippodrome Picture Theatre, a full time cinema, in 1918. From 1942 the cinema was operated by Odeon Theatres until its closure on 3 November 1956. After this all but the façade of the building was demolished and rebuilt. Over the years the new building was used for various purposes including a cinema.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Croydon Hippodrome Programme, 29 August 1910
Three fold programme with blue and white type and illustration of the interior of the theatre and commercial advertising on the outside, inside commerical advertising and programme listing American Bioscope, George Adam, Lottol Lilo & Otto, Larola, Gwennie Llewellyn, Helen Trix, Bellew & Stock's Co., Rose Cabani, Frank Lynne, Fred Lindsay and Miss Ellaline Terriss & Co.