Top of the bill was American jazz singer Sophie Tucker who was described at the time as ?the last of the Red Hot Mommas?. During the intermission the audience were treated to a performance of The Hippodrome Orchestra conducted by Mr. Harry M. Pell. During the Second World War Harry conducted the Dudley Hippodrome Broadcasting Orchestra.
Top of the bill was American jazz singer Sophie Tucker who was described at the time as ?the last of the Red Hot Mommas?. During the intermission the audience were treated to a performance of The Hippodrome Orchestra conducted by Mr. Harry M. Pell. During the Second World War Harry conducted the Dudley Hippodrome Broadcasting Orchestra.
The Scottish Houston sisters Renee and Billie were a female double act. They first appeared at the theatre during the week of 02 August 1926 when they spotted actor Laurence Olivier staying in the same digs! He was appearing in the nearby Birmingham Repertory Theatre. In the same year the sisters appeared in a short musical film.
This publicity postcard features chatty radio stars and sisters Elsie and Doris Walters known to their public as ?Gert and Daisy?. The comedy duo is best remembered for their contribution to entertainment during the Second World War. They received an OBE and personal thanks from Winston Churchill.
On the theatre frontage can be seen the name ?G.S. Melvin?. This was George Spence Melvin who first appeared at Birmingham Hippodrome in 1908 and returned regularly until his death in a flooding accident on the River Thames in 1946.
He specialised in pantomime ?Dames? and was famous for the song ?I’m Happy When I’m Hiking? the unofficial anthem for the popular pastime of hiking.
As Moss Empires grew they were able to book famous names and spectacular shows, Birmingham Hippodrome was given a new lease of life. The adjoining City Assembly Rooms, became part of Birmingham Hippodrome. The rooms could be hired for private functions but their main use was for dancing in Tony?s Ballroom. It was a decade where big band music, radio and cinema performers were all popular.
The first ice show was staged for four weeks at Christmas in 1937. The first full length musical ?Me and My Girl? opened on 23 January 1939.
