Hippodrome, London facts for kids
London Hippodrome in 2017
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| Address | Charing Cross Road Westminster, London |
|---|---|
| Designation | Grade II listed |
| Type | circus and variety shows |
| Capacity | 1340 seated (1909) |
| Current use | Casino |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1900 |
| Rebuilt | 1958 |
| Architect | Frank Matcham |
The London Hippodrome is a famous building in London. It stands on the corner of Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster. The word Hippodrome used to mean a place for horse races and other animal shows. This building is one of the few remaining places that used this name for entertainment.
Contents
The London Hippodrome: A Historic Building
Early Days as a Circus
The London Hippodrome first opened its doors in 1900. It was designed by a famous architect named Frank Matcham. The building cost £250,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then!
It was originally a hippodrome for circus acts and different kinds of variety performances. The very first show was on January 15, 1900. It was a music hall show called "Giddy Ostend."
The performance area was very special. It had a stage and a large arena that could sink down. This created a huge water tank, holding 100,000 gallons of water. This tank was used for amazing water shows.
Performances included acts with horses, elephants, and even polar bears. Acrobats would dive into the water from high up. The building also had a special roof that could open up. This allowed light in and could be lit up at night.
From Theatre to Nightclub
In 1909, the Hippodrome was changed into a music hall and variety theatre. It had 1340 seats for the audience.
A very important event happened here in 1910. Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, Swan Lake, had its first English performance here. This was done by the Ballets Russes.
The Hippodrome also hosted the first official jazz concert in the United Kingdom. This happened in 1919 with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
Over the years, it became known for revue shows and musical comedies. Famous shows like Mr. Cinders were performed here in 1929. Even Julie Andrews made her first stage appearance here when she was only 12 years old!
In 1958, the inside of the building was completely changed. It became a nightclub called The Talk of the Town. Many popular singers performed there. These included Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, and The Jackson 5.
This type of entertainment became less popular over time. So, the venue closed its doors in 1982.
A New Life as a Casino
The building was renovated again in 1983. It reopened as a nightclub and restaurant called The London Hippodrome. Later, it became Cirque at the Hippodrome in 2004, focusing on burlesque shows.
In 2005, the club faced issues with its public drinks licence. It was forced to close in December 2005.
In 2006, the building was used for private events. It hosted album launches, dance shows, and awards ceremonies. In 2008, it became a theatre again. An adult cabaret show called La Clique was very successful here. It even won an Olivier Award in 2009.
In 2009, the building was taken over by Jimmy and Simon Thomas. They started a big project to restore the Hippodrome. They wanted to bring back its original design by Frank Matcham. Their plan was to turn it into a casino and entertainment spot.
They spent over £40 million on this restoration! The Hippodrome Casino officially opened on July 13, 2012. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, opened it.
Today, the Hippodrome Casino has four floors for gaming. It also has the Heliot restaurant, several bars, and The Matcham Room cabaret theatre. In 2013, it won an award for Best Land-based Casino.
The Matcham Room is now home to Magic Mike Live London. This show was created by Channing Tatum. In 2020, the casino expanded further. It added a new bar and dining area called 'The Rooftop' on the fifth floor.
