Great Yarmouth Hippodrome

Last updated

Great Yarmouth Hippodrome
Hippodrome building (geograph 4218473).jpg
Location Great Yarmouth, England
Coordinates 52°36′10″N1°44′08″E / 52.6028°N 1.7355°E / 52.6028; 1.7355
Founded20th century
Built1903
ArchitectR S Cockrill
Architectural style(s) Art Nouveau
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameThe Hippodrome
Designated8 December 1978

The Great Yarmouth Hippodrome is a circus building in Great Yarmouth, England that was built in 1903. Peter Jay bought the building in 1979, and the Jay family continue to produce Circus Spectaculars four times a year, with Jack Jay as ringmaster and producer and Ben Jay as manager.

Contents

History

The Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth was built by the showman George Gilbert in 1903 [1] 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. [2]

It is a concrete construction with brick and terracotta facing. Its facade consists of three bays with two towers including Art Nouveau relief foliage patterns in the arched side panels. The main cornice has a frieze of carved owls. [3]

Billy Russell's Hippodrome Circus was a series of three TV programs broadcast by the BBC from Great Yarmouth in July, August and September 1962. The circus director was Roberto Germains and the programs were introduced by Peter West. [4]

Now

Peter Jay bought the building in 1979, restoring the circus floor that sinks into a water feature in 1981 when he presented his first show. [5]

The Jay family continue to produce Circus Spectaculars four times a year, with Jack Jay as ringmaster and producer and Ben Jay as manager. [6]

Wrestling

The Hippodrome was a frequent venue for professional wrestling, hosting shows by both Joint Promotions and opposition promoters. In 1980, wrestler/promoter Jackie Pallo taped a show at the venue as a home video release and also as an audition tape for possible ITV coverage. [7] [8] Veteran heel King Kong Kirk died of a heart attack on 23 August 1987 after collapsing in the ring at the venue during a tag team match pitting himself and King Kendo (Bill Clarke) against Big Daddy (Shirley Crabtree) and Greg Valentine (Steve Crabtree) in front of 1,500 people. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Yarmouth</span> Seaside town in Norfolk, England

Great Yarmouth, often called Yarmouth, is a seaside town which gives its name to the wider Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, UK; it straddles the River Yare and is located 20 miles (32 km) east of Norwich. Its fishing industry, mainly for herring, shrank after the mid-20th century and has all but ended. North Sea oil from the 1960s supplied an oil-rig industry that services offshore natural gas rigs; more recently, offshore wind power and other renewable energy industries have ensued.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circus</span> Group of entertainers performing circus skills

A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and unicyclists as well as other object manipulation and stunt-oriented artists. The term circus also describes the field of performance, training and community which has followed various formats through its 250-year modern history. Although not the inventor of the medium, Newcastle-under-Lyme born Philip Astley is credited as the father of the modern circus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirley Crabtree</span> English professional wrestler (1930–1997)

Shirley Crabtree Jr., better known as Big Daddy, was an English professional wrestler with a record-breaking 64-inch chest. He worked for Joint Promotions and the original British Wrestling Federation. Initially appearing on television as a heel, he teamed with Giant Haystacks. After splitting with Haystacks, he became a fan favourite and the top star of Joint Promotions from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom</span>

Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom spans over one hundred years but became popular when the then new independent television network ITV began showing it in 1955, firstly on Saturday afternoons and then also in a late-night midweek slot. It was at its peak of popularity when the television show World of Sport was launched in the mid-1960s, making household names out of Adrian Street, Mick McManus, Count Bartelli, Giant Haystacks, Jackie Pallo, Big Daddy, Steve Veidor, Dynamite Kid, and Kendo Nagasaki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nashville Municipal Auditorium</span> Multi-purpose indoor arena in Tennessee, U.S.

The Nashville Municipal Auditorium is an indoor sports and concert venue in Nashville, Tennessee. It opened October 7, 1962 with both an arena and exhibition hall. The former exhibition hall has been permanent home to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum since 2013.

In professional wrestling, the independent circuit is the collective name of independently owned promotions which are deemed to be smaller and more regionalized than major national promotions.

A hippodrome was an ancient Grecian horse and chariot racing course and arena. Hippodrome or Hipódromo may also refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malcolm Kirk</span> English professional wrestler & rugby league player (1935–1987)

Malcolm Kirk was an English professional wrestler who went by the ring name of "King Kong" Kirk as well as Kojak Kirk, Killer Kirk and "Mucky" Mal Kirk. He started as a professional rugby league player before becoming a professional wrestler. Kirk died of a heart attack on 23 August 1987 after collapsing in the ring during a tag team match at the Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. The wrestling event was run by Joint Promotions with the main event being a tag team match between Kirk and King Kendo against Big Daddy and Greg Valentine in front of 1,500 people.

A ringmaster or ringmistress, or sometimes a ringleader, is a significant performer in many circuses. Most often seen in traditional circuses, the ringmaster is a master of ceremonies that introduces the circus acts to the audience. In smaller circuses, the ringmaster is often the owner and artistic director of the circus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Hippodrome</span> Former theatre in New York CIty

The Hippodrome Theatre, also called the New York Hippodrome, was a theater in New York City from 1905 to 1939, located on Sixth Avenue between West 43rd and West 44th Streets in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan. It was called the world's largest theatre by its builders and had a seating capacity of 5,300, with a 100x200ft (30x61m) stage. The theatre had state-of-the-art theatrical technology, including a rising glass water tank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool Olympia</span> Theatre in Liverpool, England

The Liverpool Olympia is a venue in Liverpool, England, situated on West Derby Road next to The Grafton Ballroom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Hippodrome</span> Historic site in East Sussex, United Kingdom

Brighton Hippodrome is an entertainment venue in Brighton, England. It was built in 1897 and closed in 2007.

Noah Howard Mickens is an American performance artist, showman, and writer from Portland, Oregon, primarily known for his contributions to vaudevillian revival, and as a ringmaster and master of Ceremonies for several theatrical circus troupes. His stage persona, William Batty currently serves as the ringmaster of the Wanderlust Circus, as well as the emcee of numerous vaudevillian and bohemian events in the area.

Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers were a British instrumental rock group in the early 1960s. Their biggest hit, "Can Can 62" reached the British singles chart in 1962. The group toured with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones before disbanding in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanderlust Circus</span>

Wanderlust Circus is a theatrical circus troupe based in Portland, Oregon, founded in 2006 by creative partners Noah Mickens and Nick "The Creature" Harbar. Since 2006, Wanderlust Circus has grown from a small band of creatives to a full-fledged circus troupe, and non-profit organization. The organization presently comprises a team of acrobats, a 10-piece swing band, a trick-roping cowboy clown; and several aerialists, contortionists, hand balancers, jugglers, and dancers. Their most popular recurring shows have been The White Album Christmas, A Circus Carol, and the dance party series MegaBounce.

1985 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Time Wrestling (Boston)</span> Professional wrestling promotion

Big Time Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that held events in the New England area of the United States from 1960 to 1975. For much of the 1960s, BTW was the top professional wrestling promotion in Boston, Massachusetts, and was a significant competitor to the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF).

Max Gerald Crabtree was an English professional wrestler and promoter, known for working alongside his brother Shirley Crabtree, better known as Big Daddy.

Brian W. Crabtree is an English retired professional wrestler, referee and master of ceremonies, known for working alongside his brothers Shirley Crabtree, better known as Big Daddy, and promoter Max Crabtree in the British wrestling business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wirth's Circus</span> Traveling circus company (1882–1963)

Wirth's Circus, also known as Wirth Brothers' Circus, was Australia's largest and most prestigious circus company for eight decades. Billed as Australia's own 'Greatest show on Earth', the travelling circus held an international reputation.

References

  1. Douglas McPherson (6 December 2008). "The Telegraph" . Retrieved 5 May 2020.[ dead link ]
  2. Theatres Trust. "Theatres Trust" . Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  3. Historic England (28 July 2002). "Historic England" . Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  4. Radio Times 9 July 1962, 24 August 1962 and 30 September 1962.
  5. Louisa Baldwin (28 June 2019). "Eastern Daily Press" . Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  6. Louisa Baldwin (28 June 2019). "Eastern Daily Press" . Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  7. Wrestling Data: Show @ Great Yarmouth Sunday, 1980/08/10 Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England (United Kingdom) Retrieved January 15, 2024
  8. Jackie Pallo Promotions TV pilot (1981) retrieved 15 January 2024
  9. "The ten strangest sporting deaths". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2017.