Keighley Hippodrome Theatre closed 70 years ago this October

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 08:55 · Archive

The Hippodrome Theatre in Keighley closed in October 1954, ending over 150 years of theatre on the site.

The Hippodrome Theatre in Keighley closed its doors 70 years ago this October, with the final performance a production of Oklahoma! by Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.

The theatre, which opened in its final form in February 1900, was designed by renowned theatre architect Frank Matcham. It covered 7,000 square feet with a frontage of 86 feet to Queen Street and 48 feet to Adelaide Street. The venue could seat almost 2,000 people, with a stage 65 feet wide by 45 feet deep. The building featured an iron veranda fitted with coloured glass that ran the whole length of the front, along with six private boxes, bars on all five floors, and ten dressing rooms.

The history of theatre on the site stretched back to Queen Victoria's reign, when a wooden American-style theatre was built on Queen Street. This was replaced by a stone building by 1890, and then by the 1900 structure. The theatre was originally known as the Queen's Theatre but changed its name to the Hippodrome in 1909, although it was often referred to as both names.

The theatre faced declining audiences in the early 1950s due to the rising popularity of television, which posed a real threat to many provincial theatres across the country.

How it is being reported

• Look back at popular theatre - 70 years after curtain came down for goodOCTOBER marks seventy years since the magnificent Hippodrome Theatre in Keighley closed its doors for good.Telegraph & Argus · 9 Oct, 08:31
• Look back at popular theatre - 70 years after curtain came down for goodOCTOBER marks seventy years since the magnificent Hippodrome Theatre in Keighley closed its doors for good.Keighley News · 9 Oct, 08:31

In this story: Keighley · Hippodrome Theatre · Frank Matcham · Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society

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