Coventry Hippodrome / Apollo / Theatre

Yes, they would be worth a fortune on ebay too, not that I would sell them if I had them. Can't imagine I would ever have thrown them away so mum must have had a clear out after I left when I got married or they got lost in one of our moves. Still have Adam Faiths autograph though signed to Annette !!!

OK Annewiggy - here's a few of mine Billy Fury, Eden Kane, Joe Brown, Karl Denver, Allisons Billy Fury, Eden Kane, Joe Brown, Karl Denver, John Leyton, Shane Fenton Billy Fury, Joe Brown, Karl Denver, Mike Sarne, Marty Wilde, Mark Wynter Billy Fury, Joe Brown, Marty Wilde, Karl Denver Animals, Carl Perkins, Nashville Teens, Elkie Brooks

I bet I went to some of them! Not the 1962 ones as I was still at school then, started work in 1963 so I would have had a bit of money then, not much as I was only on junior wages. I know I went to see Gene Pitney as my friend was a fan. We were lucky that there was always several groups on, not just one like now and costing a fortune. The only ones I know I definitely saw was Adam Faith and the Beatles but I am sure I saw a lot of the others on your programmes. Did you ever go to the dances at the Lanchester or the Matrix?

No, never been to either venue.

Here's some more: Brenda Lee, Mike Berry, Bachelors, Sounds Incorporated Joe Brown, Eden Kane, Susan Maughan, Jess Conrad, Shane Fenton.... and Rolf Harris Joe Brown, Crystals, Manfred Mann, Johnny Kidd & Pirates Gerry & Pacemakers, Del Shannon, Tony Meehan Combo (Jet Harris absent), Cilla Black, Bachelors Dave Clark Five, Hollies, Mark Wynter, Kinks, Mojos

Going back to the late 40`s early 50`s I was only a "nipper", they used to have matinees on a Thursday. I went to a few of them, so far back now I can`t remember the billings. Remember going to my auntie's house to find her putting her curlers in. "Where you going, Aunty?" "Nowhere," she would say. My reply would be, "What you putting your curlers in for then?" Response was, "Go on, you little b*g**r, go and tell your mum to get you ready and we will catch the bus at the Pilot".

I went to that Dave Clark Five concert with The Hollies and The Kinks. When they sang 'Glad all over' and 'Bits and pieces' we were in the upper level in the Hippodrome and everyone was stamping their feet, the whole place was vibrating, unbelievable!!

I remember Gracie Fields once appearing at the Hippodrome, and singing of all songs 'I belong to Glasgow' that belonged to Will Fyfe, I also remember him to at the Hippo' (and the great Kirk Douglas sang it also but have no idea where). Then there was the great Mantovani Orchestra, and Joe Loss also appeared

Just uploading this out of my wife's collection of things she saved from her life in Coventry. It shows the things that came to Coventry. By the way I went to see a ballet for the very first time, Swan Lake, last year with my wife.

Whilst a good part of the world's population are trying to cause racial havoc at the moment, I dare say the Black and White Minstrel Show would not have got a 'look in'. I am sure at one time they appeared at the Hippodrome. The 50's maybe? Very entertaining, I thought.

Dreamtime Many times at the Hippo. Yes we all did and if we look at Annewiggy's post of Paul Robeson you will see he is billed as a ---- singer, it was once a term of respect.

Not sure I've picked this one up before - the best view yet of those lovely deco figurines above the entrance

That also used to happen to the wooden stand at Coventry Speedway when they played it

Yes, another good one Neil, but do you know what became of those figurines? It would have been a disaster to have broken them up.

I'm afraid to say Dreamtime but it appears they were chiselled off