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Aston hippodrome

postie

postie

The buck stops here
Staff member
My older brother related this story to me many years ago.
It was in the early fifties and he was having a drink in a pub in the city centre.
One of his mates came in looking all excited and said " I have just been talking to Laurel and Hardy "
My brother replied sarcastically " Yeah, cause you have, and if you had been five minutes quicker, you would have seen me having a drink with James Cagney"
A few days later my brother found out that Laurel and Hardy were apearing at the Hippodrome.

NUFF SAID !
 
Would this have been something that changed depending on year? I wonder what year your looking at Sid
 
I remember paying 4/0d for my first ever seat in the Stalls but when it could have been? maybe just before my National Service in 1955 :)
 
My first post on here, and I'm not sure if this is the place to post it but.....
I was looking for info, posters etc. on the Aston Hippodrome.

My Father was a percussionist (played drums, xzylophone, glokenspiel, tubular bell etc.) and played a lot in the orchestra pit at the hippodrome.

I have a collection of about 100 photographs of various artists, all autographed to my dad and stating "Aston Hippodrome" and the date.

Just wondered if anyone else had an interest in the theatre.
 
wellcome badger
if you click on the SEARCH box next to todays posts.type in aston hippodrome.there is loads of information.
 
Thanks for the redirection Winston, found some good stuff incling a pic of my dad on stage with the orchestra.
 
Hi Badger would you have a thought about posting some of you Aston Hipp stuff to use on the website, I am asking because we rely on people like your helping out with Aston and Birmingham history we would acknowlage your contributions
John Houghton
 
Thanks for the answers folks, and John, I don't mind posting a few pic's up if it helps others, however, you will need to wait a week or two as I have to address some scanning problems (like...I need one!!)
 
I think I may have been a little hasty in my assumptions about the phot of the orchestra......in hindsight......The date is a little too late and when I zoom into the pic I don't thing it is my old man, but I do have some pics of him in the orchestra and will post some soon.
 
OK John

Now got my scanner probs sorted and will attempt to upload a few pics related to aston Hip. (be patient with me.)
 
Snake Hips Johnson by the way was killed during the war, he was on stage with his band at,I believe, the "talk of the town" London, (not sure) when it was bombed) you can Google for more info.

This pic is of my Dad (far left) with a quintet (I think in Hong Kong or India)
 
Thanks for sharing this with us badger. The photos are really good especially the one of the band with your Dad!
 
Great photos badger. When you see a photo signed 1940 you have a picture of very brave young people still entertaining when the sirens were going. As you told us, sadly some died in the theatre. It gives new meaning to 'The Show Must Go On'
 
badger said:
My first post on here, and I'm not sure if this is the place to post it but.....
I was looking for info, posters etc. on the Aston Hippodrome.
Click to expand...

Thought you might be interested in this photo of the Aston Hipp., c.1930, I have from the family album (not sure why it's there, but...)
 
Let me know if you require a full-sized scan of the photo - this was just conveniently lurking on my hard drive. Not sure who took it, so unattributable with regard to copyright.
 
Laurel and Hardy at the Aston Hippodrome just after having a drink at the Barton Arms
 
John,

What a magic photograph.
And some of us are meeting up at The Barton Arms a week this Saturday.

Ann
 
another brillient pic john...must show it to dad as i would imagine this is how he would remember laurel and hardy from when he chatted to them in the bartons...

cheers...

lyn:):):)
 
Great photo John of the pair of funny men. Pete said do you remember Jayne from the hip but no photo's please?. Jean.
 
I lived around the corner from the Hippodrome, in Alma St. The last time I saw the Hippodrome it was a Bingo Hall, I think. I left Birmingham 40 years ago. There used to be some good nights in the old place. The Barton Arms used to serve up a good pint too.
 
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