Memories of the Queens Park Hippodrome in the 1920s and 1930s.

Then came December, the pantomimes at Queens Park Hipp on Turkey Lane. We always booked seats for the front row circle. We applauded the fairy, hissed at the giant and sang in chorus all the usual silly songs. It must have been at Hipp that the theatre bug first bit me – and I have been infected ever since. Truly, the stage was dirty, the costumes shabby and maybe the chorus girls had bags under their eyes, but to me it was pure magic.

Excerpt from Beaulah Ellison taken from ‘Collyhurst Then’, 1920s.

I lived near Queens Park Hippodrome on Turkey Lane. At Christmas there was always a pantomime and they used to have a special night for children only, so my brother and I would be taken to the theatre and left to enjoy the show. As we went through the doors into the auditorium the staff were handing out goody bags with sweets, nuts, a tangerine and little novelty toys in them. I didn’t eat my sweets I wanted to share them with my Mum and Dad, but everyone had a lovely time interacting with what was happening on the stage. It was a very exciting night for a little girl, when Robert and I came out there was my Mum waiting to take us home.

By Alma Royle 1930s.

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Clik here to view.Plans of Queens Park Hippodrome,
image courtesy of Manchester Local Images, M06605

Researched by Joan Ball

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Clik here to view.