History
The Grade II listed, 1913 Hippodrome Theatre building next to Golders Green tube station was built as a 3000 seat music hall by Bertie Crewe, and opened on Boxing Day.
Its capacity was reduced by half with the construction of a full theatre stage, and it became famous for its pre- and post-London tours, and has been used as a receiving venue for West End transfers - Laurence Olivier, Marlene Dietrich, Stephane Grappelli, Arthur Askey, Django Reinhardt and Chico Marx played there. Donald Swann's Wild Thyme played in 1955, and its regular performances included an annual pantomime and the Gang Show
Touring opera was popular still at the time, and performances included pre-war with the British National Opera Company and post-War in 1952 with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and a filmed production of The Mikado in 1966.
In 1961, the theatre appeared in an early British sexploitation film called Naked As Nature Intended directed by Harrison Marks. The nudist film, which starred Pamela Green, was a box office success.
Read more about this topic: Golders Green Hippodrome
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