READ and EXPLAIN

Variety theatre

The ‘New Hippodrome’ was a built as a variety theatre, hence its second name across the corner, referring to it as a ‘Palace Theatre of Varieties’.

Varieties, or variety shows, evolved from music halls, which presented different musical acts within one performance. When these began to feature a ‘variety’ of other forms of entertainment that included comedy sketches, dance, magic, acrobatics, animal acts, juggling and ventriloquism, their shows became known as variety shows, and theatres that specialised in this genre of performance became known as variety theatres. Shows, or line ups, would later incorporate ever more bizarre or unusual acts to tantalise audiences seeking novel forms of entertainment.

It was the responsibility of each act to provide ‘bill matter’ to the theatre when they were booked to appear. This was an identifying phrase to explain what they did. It needed to be unique, catchy and memorable as it was used for marketing purposes and printed below the act’s name in their ‘box’ on posters or their listing in programmes. Look for the ‘The Dainty Damsel and the Dancing Dude’ or ‘The Original Six Feet of Comicality.’ Acts who failed to send through their bill matter before the show’s posters, placards and programmes were printed could be fined, though we have no evidence so far of this happening at the Hippodrome.

Variety shows would be introduced by a host or compère, who was often a performer in his or her own right. However, at the Hippodrome, the earliest known name of a compère appearing on a bill is 1945.

A TO Z OF VARIETY ACTS

Acrobat Comedian Knife thrower Quick-change artist Animal act Dancer Magician Shadowgraph artist Ballet Fire eater Mime artist Singer Band High wire/tightrope Musician Sketches (comedy or slapstick) Clairvoyant Hypnotist Orchestra Trick cyclist Contortionist Impersonator Painter Trapeze artist Conjuror Juggler Puppeteer Ventriloquist

This is not a definitive list. We’re sure that your children will recall seeing other novelty acts.