Golders Green Hippodrome was built in 1913 by Bertie Crewe as a 3000seat Music Hall, to serve North London and the new tube rail expansion into Golders Green.
Its capacity was reduced by half on the introduction of a stage, but then became a famous pre/post London venue for many travelling shows. Taken over by the BBC in the 1960's as a television studio, it is more recently known as a radio studio and multi purpose concert venue. In 2003, the BBC left the Grade II listed building, and it is presently vacant and detoriorating awaiting it's fate.
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.
It's capacity was reduced by half with the construction of a full theatre stage, and it became famous for it's 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 [1], and its regular performances included an annual pantomime [2] and the Gang Show [3]
Touring Opera was popular still at the time, and performances included pre-war with the British National Opera Company [4] and post-War in 1952 with the D'Oyly Carte and a filmed production of The Mikado in 1952 [5]
One of it's roles was as a scene in an early nude film - filmed as a naturist movie due to the restrictive pornographic regulations of the 1950's - in Naked As Nature Intended [6]
In 1969, the BBC were looking for additional television studio capacity to cope with the introduction of colour transmissions [7] They took out a long leasehold on the Hippodrome to 2060 [8] In 1969 the Hippodrome was converetd into a radio studio and concert hall with reduced capacity of 700seats, as the BBC had been looking for a north London venue, and became home for the BBC Concert Orchestra.
As a concert venue, it was used in various forms for:
The BBC recorded various radio special's at the Hippodrome, including the famous BBC Sight and Sound concert of January 1978 [17]
The BBC also broadcast the weekly radio program Friday Night is Music Night, a traditional old light entertainment program it had moved from the Camden Theatre in Camden High Street. Presented originally by Robin Doyle and conducted by Sydney Torch, it was presented laterly by Ken Bruce [18]
However, with a public brief to bring the music to all of the people of the UK, additional high-quality space available all over London, the BBC announced it's intention to leave the buiding in August 2003 after mounting minor repair work saw the BBC Concert Orchestra relocate to the Mermaid Theatre in central London, among other places.
After the BBC left the theatre in August 2003, it has been unused and deteriorated considerably - in early 2005, the venue was placed on English Heritage’s ‘buildings at risk’ register as its future is now so uncertain.
Barnet Council is said to be keen for the building to carry on being used as an entertainment venue, and given the BBC has been given 18 months to sell it as such. If no buyer is forthcoming, sources say the local authority will allow it to be sold at auction in September 2006 with the potential for being developed for other uses - which the BBC have already applied for, but presently been turned down for.
For planning purposes the Hippodrome is classed as 'D2' under the 'Use Classes Order' and not under 'Sui Generis' exclusively as a Theatre - no stage productions have taken place for more than 40 years. The 'D2' class means that potential buyers could use the Theatre for: Cinemas; Dance and Concert Halls ;Sports Halls; Swimming Baths. Other Indoor Sports and Leisure Uses A new operator could use it as a bingo hall, casino, swimming pool, gym or ice skating rink among many other leisure activities.
The theatres fate has created a group formed of various interest groups and locals voices, including Save London’s Theatres Campaign, the Theatres Trust, Hendon Times and the Ham&High