 CinePhoto2
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Hippodrome Reigate, Surrey Thumbnails
Photographs © copyright Alan Moore
From his site http://www.redhill-reigate-history.co.uk/rt%20bell%20st.htm
These photos seem to be the only ones in existence of this Reigate cinema
If anyone has any more photos then I would very much like to see them
Thank you
Cinephoto2 webmaster
The Hippodrome was built by Mr Alfred Wright, and was originally named
The Palace Picturedrome, and seated 700 people
During it's first week 5000 people attended
It changed it's name to Hippodrome either in 1915, or 1916 when it was brought by
Mr H. Bancroft
In the 1920s it was called the New Hippodrome, and continued to be called this for many years by local people
The word 'New' was probably alluding to the introduction of sound films
as it was the first cinema in the area to be able show the new fangled
talking films (1929)
This put it on par with the large London cinemas, and at that time it was one of only 250 cinemas, out of 4000 cinemas in the UK, that could show sound films
There is a theory that at one time it had a sliding roof that was opened in hot weather for ventilation
This at some time was sealed up as it would leak when it rained
Can anybody substantiate this theory
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Click on photo for larger view
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