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39-513: The Hippodrome is a building on the corner of Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster , London . The name was used for many different theatres and music halls , of which the London Hippodrome is one of only a few survivors. Hippodrome is an archaic word referring to places that host horse races and other forms of equestrian entertainment. The London Hippodrome

78-451: A minstrels' gallery above a sliding roof, in the centre of the proscenium arch . The auditorium featured cantilevered galleries, removing the columns that often obstructed views in London theatres, the whole was covered by a painted glass retractable roof, that could be illuminated at night. The building included the headquarters of Moss Empires . In 1909, it was reconstructed by Matcham as

117-411: A proscenium stage and an arena that sank into a 230 ft, 100,000 gallon water tank (about 400 tons, when full) for aquatic spectacles. The tank featured eight central fountains, and a circle of fountains around the side. Entrances at the side of the auditorium could also be flooded, and used for the entry of boats. Shows included equestrian acts, elephants and polar bears, and acrobats would dive from

156-482: A rocking chair wearing cardigans or jumpers, sometimes performing comedic Irish songs including " Paddy McGinty's Goat ", " Delaney's Donkey " and "O'Rafferty's Motor Car", as well as easy listening and country material on which he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar. Doonican's songs about O'Rafferty were popular enough for the BBC to publish a book, Val Doonican Tells The Adventures of O'Rafferty , which retold five of

195-488: A Gold Room casino sited in the original basement with access directly into Chinatown to the rear of the building, Heliot restaurant, six bars, a smoking terrace and The Matcham Room cabaret theatre. The restoration and construction of the casino was followed on the blog of LBC presenter Steve Allen. In January 2013 the casino was awarded Best Land-based Casino at the Totally Gaming Awards, which also gave Jimmy Thomas

234-462: A Judy Garland engagement there near the end of her life. Renovated yet again, the building was reopened as a nightclub/restaurant called The London Hippodrome by nightclub tycoon Peter Stringfellow in 1983. Some years later, Stringfellow sold it to a chain company called European Leisure. Under the stewardship of David Chipping the club went on to win many BEDA and DI awards, regularly attracting crowds in excess of 2,000. Following its sale to Luminar,

273-541: A Life Achievement award for his contribution to the gaming and entertainment industries. On 4 March 2013, Simon Thomas announced the opening of Pokerstars LIVE, a collaboration between the Hippodrome and Pokerstars , the world's largest online poker website. While initially on the fourth floor, in 2020 Pokerstars LIVE moved to the third floor where it currently resides. The Matcham Room at the Hippodrome Casino mounted

312-610: A music-hall and variety theatre with 1340 seats in stalls, mezzanine, gallery and upper gallery levels. It was here that Tchaikovsky 's Swan Lake received its English première by the Ballets Russes in 1910. The Albert de Courville revues were performed here from December 1912. The Hippodrome hosted the first official jazz gig in the United Kingdom, by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band , in 1919. Its reputation

351-510: A nearby linen-draper's shop. The street was widened in 1843, connecting Coventry Street to Long Acre. Cranbourn Passage, an alley connecting the street northwards to Little Newport Street, was demolished in the 1880s in order to construct Charing Cross Road . The London Hippodrome was sited on Cranbourn Street; in 1957 it was converted into the Talk of the Town, a combined theatre and restaurant. After

390-398: A production of the wartime musical Miss Nightingale in 2018, and is currently the home of Magic Mike Live London (created and produced by Channing Tatum). In 2020, construction was completed on an expansion of the fourth floor smoking area to include gaming, and the creation of 'The Rooftop', a new bar and dining space, on the fifth floor. Cranbourn Street Cranbourn Street

429-557: A season of cabaret. Dusty Springfield recorded a TV special at the venue, broadcast 15 February 1968 on BBC2 Show of the Week: Live at the Talk of the Town . The Seekers ' final concert was recorded for the album The Seekers Live at The Talk of the Town in July 1968. Tony Bennett set his 1972 series for Thames Television , Tony Bennett at the Talk of the Town , there. This form of entertainment, in its turn, fell out of public favour, and

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468-560: A selection of guests, and it had a long and successful run on BBC Television from 1965 to 1986. Doonican won the Variety Club of Great Britain 's BBC-TV Personality of the Year award three times. Doonican was born on 3 February 1927 in Waterford , Ireland, the youngest of the eight children of Agnes (née Kavanagh) and John Doonican. He was from a musical family and played in his school band from

507-546: Is a street in Central London . It connects Leicester Square to Long Acre via Charing Cross Road . The street was constructed in the 1670s, and named after the Earl of Salisbury 's country estate of Cranborne , Dorset . It originally connected Leicester Square to Castle Street, and was largely complete by 1681–2. William Hogarth served an apprenticeship in a shop on the street in 1713, and his two sisters were presumed to run

546-919: The BBC Television Personality of the Year award in 1966. He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1970. Eamonn Andrews , a fellow Irishman met him at the 18th green of the South Herts Golf Club as Doonican played a round of golf. He wrote two volumes of autobiography, The Special Years (1980) and Walking Tall (1985) Doonican met his future wife, Lynette Rae, when both she and the Ramblers supported Anthony Newley on tour. The couple married in 1962. They had two daughters, Sarah and Fiona, and two grandchildren, Bethany and Scott. In later years they lived at Knotty Green in Beaconsfield , Buckinghamshire. Doonican officially retired in 1990 but

585-435: The BBC. offered Doonican his own regular show, Singalong Saturday , starting on 27 June 1964. The series was a success and he was given another series on BBC1 called "Date with Doonican" starting on 22 February 1965. The TV shows were produced by Yvonne Littlewood and lasted for over 20 years. At their peak the shows attracted audiences of some 19 million viewers. The shows featured his relaxed crooner style, sitting in

624-422: The Hippodrome back to Matcham's original designs for use as a casino and entertainment venue. During the planning stage, the adjacent Cranbourn Mansions building became available and plans were redrafted to incorporate this former gentlemen's apartment block into the design, doubling the eventual floorspace and linked using a new structure sited within the existing light well between the two buildings. Investment in

663-571: The Talk of the Town closed in 1982, the Hippodrome was acquired by nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow who turned it into Stringfellow's, the UK's first 'super club.' Citations Sources 51°30′41.68″N 0°7′39.82″W  /  51.5115778°N 0.1277278°W  / 51.5115778; -0.1277278 This London road or road transport-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Val Doonican Michael Valentine Doonican (3 February 1927 – 1 July 2015)

702-615: The United States, The Val Doonican Show aired on ABC on Saturday evenings at 8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Central) from 5 June to 14 August 1971. The Palladium performance also kick-started his recording career. Between 1964 and 1973, Doonican was rarely out of the UK Singles Chart, his greatest successes including the singles " Walk Tall ", "The Special Years", " Elusive Butterfly ", "What Would I Be" (Decca), "If The Whole World Stopped Loving" (Pye), and "Morning" (Philips); and

741-1198: The age of 12. From 1949 to 1951 it was the London equivalent of the Folies Bergère . The original interior was demolished in 1958, and Bernard Delfont had the Hippodrome converted into the nightclub The Talk of the Town. It featured appearances by many of the popular artistes of the time, including Diana Ross & The Supremes , Judy Garland , Eartha Kitt , Shirley Bassey , The Temptations , Frank Sinatra , Mel Torme , Sammy Davis Jr. , Lena Horne , Sergio Franchi , Sophie Tucker , Engelbert Humperdinck , Dusty Springfield , Val Doonican , Lonnie Donegan , The Carpenters , John Denver , Ella Fitzgerald , Liza Minnelli , Tom Jones , Cleo Laine , The Jackson 5 , Buddy Rich , Lulu , Danny La Rue , Cilla Black , Petula Clark , Paul Anka , Glen Campbell , Anne Murray , Sandie Shaw , Johnnie Ray , Matt Monro , The Andrews Sisters , Dolores Gray , Frankie Vaughan , Cliff Richard , The Shadows , Channing Pollock (magician) , Dionne Warwick , Raphael , The Seekers , Stevie Wonder , Sacha Distel and Neil Sedaka . In February 1964, Ethel Merman made her only British appearance in

780-415: The age of six. When his father died in 1941, the teenage Doonican had to leave De La Salle College Waterford to get factory jobs fabricating steel and making orange and grapefruit boxes. He began to perform in his hometown, often with his friend Bruce Clarke, and they had their first professional engagement as a duo in 1947. Doonican appeared in a summer season at Courtown Harbour, County Wexford . He

819-567: The albums 13 Lucky Shades of Val Doonican (Decca), and Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently (Pye) which reached Number 1 in the UK Albums Chart in December 1967. The 1966 single release "Elusive Butterfly" reached a UK chart peak of #5 and #3 in Ireland. In all, he recorded over 50 albums. After a spell with Philips records in the seventies he also recorded for RCA. He also sang the theme song to

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858-577: The beginning of October 2008, the show previewed at the London Hippodrome with great success, and stayed running until the end of Haig's Hippodrome lease in June 2009. During this time, the show La Clique at the Hippodrome won an Olivier Award in 2009, in the "Best Entertainment" category. In 2009, the lease on the Hippodrome was acquired by Leicester-born father and son entrepreneurs Jimmy and Simon Thomas, who began an extensive restoration programme taking

897-538: The building reportedly came to over £40 million, the funds being raised by the Thomas family from the sale of a number of bingo halls prior to the UK smoking ban, which made it illegal to smoke within an enclosed workplace, on 1 July 2007. The Hippodrome Casino was opened on 13 July 2012 by Mayor of London Boris Johnson , who described it as "yet another ringing endorsement of London as a great place to invest". The venue on opening included four floors of gaming, including

936-550: The club soon went out of fashion. It was not until April 2004 that the Hippodrome regained its standing, when it was transformed into Cirque at the Hippodrome. The interior was taken back to hues of reds and golds, and burlesque was the theme. Cirque at the Hippodrome won the BEDA award for best UK nightclub in 2004. It was revealed in October 2005 that the club had lost its public drinks licence and would no longer be able to serve alcohol, as

975-555: The film Ring of Bright Water . Behind the scenes, Doonican was described as "a perfectionist who knew his limitations but always aimed to be 'the best Val Doonican possible.'" He was sometimes compared to American singer Perry Como , though he claimed his main influence was Bing Crosby . He appeared in three Royal Variety Performances . On 31 December 1976, Doonican performed his hit song "Walk Tall” on BBC One 's A Jubilee of Music , celebrating British pop music for Queen Elizabeth II's impending Silver Jubilee . Doonican won

1014-478: The gaps between the action. The serial ended in September 1953, and the Ramblers continued to tour the variety theatres, being billed as Ireland's Ambassadors of Song. They also began performing at United States Air Force bases. The Ramblers kept busy for most of the 1950s and in 1960 they supported Anthony Newley on his tour. Recognising Doonican's talent and potential as a solo act, Newley persuaded him to leave

1053-539: The late 1950s, Doonican became one of the artists managed by Eve Taylor , the self-described "Queen Bee" of show business, who remained his manager until her death. After seeing him in cabaret in London in 1964, impresario Val Parnell booked him to appear on Sunday Night at the Palladium on 31 May 1964. Most unusually, Doonican returned to the show the following week as well. As a result of his performances, Bill Cotton , then Assistant Head of Light Entertainment at

1092-414: The lease of the Hippodrome building on a short term before a casino licence application could be secured for future use. Haig initially maintained and managed the empty venue on her own, and then changed the venue's name back to the London Hippodrome from its previous name of Cirque. Shortly afterward, Haig's in-house events company, Hip Events, began running private events in the venue, but once again using

1131-624: The local police did not want what they called "vertical drinking" (the majority of patrons standing rather than sitting) in Leicester Square. The police also shut down most of the venues in the local area. Following this, in December 2005, the club was eventually forced to close, following reports of violence involving rival gangs after they had left the building of the Hippodrome, which reflected on its closure later in Westminster licensing court. In January 2006, entrepreneur Charmaine Haig took over

1170-614: The singing group and go solo. He was auditioned for radio as a solo act and appeared on the radio show Variety Bandbox . Soon after his solo career started, he picked up his own radio show in the afternoons on the BBC Light Programme in 1961 called Your Date with Val . In 1962, he had also had a weekly show on Irish TV called Presenting Val Doonican . Variety and cabaret appearances increased, and he received good reviews following his appearance at London's Astor Club in March 1963. In

1209-518: The space to its full capacity as a variety venue with album launches, dance shows, gala dinners, awards ceremonies and Leicester Square film premiere after parties. In 2008, Haig and her business partner acquired a theatre licence for the venue and subsequently turned the venue back into a theatre. The adult cabaret show La Clique was found at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2008; by

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1248-593: The tales, in 1969. As his were variety shows, his TV programmes gave a number of other performers, such as Dave Allen , early exposure. Regular guests included Bernard Cribbins , Bob Todd , the Norman Maen Dancers, the Mike Sammes Singers, and the Kenny Woodman Orchestra. At its height The Val Doonican Show , which featured both American and British acts, had 20 million viewers. In

1287-568: The venue closed in 1982. In 2009, the Hippodrome was named by the Brecon Jazz Festival as one of 12 venues which had made the most important contributions to jazz music in the United Kingdom . The musical drama End of the Rainbow , nominated for a number of Olivier Awards in 2011 during its London run and Tony Awards in 2012 while on Broadway , is set at the Talk of The Town during

1326-614: Was an Irish singer of traditional pop , easy listening and novelty songs , who was noted for his warm and relaxed vocal style. A crooner , he found popular success, especially in the United Kingdom where he had five successive Top 10 albums in the 1960s as well as several hits on the UK Singles Chart , including " Walk Tall ", Elusive Butterfly and If the Whole World Stopped Loving . The Val Doonican Show , his eponymous variety programme, featured his singing and

1365-550: Was as fit as a flea. It was just old age, I'm afraid — the batteries ran out." Leading tributes to Doonican, fellow entertainer Bruce Forsyth said, "It is very sad. He was always a lovely man to work with ... He was a very warm person and number one in his field. He brought a lovely warmth with his personality and was a very popular man." Elaine Paige commented on Twitter , "Sad to hear of Val Doonican's passing ... RIP Val", while BBC disc-jockey Tony Blackburn said "So sad to hear that Val Doonican has passed away. He

1404-460: Was for revue and musical comedy , among them The Five O'Clock Girl , the West End production of Vincent Youmans ' hit Broadway musical Hit The Deck (1928) and also Mr. Cinders , both in 1929; Ivor Novello 's Perchance to Dream in 1945 with Margaret Rutherford ; and the revue High Spirits in 1953 with Cyril Ritchard and Diana Churchill . Julie Andrews made her stage debut here at

1443-435: Was opened in 1900. It was designed by Frank Matcham for Moss Empires chaired by Edward Moss and built for £250,000 as a hippodrome for circus and variety performances. The venue gave its first show on 15 January 1900, a music hall revue entitled "Giddy Ostend" with Little Tich . The conductor was Georges Jacobi . Entry to the venue was through a bar, dressed as a ship's saloon. The performance space featured both

1482-613: Was soon featured on Irish radio, sometimes with Clarke, and appeared in Waterford's first-ever television broadcast. Doonican moved to England in 1951 and joined the Four Ramblers who, in addition to touring the variety stages, were featured on the BBC radio serial the Riders of the Range . In the radio serial, Doonican played one of a number of bunk-house boys who were heard crooning cowboy songs in

1521-604: Was still performing in 2009. He had a second home in Spain, and was a keen golfer and a talented watercolour painter. Another hobby he enjoyed was cooking. In June 2011, he was recognised by the Mayor of Waterford , who bestowed on him "The Freedom of the City". Doonican died at a nursing home in Buckinghamshire on 1 July 2015, aged 88. His daughter Sarah told The Guardian : "Until 87, he

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