A new theatre rises from the ashes - a look back at the West Midlands in the 1930s

Just after 2am on November 1, 1936, Bob Kennedy did a final tour of the Dudley Opera House before locking up for the night. The theatre had just hosted its final performance of Pleasures of the Night.

All the guests and staff had gone, so Bob – son of the theatre’s owner Ben Kennedy – headed home for some much needed rest. A policeman walked past about 4.30am, and all appeared to be well. But an hour later, passer-by John Nicholls noticed smoke rising from the building, and summoned the fire brigade.

The firemen only had to come a short distance, from nearby Priory Street, but by the time they arrived the building was well alight. The seat of the fire seemed to be around the auditorium, and proved difficult for the fire crews to reach. The fire appeared to have started in the gallery, above the upper circle, and burning debris was crashing down onto the area below. The height at which the fire was taking place meant it was difficult for the firemen to get at the flames. Eventually a member of the Kennedy family arrived on the scene, and led a group of firemen to the roof of the Plaza cinema next door, which they also owned, allowing the hoses to be directed down towards the fire.

By 7.30am, the fire was well under control, but the theatre was damaged beyond repair. Bob Kennedy pledged to rebuild the theatre, even if it cost £50,000 to repair, and expressed his sadness that the theatre’s staff of 30 would lose their jobs. He said a whole season of booked productions would now have to be cancelled.

The Kennedys moved swiftly to replace the Opera House, submitting plans for approval the following May, and with construction work starting three months later.

Within 16 months of the fire, the grandiose Dudley Hippodrome was ready to open its doors on December 19, 1938. With a capacity of 1,752, it was bigger than any other theatre in the region, and from its state-of-the-art air conditioning and heating, to its neon lighting, everything was ultra-modern and on a grand scale.Dudley Joel MP declared the theatre open, having been handed a golden key.  Wimbledon champion Dorothy Round was also in the audience, along with deputy mayor Alderman J L Hillman, architect Archibald Hurley Robinson, and builder A J Crump. There was also a young man called John Bullas, who recalled: “Despite the fact that it was a bitterly cold night, the house was packed to capacity. “Those fortunate enough to obtain a ticket for this momentous occasion will always treasure the memory.”

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