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Hi, Ive just seen this. I am iinterested in your article in the Colchester Gazette. ( I assume it was yours!)  I was interested to read that you found the Fred Karno has taken the lease of the Hipporome for a while. I havnt come across this. Could you tell me where you found that piece of info and  what the dates were?
As far as I know Chaplin only came the once.
The Hippodrome, FYI, is completely intact, thanks to some bitter battles fought at planning. The owners have looked after it really well. They have built a wall across the prosc arch and created a bar on the stage, but the flying gear etc. Is more or less intact, and strengthened the whole building with some huge steel bars to support the ( now gone) club lighting- and theoretically it can be turned back into a theatre at any time. The current owner does not encourage visiting.
Dorian Kelly