This month's concert is Rory Gallagher's memorable performance at the BBC Hippodrome in Golder's Green. The date for the concert is in question. Although the bootleg is originally labeled April 14, 1974, a date of June 20, 1974 is also a possibility.
Golders Green is a suburb in the Borough of Barnet in North London. Between 1904 and 1925 Golder's Green developed from open fields to a busy suburb of London. It has a large jewish community and is said to have the best bagels and delis in all of London. With its mock Tudor houses set in beautifully laid out gardens with tree lined avenues it was a desirable alternative to inner city London life. Golders Green is best known as the home of the BBC Concert Orchestra.
In the 1950s, as the BBC was expanding its television operations and the various commercial companies were going on air, a variety of buildings were pressed into use as studios.
The BBC acquired Shepherd's Bush Empire and Golder's Green Hippodrome to fill their needs. The Hippodrome was originally built in 1913 and acquired by the BBC in 1963. It was converted first into a TV studio and later into a Radio Theatre and could seat upwards to 750 people. It has hosted the likes of Queen, Procol Harum, and on a balmy day in 1974, Rory Gallagher. Sadly, the BBC vacated the premise in 2003, and the venerable building was sold recently to a christian evangelical ministry. So travel back in time to when the sounds of the BBC Orchestra or maybe a certain lad from Ballyshannon could be heard coming from Golders Green Hippodrome. Stop by famous Carmelli's bakery for some bagels and cream cheese and then take in the show at the Hippodrome. Rory Gallagher is set to crank it up and wake this quiet little 'burb of London Town.
