Bette Davis at The ABC Theatre

Bette Davis’ 1976 appearance at Blackpool’s ABC Theatre, a popular venue at the time, was part of a brief tour in the UK to promote her autobiography The Lonely Life and to engage with her British audience. The visit to Blackpool was a notable event, as it marked a rare opportunity for her fans in the town to see the legendary Hollywood actress in person, even as her Hollywood career had somewhat slowed in the 1970s. She delivered a talk about her life and career that evening at the ABC Theatre. It included a chance for the audience to hear first hand from her about her iconic roles and the challenges she faced throughout her career. Her career spanned decades, with roles in classic films such as All About Eve (1950) and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962).

She was known for her strong-willed personality, which matched the complex characters she often portrayed. Her magnetic presence, both on screen and off, gave her visit to Blackpool an added touch of Hollywood glamour. The visit to Blackpool’s ABC Theatre remains a moment of significant cultural interest, not just for Blackpool, but for British film fans who were given a direct connection to the golden age of cinema through her presence. Read about her 1936 appearance in Lytham here.

This is a photo of the tour’s programme available from the ABC Theatre at the time.

Davis with President Ronald Reagan (her co-star in 1939’s Dark Victory) in 1987, two years before her death. It has nothing to do with her appearance in Blackpool, but it was such a good photo that Blackpool Timeline couldn’t resist.

Photo taken 10 October 1975 – The year before Bette Davis’ appearance at the ABC Theatre. She was in London for some television and stage shows, and for a theatre tour of the UK to record a series of solo TV shows.