Category: 1947

Hollywood Icon Mae West Lights up Blackpool

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Mae West visited Blackpool on multiple occasions, with a well-documented appearance at the Blackpool Hippodrome in 1947-1948. She also performed at the New Opera House in 1947-1948. The Hippodrome’s archives even list various other performances in Blackpool, including those by “Blackpool Film Festival,” which occasionally screened her films like “I’m No Angel”. Blackpool must have made a terrific impression on her as she was amongst many other celebrity donors who gave to the St Stephens-on-the-Cliffs Church. West’s likeness was used on the front cover of the Beatles’ 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. When approached for permission, West… Read more »

John Lennon’s Three Fleetwood Summers

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John Lennon lived in Fleetwood for three Summers from 1947 to 1949, just nine miles north of Blackpool. The image below shows him in the front garden of 90 The Esplanade, a large corner house facing the marina in Fleetwood. The background image shows the house as it is today. Lennon’s Aunt Elizabeth ‘Mater’ Parkes was just widowed and working at this address as a live-in housekeeper with her son Stanley, John’s cousin and ‘big brother’. There are several posts on the timeline showing John Lennon’s connection to Blackpool: John Lennon’s Father’s Home in Blackpool, Cynthia Lennon – Born in Blackpool, The… Read more »

David Brown Buys Aston Martin

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Sir David Brown was born in Park Cottage in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, to Caroline and Frank Brown in 1904. Park Cottage was demolished in the Second World War to make way for a new factory, on their 17-acre Park Works site. Brown attended King James’s School in Almondbury and Rossall School in Cleveleys. While at Rossall, he was known to have loved the glamour and excitement of cars and motor sports, yet he was also a shrewd business man. He even bought shares out of his pocket money in his school days at Rossall. David Brown’s connection to Blackpool is significant because it… Read more »

Chelsom – Lighting the Way From Blackpool

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In 1947, Reg and Kay Chelsom established their small antique lighting shop in Blackpool, naming it The Golden Age. Initially focusing on antique lighting, the couple quickly expanded to three shops and began manufacturing reproduction period lighting. These pieces were distributed to retailers and interior designers across the UK. Their son, Robert Chelsom, now the Chairman, took over the business in the 1970s and propelled the company to prominence within the hospitality lighting industry. Since 2006, Robert’s son, Will Chelsom, has played a pivotal role, particularly in expanding the company’s presence in the marine lighting sector and increasing exports, which… Read more »

James Cagney at the Winter Gardens

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James Cagney’s connection to Blackpool began in 1947, when he first visited the town for a charity event at the Winter Gardens. The event was part of a benefit for the local hospital, and as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars at the time, Cagney’s appearance was a major event. It was his first visit to the UK, and his presence in Blackpool marked the start of a long-lasting connection between the actor and the country. Four decades later, in 1988, Cagney returned to Blackpool for another special event at the Winter Gardens, this time celebrating his illustrious career. This visit… Read more »

TVR Cars

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TVR is a car company started by Trevor Wilkinson in 1947 in Blackpool. From the beginning, the company focused on making special sports cars. Their first cars were built using old car frames and engines from different makers. In the 1960s and 1970s, TVR became known for creating exciting and innovative sports cars like the TVR Griffith and TVR Tuscan, which stood out because of their unique looks and advanced features for that time. During the 1970s, TVR began using fiberglass to make car bodies, which made the cars lighter and more streamlined, showing the company’s focus on speed and… Read more »

Laurel & Hardy Wows Blackpool

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In 1947, the legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy made a memorable stop in Blackpool as part of their UK tour. This tour was significant as it marked one of their first stage performances in the UK following their immensely successful career in films. By this time, they had already become household names around the world thanks to their iconic slapstick comedy and timeless films. The UK tour, which included a performance at the Blackpool Opera House, was an eagerly anticipated event, drawing large crowds who were excited to see the pair live on stage. At the Blackpool Opera House,… Read more »