Tag: 1950

Patrick Keiller, A Great Filmmaker Born in Blackpool

Patrick Keiller is a filmmaker, writer, and lecturer, born in 1950 in Blackpool. He studied architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, before furthering his education at the Royal College of Art’s Department of Environmental Media as a postgraduate student in 1979. Over the years, he has combined academia with filmmaking, having taught architecture at the University of East London and fine art at Middlesex University. Keiller’s early films include Stonebridge Park (1981), Norwood (1983), The End (1986), Valtos (1987), and The Clouds (1989). These works are characterised by their use of subjective camera techniques and voice-over… Read more »

Frank Sinatra at The Opera House

Frank Sinatra performed in Blackpool twice, with his first concert in July 1950. At that time, his career was struggling in the US, so he became Blackpool’s highest-paid performer, earning £2,000 per show at the Opera House. He told his chauffeur, Frank Lucas, “You know I could be mayor of this town!” as excited fans cheered, clapped, and banged on his car windows when he arrived. Sinatra loved the local support, saying, “They love me in this town, don’t they?” He came back for two more performances in Blackpool in 1953. Sinatra’s performance at the Blackpool Opera House on July… Read more »