BLACKPOOL'S DEMISE

THE DEMISE OF BLACKPOOL

During 1963's 6 Month Summer Season there were 12 'real theatres' all playing twice nightly.

The 'Second House' being a complete sell out while the 'First' near capacity.

Hotels and B & Bs were full, Pubs and Clubs were a joy to visit. A true Family Resort.

Over the years a frightening change has occurred.

There are now 2 main theatres both struggling, the world famous Blackpool Opera House being 'Dark' the majority of the year, umpteen empty Hotels and B & Bs with Pubs and Clubs to be avoided at all costs.

Families have moved away, Blackpool is now home to 'Stag & Hen Nights'. The streets are littered with drunks and druggies.

You literally take a risk being in the Town Centre at night, you think twice about going to the theatre (should you be lucky enough to find a decent show that is) as you dread leaving the theatre after 10:00pm.

During the day, you notice the stench from drains, the delapidated buildings, the appalling state of the roads, I personally have suffered a cycle fall and two punctures due to the umpteen pit-holes.

Recently the much heralded new Hound's Hill Shopping Centre has opened, as you walk through you view the empty units and realize that not so far into the future it will become a white elephant. Various companies have moved from the town into the centre leaving vacant shops - either never to be used again, or selling cheap and shoddy goods, mostly 'fly by night' merchants. You discover that more than half of the 200 shops along the sea front have been boarded up, many more will close over the next few months.

You wish that the bye-law prohibiting drinking in the street was adhered to, but of course there is NO ONE around to enforce it.

You get somewhat excited by the fact that Council & Government announce plans to improve the town only to discover yet another Lap Dancing Club being licensed.

You decide to take in a show only to find two foul-mouthed so-called comedians and 5th rate

'has-beens' playing the town, all of whom are booked year in, year out and emptying the theatres. Maybe Michael Grade has a great deal to answer for?

You discover in horror that Disney's first choice was Blackpool rather than Paris - blocked locally.

As a highly respected Lighting Designer I am simply appalled by the absolute wasted fortune which has recently been spent in three streets adding grotesque lamp-posts (ALL crooked) producing ghastly lighting effects that I avoided using in the '70s. Now, God help us, the council have erected an appallng new structure copied from a Las Vegas site - a disgraceful 'eye-sore' .

The cost of all this garbage? £4m!!

Just recently, a devastating fire gutted the 100 year old Yate's on the sea front, and has now been demolished, sad to say that in actual fact it now fits in rather well with the rest of the Town Centre, mind you, one less establishment for drunks to cause trouble, so on reflection, maybe not such a bad thing!

Suspecting more closures, a £20 per person entrance fee into the Pleasure Park has just been introduced regardless of whether you take the rides or not - presumably the final nail in that coffin.

Rumour has it that both Disney & Richard Branson visited the town recently - could be heaven sent - until they discover the true state of the town. The rot continues to set in - no Ice Show or indeed any

full productions this year. How ominous is that?!!

There are now serious concerns that the historic 3000 seater Opera House might be demolished - Why?

'Poor State Of Repair'. The Winter Gardens Complex was recently added to a 10 Venue list for possible demolition.

Fantastic !! Blackpool Opera House and the Council have shot themselves in the foot. They claimed that the Opera House was in such a bad state of repair that demolition was seriously 'on the cards'. Not only has the Royal Variety Show been staged there with the Queen in attendance but spent £4000 on a new loo for the royal ass to use. Just let them claim now that the historic theatre needs to be demolished !!

Liars are usually found out !!!

And the most ludicrous quote of the year?

Peter kay claims Blackpool 'The Entertainment Capital Of The World'

Such an ignorant man

The Council have given The Opera House £1m per annum!! Where the hell has that money gone? For the past few years I believe that the Winter Gardens complex has intentionally been run down.

The aforesaid £4m would have been better spent on saving it. Getting a genuine Theatrical Management in and booking International Star names, their £1m council grant could take care of that, heavens! we might even get well behaved crowds back into Blackpool - perish the thought!!

Amazingly, the Council have just bought the Winter Gardens complex along with the Tower for £39.8m Hopefully, this might make a difference, I doubt it. Don't be too surprised to hear of 'demolition',

Sad to see that the beautiful Grand Theatre (Stunning example of Matcham Design) has seen fit to book an evening of 'porn' - maybe that management should be 'looked into'. How Dare They!

We have a rag entiled The Blackpool Gazette, some say homophobic. Interestingly, when last year I tried to produce a 'High Profile' AIDS Charity Show running in tandem with Blackpool's Gay Pride Week-end, they refused to promote it during the prior week.

New York decided 'enough was enough' and introduced stringent 'Zero Tolerence' into the city, transforming it, virtually overnight. Easy to do and without doubt would save Blackpool. Unfortunately, no one has the guts to implement it. Heavens, surely I'm not suggesting banning 'Stags & Hens'? I damn well am!!

Manchester has at long last instigated 'Zero Tolerence' overnight 350 arrests. I congratulate them, now it is time for Blackpool to follow suit. Will they? like hell they will!

Never did I think that I would either agree with or back the loathesome Paul Daniels, but he has recently upset the council and a group of magicians even banning him from their convention in Blackpool. Why?

He came out with some home truths, I personally would be much ruder about this shoddy town - it really is a disgrace. My advice to anyone: Keep Away!

I have just received the new Grand Theatre brochure, other than 2nd rate Bill Kenwright productions, there's nothing of any interest.

10 years ago, I produced the highly successful BEING ALIVE Charity Show at the Grand Theatre, was asked to repeat earlier this year but thanks to the unbelievable apathy of both Press and Council amongst others, had to pull the Production. FULL DETAILS

My Advice to anyone now? Stay Way.

To use that popular phrase 'Would the last person to leave PLEASE turn out the Lights'