blackpool's 125 electric light years

BLACKPOOL’S 125 ELECTRIC LIGHT YEARS
In 2004 Blackpool celebrated 125 years since the UK’s first great electric light show
dazzled its holidaymakers.
So innovative was the event it even preceded Thomas Edison’s patent of the humble
electric light bulb which arrived the following year, eventually lighting the way for the
world famous Blackpool Illuminations enjoyed by millions of visitors today.
It was 1879 when a switched on Victorian Mayor came up with a brilliant idea to fill
the town.
The council of the day spent a staggering £3500 on the latest in lighting technology.
Eight powerful Siemens Arc Lamps were the stars of the show, shining so brightly it
was hailed as “Artificial Sunshine”. Combined with fireworks and a carnival
atmosphere, the dazzling display attracted a whopping 100,000 visitors who filled up
every hotel and lodging house for miles.
The rest as they say is history, sparking Blackpool’s tradition of light and electricity.
Indeed the town became the first in the UK to boast its own electric street lights. A
lightning bolt in the resort’s coat of arms marks those pioneering days.
These days more than 3.5 million people visit the award winning 9 week spectacle, a
six mile electrical extravaganza shining from September 2nd to November 6 th in
2005.
A whole host of new features join established favourites in the display with children’s
television characters alongside shimmering tableaux to delight all the family. The
new ‘Hula Paradise’ tableau coupled with the ‘Aloha’ roadway section gives a hint of
Hawaii with dancing hula girls, swaying palm trees and cool surfers.
The kids will love ‘Ballooning Buddies’ – 5 cute animals drifting away in hot air
balloons, while mum and dad can marvel at ‘Leaded Lights’, a section of beautiful
illuminated stained glass window scenes.
With more than a million lightbulbs, the latest laser technology and an improved
interactive Sony gaming zone premiering the hottest new games Blackpool
Illuminations is, as always, light years ahead of its time, just as it was 125 years ago.

BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS
LIGHT BITES 2007
MANY hands make Lights work . . . ?
Not really. Forty-five staff, including talented artists, electricians, joiners, mechanics,
painters, engineers and hi tech boffins work all year round to ensure the displays are
ready. Altogether 65,000 staff hours are spent on maintenance, preparation,
erection, operation and dismantling the features.
MEET Mr Lights . . .
The Illuminations team is led by manager Richard Ryan, who always dreamt of
seeing his work in lights! At seven he set up his own back garden Illuminations, at
10 he created his first tableau (a windmill) and by 12 he’d learned to create flashing
lights - through a “potentially lethal” live tin! His mum wrote on his behalf to then
Illuminations boss Arthur Elliott OBE who suggested he study electrical engineering
but conceded: “Our work is so specialised it is probable that this department is the
only place in the country where illuminations techniques can be learned.” The
department later created a vacancy for Richard on the strength of his enthusiasm.
GREATEST free show . . . ?
The Illuminations now cost £2.4 million to stage. The equipment is worth £10m.
THE Lights are pretty heavy, and other little-known facts . . .
The Illuminations equipment actually weighs more than 711,000 kilograms,
equivalent to 350 Blackpool trams! There are an amazing one million lamps of
various types and styles, and more than 100 miles of festoon strip strung between
the promenade poles and across the carriageway. The cable and wiring for the
Lights is even longer - stretching more than 200 miles! Electricity consumed totals
960,000 units, at an approximate cost of £50,000 . . . anyone got 10p for the meter?!
ILLUMINATIONS for sale . . .
It’s amazing what you can buy on the internet these days - including countless items
of Lights memorabilia. Recent offers on auction sites have included models of
illuminated trams, 1930s photographs of Illuminations ‘monster’ tableaux and
souvenir programmes of the Lights from the same period, proving the fascination felt
by many generations for this well-loved tourist attraction.
ILLUMINATIONS world tour . . .
The Lights have many international connections. Illuminations have been sold to

countries around the world. They’ve bedazzled in Barcelona, and sparkled amidst
the sun and sand of Saudi capital Jeddah. And Libyan Colonel Gaddafi even once
sent an emissary on a mission impossible: to buy up Blackpool Illuminations lock,
stock and light bulb!
TRIPPING the Lights fantastic . . .
Blackpool was the first town to have electric street lighting and visitors first came to
marvel at Blackpool’s Lights in 1879 when just eight arc lamps bathed the
promenade. The nearest to modern-day displays was first staged in May 1912 to
mark the first royal visit, made by Princess Louise, to Blackpool. The first results
were so impressive the council bowed to pressure to stage the Lights again in
September, and the rest, as they say, is history…
BLACK out . . .
The Lights were ready for staging in 1939 but prevented by the outbreak of war.
There was a full scale preview on August 31 complete with giant searchlight
sweeping from the Tower top but next night the blackout had been enforced and the
only colour to be seen was inside boarding houses where landladies coloured their
light bulbs with Dolly blue. The austere post-war climate meant the Illuminations did
not shine again until 1949 when Anna Neagle tripped the Lights fantastic.
ALL systems glow . . .
There’s nothing quite like an Illuminations switch-on ceremony to ensure a starry
night! Big names to ‘flick the switch’ in the nineties included the Bee Gees, Shirley
Bassey, Lisa Stansfield, Michael Ball and Chris de Burgh. Westlife switched on the
Millennium display and Steps the year after.
In 2002, the ceremony moved from its traditional home outside Blackpool Town Hall
to the purpose built Radio 2 Arena in central Blackpool. Thousands of onlookers
cheered as Ronan Keating did the honours, broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 and over
the internet, whilst last year boyband sensation Blue flicked that famous switch.
And switched-on-stars of yesteryear have included such luminaries as George
Formby, Jayne Mansfield and Gracie Fields. Even animals have got in on the act - a
rather impatient Red Rum did the honours in 1977 . . . and Kermit the Frog leapt at
the chance two years later!
MILLIONS of visitors can’t be wrong . . .
The Lights are expected to attract in excess of 3½ million visitors (in addition to 7½

million at other times), who will spend more than £275 million during their visit.
WORLD’S best . . .
In a 2003 documentary for the Discovery Channel, Blackpool Illuminations was voted
6 th into the top 10 best light shows in the world. Only the likes of Freemont Street in
Las Vegas and natural phenomenon The Northern Lights were adjudged to have
outshone Blackpool’s display.

ILLUMINATING FACTS
20 LIGHT ITEMS YOU MAY WELL FIND ILLUMINATING
Here are 20 things you may not have known about the Illuminations, which bring
razzle and dazzle to the seafront.
1. The illuminations cost approximately £2.4 million to stage, of which £2.1
million comes out of public funds.
2. The equipment itself is worth about £10 million.
3. The Lights attract over 3.5 million visitors in just 9 weeks.
4. The army of tourists will spend more than £275 million while visiting the
resort during the lights.
5. The Illuminations will shine non-stop for 66 nights.
6. The dazzling display stretches almost six miles from Starr Gate to Bispham.
7. Forty-five staff including artists, electricians, joiners, mechanics, painters and
engineers work all year round to ensure the displays are ready.
8. Altogether 65,000 staff hours are used on maintenance, preparation,
erection, operation and - finally - dismantling the features, fixtures and
fittings.
9. The Rigby Road Workshop resembles something of a Santa's Grotto with its
network of workshops, halls, corridors, and storage area.
10. There are more than 80 kilometres of festoon strip strung between
promenade poles and across the carriageway.
11. Cable and wiring stretches more than 120 kilometres.
12. There are more than a million lamps in various types and styles.
13. The equipment weighs more than 711,000 kilograms.
14. There are more than 500 scenic designs and features.
15. Forty large tableaux holding more than 5,000 square metres in surface area
are included in the display.
16. There are more than 500 floodlights and spotlights.
17. Most of the display now operates on low voltage eg. 12v and 24v.
18. New infrastructure for the lights, street lighting and tramways cost £9 million.
19. The lights are supported by more than 1500 poles.
20. Electricity consumed totals 960,000 units, at an approximate cost of
£50,000.......Anyone got a 10p for the meter!

ILLUMINATIONS HISTORY
Holidaymakers first tripped the Lights fantastic in Blackpool in 1879 when just eight
arc lamps bathed the Promenade in what was described as artificial sunshine…
The basic idea is still much the same over 126 years later.
But, it has to be said; the style, scale and sheer professionalism of the modern day
version have little in keeping with that first electric lighting experiment.
Gone are the days when the lights went out as the tide came in . . . because water
leaked in to the cast iron wiring pipes on the seafront!
These days hi-tech has replaced high tide as the main talking point of the annual
Illuminations extravaganza.
The nearest to modern-day displays was staged on Princess Parade in May 1912 to
mark the first royal visit to Blackpool.
Princess Louise officially opened the new section of the promenade - subsequently
known as Princess Parade.
As part of the celebrations for this event, the Blackpool electrical engineer was
instructed to decorate the prom in what was then a novel fashion with festoons of
garland lamps.
About 10,000 bulbs were used and the results were so impressive that the local
chamber of trade and other business people in the town persuaded the Council to
stage these Lights again in September of that year.
Thousands of people visited the resort and saw the Illuminations and the event was
judged a commercial success.
In 1913 the Council was again encouraged to stage the Princess Parade lights as an
after -season event in September.
The response from the public was nothing short of astonishing but hopes of building
on this success was short lived with the outbreak of the First World War the following

year.
Illuminations were back in 1925 on a more ambitious scale with lights festooned
along the Promenade from Manchester Square to Cocker Square.
It quickly became appreciated that Blackpool Illuminations were a worthwhile tourist
attraction and they continued to be staged annually for many years.
By 1932 animated tableaux had been added and these were erected on the cliffs
linking North Shore and Bispham. The length of the Lights was extended to its
present length - just under six miles - starting at Squires Gate and finishing at Red
Bank Road.
In 1939, although the Illuminations were ready for staging, they were prevented by
the outbreak of the Second World War.
There was a full-scale preview on August 31, complete with a giant searchlight
sweeping wide from the Tower top. But the next night the Blackout had been
enforced and the only colour to be seen was inside hotels and boarding houses
where landladies had coloured their light bulbs with Dolly blue.
Even after the war had finished there were restrictions on the use of fuel and
decorative lighting and as such, the Illuminations remained prohibited.
The austere climate of post-war Britain meant the Lights did not come on again until
1949 when Anna Neagle pressed the switch.
Even then there was a cliff-hanger situation as the Council waited for government
permission to burn the required amount of electricity.
The scale, density and content of the Lights have improved year by year and the
development of new ideas and new themes is continuous. In particular the use of
electronic controllers, fibre optics, lasers and video projection, has added a new
dimension to the fabulous autumn crowdpuller.

A Walk Through the Lights
Here's the glittering line-up for the 2007 grand tour:
A high-tech WELCOME from alien space ships awaits visitors at South Shore before
PARTY POPPERS, with giant hats and wine glasses, get everyone in the mood as
far as Abercorn Place.
Be dazzled by a new corridor of white, crisp light courtesy of BEAVERBROOKS
shimmering display along New South Promenade, leading to the first set of the
COLLECTION BOXES close to Harrowside.
Smile for CAMERA CAPERS, where giant picture scenes develop as you drive to
Burlington Road West, where TIFFANY DELIGHTS and then LIGHTING PYLONS
catch the eye. After dark, the PLEASURE BEACH takes on a different look - and all
of those lights, including the award-winning display along the Big One are provided
by the fun park.
On the opposite side of the Promenade, the new MASTERBLASTER tubes have
their own light show as they burst out of the glass walls of Sandcastle Waterworld.
Don't miss THUNDERBIRD THREE in Picasso guise while giant COSMIC ORBS
display a myriad of movement and colour across the road, like an inquisitive eye
scanning the oncoming crowds as far as Rawcliffe Street. I'M LOVIN' IT is the
message from McDonalds (repeated again around Central Pier) before JELLY
MONSTERS tempt the taste buds to Alexandra Road where temptations of another
kind come from giant, multi-coloured mermaids in SIRENS.
Comical surfing characters give a taste of Hawaii in ALOHA from Rigby Road and
POT POURI is everywhere as we reach the Golden Mile, setting for free plays on the
latest video games in the all-weather SONY INTERACTIVE ZONE.
Don't forget to look up to BLACKPOOL TOWER and watch the lights go right to the
top of the flag pole. Closer to the ground, as Slade might shout, IT'S CHRISTMAS!
through to Talbot Square, which hosts the exploits of the FUNNY GIRLS on a giant
video projection screen, and marks the start of SANUK, named after the club,
brightening up the area near the Metropole Hotel.
From Pleasant Street FOUNTAIN FESTIVAL spills out colour everywhere before
LEADED LIGHTS shine from illuminated windows, followed by CONCERTINA
CRITTERS with animal magic in the air.
Watch the MAGIC TREE grow in the centre of Gynn roundabout as flowers flourish
and bloom from the ground up to the branches.
There's a PYLON PARADE along Queens Promenade to Empress Drive, where
GENIES make wishes come true. You'll be given your CARDS before you can show

your appreciation at the COLLECTION POINT opposite the Miner's Home. But don't
forget to start looking left from Carlin Gate otherwise you might miss all manner of
tableaux, starting with TOP TOPIARY, a whole fence full of fun in a variety of
shapes, including clowns and animals. GIVE ME FUNSHINE, a happy collection of
smiling faces leads up to this year's star tableau, THE GREEN MACHINE, stressing
the benefits of exercising and eating healthily, before you reach Toytown with
NODDY.
See real flames and fountains in FIRE AND WATER, a stunning combination of
Greek temple and Roman gladiators, before joining the adventures of ALICE IN
WONDERLAND. Animals are everywhere in WHOSE ZOO, as are KALEIDOSCOPE
patterns, before the four-strong cycle of LITE SEASONS leads back in time to
MASKS of ancient worlds. Those disco pigs are still HOGBOPPIN', you can walk the
plank with the PIRATE villains and STUNT RIDER Freddie shows how to loop the
loop and leap over a line of buses.
Sing those old NURSERY RHYMES, be mesmerised by MESH LITES and watch
FIREWORKS before reaching the hi-tech LASER tableau. The LOLLIPOP WHEEL
looks good enough to lick and you can join BALLOONING BUDDIES in time to see
the mouse run up the clock in HICKORY DICKORY DOCK.
They're using t-rex-tricity in DINOSAUR SAFARI and The Tweenies and Lazytown
are among the children's programmes screened on the BBC video screen.
The grace of SWAN LAKE gives way to more dancing around the giant TOTEM
POLE, and girls in their HULA PARADISE of palm trees, crabs and starfish.
ALI BABA brings a touch of Middle East magic, animals provide a prehistoric
singalong in THE EXTINCT and we travel back even further in time for the corny old
jokes of BASIL BRUSH.
The most HAUNTED HOTEL in Blackpool boasts a host of special effects, man of
letters POSTMAN PAT is celebrating his 25th anniversary, and, finally, everyone's
invited to the TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC for easy photography in perfect safety
alongside model bears and, dancing, singing animated teddies on a giant video
screen

A LONG LIST OF LUMINARIES
Although Lights displays were staged in 1879, 1912, 1913 and then 1925 through to
1933, it was not until 1934 that a proper Switch-On ceremony was devised to launch
the Summer Season's Grand Finale. Lord Derby did the honours, followed by this
impressive roll call of celebrities:-
1934 Lord Derby
1935 Audrey Mossom (Railway Queen)
1936 Sir Josiah Stamp
1937 Alderman Ashton (later Duke of Kent)
1938 Councillor Mrs Quayle
1939 Cancelled when war broke out, no display during War years or indeed
until
1949 Anna Neagle
1950 Wilfred Pickles
1951 Stanley Mathews
1952 Valerie Hobson
1953 George Formby
1954 Gilbert Harding
1955 Jacob Malik (Russian Ambassador)
1956 Reginald Dixon
1957 John H Whitney (American Ambassador)
1958 A E 'Matt' Matthews
1959 Jane Mansfield
1960 Janet Munro
1961 Violet Carson
1962 Shirley Ann Field
1963 Cliff Michelmore
1964 Gracie Fields
1965 David Tomlinson
1966 Ken Dodd
1967 Dr. Horace King (Speaker)
1968 Sir Matt Busby
1969 Canberra Bomber
1970 Tony Blackburn
1971 Cast of "Dad's Army"
1972 Danny La Rue
1973 Gordon Banks
1974 Wendy Craig
1975 Tom Baker (Dr Who)
1976 Carol Ann Grant (Miss United Kingdom)
1977 Red Rum
1978 Terry Wogan
1979 Kermit the Frog and the Muppets
1980 Cannon and Ball
1981 Earl & Countess Spencer
1982 Rear Admiral "Sandy" Woodward
1983 Cast of "Coronation Street" (Doris Speed)
1984 Johannes Rau (Minister-President, North Rhine Westphalia & David
Waddington, QC,MP (Minister of State, Home Office)
1985 Joanna Lumley, BBC "Children in need"
1986 Les Dawson
1987 Frank Bough, Ann Gregg & Kathy Tayler, BBC "Holiday" programme
1988 Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sarah Brightman

1989 Frank Bruno
1990 Bet & Alec Gilroy "Coronation Street" (Julie Goodyear & Roy
Barraclough)
1991 Derek Jameson and Judith Chalmers
1992 Lisa Stansfield
1993 Status Quo & BBC Radio One
1994 Shirley Bassey
1995 Bee Gees & BBC Radio One
1996 Eternal & BBC Radio One
1997 Michael Ball & BBC Radio Two
1998 Chris De Burgh & BBC Radio Two
1999 Gary Barlow & BBC Radio Two
2000 Westlife & BBC Radio Two
2001 Steps & BBC Radio Two
2002 Ronan Keating & BBC Radio Two
2003 Blue & BBC Radio Two
2004 Gerri Halliwell & BBC Radio Two
2005 Chris Evans & BBC Radio Two
2006 Dale Winton & BBC Radio Two
2007 David Tennant & BBC Radio Two

Blackpool Illuminations
2007 Estimated Switch On Times
DATE DAY ON OFF
31st August Friday 9.00 p.m. 2.00 a.m.
1st September Saturday 8.04 p.m. 1.00 a.m.
2nd September Sunday 8.01 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
3rd September Monday 7.59 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
4th September Tuesday 7.56 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
5th September Wednesday 7.54 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
6th September Thursday 7.52 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
7th September Friday 7.49 p.m. 12.00 a.m.
8th September Saturday 7.47 p.m. 1.00 a.m.
9th September Sunday 7.44 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
10th September Monday 7.42 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
11th September Tuesday 7.40 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
12th September Wednesday 7.37 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
13th September Thursday 7.35 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
14th September Friday 7.32 p.m. 12.00 a.m.
15th September Saturday 7.30 p.m. 1.00 a.m.
16th September Sunday 7.27 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
17th September Monday 7.25 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
18th September Tuesday 7.22 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
19th September Wednesday 7.20 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
20th September Thursday 7.17 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
21st September Friday 7.15 p.m. 12.00 a.m.
22nd September Saturday 7.12 p.m. 1.00 a.m.
23rd September Sunday 7.10 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
24th September Monday 7.07 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
25th September Tuesday 7.05 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
26th September Wednesday 7.02 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
27th September Thursday 7.00 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
28th September Friday 6.57 p.m. 12.00 a.m.
29th September Saturday 6.55 p.m. 1.00 a.m.
30th September Sunday 6.52 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
1st October Monday 6.50 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
2nd October Tuesday 6.48 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
3rd October Wednesday 6.45 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
4th October Thursday 6.43 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
5th October Friday 6.40 p.m. 12.00 a.m.
6th October Saturday 6.38 p.m. 1.00 a.m.
7th October Sunday 6.36 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
8th October Monday 6.33 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
9th October Tuesday 6.31 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
10th October Wednesday 6.28 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
11th October Thursday 6.26 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
12th October Friday 6.24 p.m. 12.00 a.m.
13th October Saturday 6.21 p.m. 1.00 a.m.
14th October Sunday 6.19 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
15th October Monday 6.17 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
16th October Tuesday 6.14 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
17th October Wednesday 6.12 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
18th October Thursday 6.10 p.m. 11.30 p.m.

19th October Friday 6.07 p.m. 12.00 a.m.
20th October Saturday 6.05 p.m. 1.00 a.m.
21st October Sunday 6.03 p.m. 12.00 p.m.
22nd October Monday 6.01 p.m. 12.00 p.m.
23rd October Tuesday 5.58 p.m. 12.00 p.m.
24th October Wednesday 5.56 p.m. 12.00 p.m.
25th October Thursday 5.54 p.m. 12.00 p.m.
26th October Friday 5.52 p.m. 12.00 a.m.
27th October Saturday 5.50 p.m. 1.00 a.m.
28th October Sunday 4.48 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
29th October Monday 4.46 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
30th October Tuesday 4.44 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
31st October Wednesday 4.42 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
1st November Thursday 4.40 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
2nd November Friday 4.38 p.m. 12.00 a.m.
3rd November Saturday 4.36 p.m. 1.00 a.m.
4th November Sunday 4.34 p.m. 11.30 p.m.
VisitBlackpool
1 Clifton Street
Blackpool
FY1 1LY
01253 478222
tourism@blackpoolo.gov.uk
www.visitblackpool.com/illuminations