Blackpool Pride Festival Programme

JUNE 9TH, 10TH & 11TH | WINTER GARDENS | BLACKPOOL

JANE McDONALD FOUR D’S

Jordan Gray DENE MICHEAL

...and lots, lots more!

www.blackpool-fest.co.uk

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WELCOME TO THE

For most of the year Blackpool wears its Progress motto with pride but for at least three days in June this year it will wear its ‘PRIDE WITH PROGRESS’.

Now celebrating its 11th successive year of growth, Pride 2017– the fast expanding celebration of all things LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) promises to be bigger, better and more colourful than ever.

Says chair and trustee of Blackpool Pride, Shaun Pickup: “Pride has existed 11 years but the festival as it is now was formed four years ago. It all needed a kick up the backside. When you look at what’s going on at Prides throughout the country in major places like Manchester, London, Newcastle and Brighton they are absolutely huge events and really important to the economy of the area, bringing in millions of pounds.

Blackpool has lagged behind other parts of the country and yet with the LGBT community that it’s got - one of the greatest in the country population wise per square mile - Blackpool should be having an event to match at least Manchester and Brighton Prides.”

Even though the Blackpool event can’t match London’s million visitors and 45,000 strong parade or even Brighton’s estimated 300,000 visitors, Shaun sees no reason why it can’t play catch-up. That’s why he got involved and pushed for it to move into the Winter Gardens as a permanent home.

“It started on a car park in Bank Street 11 years ago, went onto North Pier, went up to Dickson Road, then the car park which is now Sainsbury’s, then back to the pier and finally the Winter Gardens,” he says. “I think personally we’ve got everything there - a good iconic building, all the facilities with theatres, a ballroom, the Spanish Hall, bars and we can spill out into St John’s Square. So I think it’s a good home.”

Then there’s the weather. More than once it has rained on the Pride Parade but these days the sun has got its

hat on. Shaun says, “In the past it was always known as a wet event, so we put it inside and ever since it’s been the hottest weekend in June!”

Heading indoors also meant a boost in attendance.

Pride numbers had always been around the 3000 mark but last year topped 10,000.

“That’s a huge leap and obviously now it’s got to keep growing and because of that were already getting a lot of interest in the event from sponsors and prospective sponsors. Blackpool BID and the council, have been very supportive of it and I’ve got companies now coming to me to see how they can get involved instead of me always having to go to them. The thing we’ve tried to do with Blackpool Pride is to make it a festival so it’s open not just to the LGBT community - basically we want everybody to get involved in it.”

“My vision is that we end up with fringe events going on, not just over that weekend but over a week or two weeks. Try and encourage people to come into Blackpool not just for one day but for a period of time.”

Riah Hair @riahair

A POTTED HISTORY OF GAY LIFE IN BLACKPOOL! BLACKPOOL WAS ORIGINALLY ONE BIG BOG!

Oh no, not what you are thinking. It was literally a black peat bog made up of various pools, hence it's name. There was no gay life or any life at all, so to speak!!

Slowly but surely Blackpool became the playground of the North.

Bars, Hotels, Amusements etc., opened. They all needed staff and as we all know there was plenty of work for gay people in those industries.

It seems so hard to believe, that it was illegal to be a male homosexual in this country until 1967! The contradiction was that it was ok if you were female after you were 16 years old! Many people have been sent to prison, sexually neutered and executed in the past.

The sexual offences act in that year decriminalised homosexual acts in private between two men but both of them had to be aged over 21. Now the age is 16 for both sexes.

Nothing stopped the natural inclination of people to be “happy” and an annual "Easter Bonnet" parade on North Pier would be organised with all the "girls and boys", wearing bonnets and frocks as outrageous as possible In this time, bars, pubs and clubs went “underground” and Pepe's Bar, run by two “straight ladies” Barbara Dagnum and Trixie, which was around in the sixties, had to advertise itself as International to cover up its true identity! There were a lot of mixed places too and the “007” Tower Street, later opened in Topping Street, The Original Galleon Bar, Adelaide Street, which closed in 2005. Club Royal, now the Dutchman on Central Promenade.

The main bar at the Clifton Hotel, corner of Talbot Road and Promenade was a busy place. There was also a bar opened next door to Boots the Chemist, which was at one time a Liberal Club on Victoria Street.

A lot of people used Hotels too to have a bevy, this was and still is illegal, as most Hotels are only licensed for their staying guests, particularly on a Sunday night. This was because in those days clubs had to stop selling alcohol after 11.30 you could not get into many hotels including The Regent on Central Drive!

As time went on Lucy's Bar on Talbot Road, was opened by, yes, a lady called Lucy. This was a very successful business and was helped along with the renowned Ivor on his organ. In the early eighties the boom really began and clubs and bars began springing up everywhere, TFG's (Top Floor Gays) opened on the top floor above Rumours, Lucy's was in the cellar. So three gay bars/clubs in one building!

The boom had really begun, places began springing up everywhere. This was largely helped along by Basil

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Newby who reopened The Flamingo a former dive on Talbot Road with the entrance at the back. This was a large first floor club which at one time been a garage, it was not long till it expanded onto the ground floor. Many big names in entertainment visited and worked the club, including, Grace Jones, Diana Dors, Take That, Pete Burns, Divine, Boy George and Lily Savage etc., etc.!

The first all male hotel was opened called Trades. This was run by Colin Smith and was originally on the first floor on Dickson Road. He then opened up the new Trades on Lord Street, it has had quite a few operators since. He went on to open around five more gay hotels dotted around the area. Sadly Colin, who was a great character is now no longer with us.

Also many restaurants and cafés opened, including Autumn Leaves, The Golden Grill and Viva La Diva, all on Topping Street. The Kottage Kaff on Cocker Street, Cafe Noir on Church Street and Mad Harry's which was on Queens Street. Who can forget the The Georgian takeaway on Talbot Road, it was a meeting place for many after the Old Flamingo had closed its doors at 2am.

A traditional pub, originally called The Grosvenor, once owned by the comedian Frank Carson, was opened by a straight couple intended for gays and was renamed Bodgers. It was different being on the ground floor. This was because all the pubs and bars in Blackpool in those days were either in a cellar or upstairs. This went through a succession of names and various owners.

Hello Dolly's, Cow Bar and finally Connexions. It was not really near enough to the gay scene though being at the end of Cookson Street and it sadly closed. It was superseded by The Flying Handbag which was next door to the Old Flamingo and it disappeared too, being part of the demolition of the Old Flamingo.

Martin and Martin took over the lease of Lilo Lil's and renamed it Mardi Gras. It was in a fantastic position to open a gay club on Talbot Road. Stella Artois was the manager, a person never to be forgotten! It became

very busy, they also opened a bar on Topping Street and called it Chaps. This sadly did not last very long.

More entrepreneurs started to open places, dotted all over the Gay Village in Blackpool and The Vibe on Abingdon Street, which became Lucy's 2 and Churchill's Pub on Topping Street was another great place. The Village on Central Drive, which was away from the main drag in the Gay Village did very well too.

Basil Newby opened a bar/restaurant down Queen Street and called it Faye's. Very trendy for its time, It had a name change and was called Roxy's, starring Manchester's Roxy Hart.

Flashman's formally a straight bar on Talbot Road opposite Pepe's, changed it's name and owners. It has been called Taboo, Tobago. Lucy's Two and has end up now as The Imperial.

Probably the biggest and most successful venue to open in the past was “Funny Girls”! Originally on the corner of The Strand and Queen Street, it was an instant success and wowed the town with its originality and style. Designed by Adrian Gammon, his concept was spot on! Rubenesque ladies adorned the walls, false balconies reminiscent of Waldorf and Statler sketches from “The Muppet Show”. A pulpit which was made into a D.J. Box. The stage was plonked on top of an unused ladies toilet, which was a secret no one new about!! With the unforgettable Betty Legs Diamond leading the dancers and Zoe the D.J. and the incredible Dolly on the door! The crowds who where packed in like sardines and had very little seating area, apart from around the walls but the customers loved it! There also was a Restaurant upstairs it had an open view of Queen Street and had the largest brass palm tree light fittings you could imagine. The final and probably the most outrageous idea in this room, was the gold grand piano resting under a gold rotunda.

Now things have changed again and another instalment of this saga is on the cards!

Great Shows, Concerts & Events in 2017 and Beyond

EVITA 20 - 24 June 2017 THE WEDDING SINGER 4 - 8 July 2017 ROCK OF AGES 8 July 2017 JOE MCELDERRY: THE GLORIA TOUR 28 July 2017 DES O’CONNOR & JIMMY TARBUCK 29 July 2017 GIN JAMBOREE 19 August 2017 SISTER ACT 22 - 27 August 2017 DIRTY DANCING 29 August - 2 September 2017 SPAMALOT 8 - 16 September 2017 COAST TOWN 16 September 2017 HAIRSPRAY 18 - 23 September 2017 LA LA LAND: IN CONCERT 26 September 2017 CABARET 3 - 7 October 2017 OUR HOUSE 9 - 14 October 2017 JOHN BISHOP 15 October 2017

WINTER GARDENS BLACKPOOL Pride_Advert_A5.indd 1

BOOK BY PHONE: BOOK BY PERSON:

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SHOWS 2017

CILLA THE MUSICAL 17 - 21 October 2017 FLASHDANCE 25 October - 4 November 2017 FESTIVE FOOD & FLOWER SHOW 9 - 11 November 2017 BANANARAMA 13 November 2017 ARLENE: THE GLITZ. THE GLAMOUR. THE GOSSIP 15 November 2017 JIMMY CARR 17 November 2017 COLLABRO 18 November 2017 THE KOOKS 30 November 2017 KING OF POP 1 December 2017 KILLER QUEEN 8 December 2017 PETER PAN: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE 16 December - 7 January 2018

SHOWS 2018 BRENDAN COLE: ALL NIGHT LONG 1 March 2018 REMEMBERING FRED 31 March 2018 RUSSELL BRAND: RE:BIRTH 10 May 2018 SHREK THE MUSICAL 15 - 27 May 2018

0844 856 1111 (BOOKING FEES MAY APPLY)

WINTER GARDENS BOX OFFICE CHURCH STREET BLACKPOOL (OPENING HOURS VARY)

www.wgbpl.co.uk

26/05/2017 14:44

10TH & 11TH JUNE

12 Noon till 5.00pm

• Arts & Crafts • Play Doh Station • Face Painting • Giant Games • Stalls Hosted by

AIMING HIGHER Supporting families with disabled children

• Entertainment • Balloon Modelling • Sensory Hut • Body Glitter • Raffles

VENUE WINTER GARDENS

PAVILION

Jane McDonald Saturday June 10th 7:30pm Price(s) £29.50 // £34.50

One of the nation’s most loved entertainers is back by popular demand continuing to tour with her best show to date. A must see event of 2017.As part of the tour Jane is making a welcome return to the Blackpool Opera House on the 10th June 2017.

Sponsored by

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FOR SUPPORT WHEN YOU NEED IT… WHEN YOU'RE READY FOR IT We offer specialist support for the LGB&T community left hurt or upset following a crime.

We are here… to talk, to listen, for advice, for help.

CALL: 0300 323 0085 www.lancashirevictimservices.org

SATURDAY 10

Over 18’s Area/Stage

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Shirt & jacket combo*

Blackpool Sixth and our LGBT+ group are proud to support Blackpool Pride 2017

* Funky chicken?

You’re on your own with those moves

Latest Offers

Eat, drink & shop Monday - Saturday 9.00am - 6.00pm Sunday 10.30am - 4.30pm

Easy parking

Free WiFi

Over 700 spaces

Find us just behind the Tower

Houndshill Blackpool Pride Magazine A5.indd 1

www.blackpoolsixth.ac.uk 08/12/2016 09:45

SUNDAY 11TH JUNE Over 18’s Area/Stage

JO E DAVIES JA MES REAY KELLY-MARIE DE VINE

FERYL JOSEPH LA DYBEAR OF LEEDS

MAX FOX

VICK I ST CLAIRE

QUEENS OF POP

JOHNNY J WRITE

WE'RE OFFERING YOU A GREAT VIP PACKAGE TO MAKE PRIDE WEEKEND EVEN MORE SPECIAL

Saturday VIP package includes: • Access to the VIP main stage seating area (Empress Ballroom) with the best views of the acts • Hot buffet brunch, served from 1pm to 3pm • Complimentary welcome drink: Mimosa cocktail or a non-alcoholic alternative • Beat the crowds with a private bar facility • We are pleased to announce that Union J will spend 20 minutes in the VIP area ahead of their performance giving VIP ticket holders only the opportunity to meet and mingle with this fabulous group of guys.

Please note: Alcohol will only be served to over 18s, plus if you are under 16 and adult has to present with you also with a fully paid ticket.

Find us on www.facebook.com/blackpoolpridefest or visit www.blackpool-fest.co.uk for more information and to book tickets.

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