125 Years of Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Special eight-page anniversary supplement

When William George Bean purchased a 42-acre plot of land in Blackpool in1896, he had a vision.

He wanted to build an American-style theme park, a place “to make adults feel like children again and to inspire gaiety of a primarily innocent character.”

Alderman Bean could never have envisaged that millions of people, both young and

old, would experience unbridled happiness from this fantastical idea.

Even less, that in 2021 his creation would celebrate its 125th birthday and still be bringing excitement into the lives of every person stepping through the gates to the magical wonderland that is Blackpool Pleasure Beach…

What A Rollercoaster!

e… an incredible rid t day, has been en es pr e th to 1896 easure Beach in of Blackpool Pl g in en op e th m The journey fro 1910 - 1920

1900 - 1910

u We have lift off! August 1904 saw the launch of the ever-popular Sir Hiram Maxim Captive Flying Machine - the oldest continuous working amusement park ride not only in Blackpool Pleasure Beach but in Europe too.

1907

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1930 - 1940

1920 - 1930

u Following the First World War, investment in the park stopped due to the difficulty in exporting rides from the United States. Despite this, profits soared and the company was one of the most prolific employers in the North West of England.

1916

u The 1920s saw a period of great development with the opening of Noah’s Ark and The Virginia Reel. This was followed on 23 August 1923 by the classic Big Dipper wooden rollercoaster offering holidaymakers a fast and modern ride like no other on the park. It is still in operation today.

1923

u In the 1930s, Leonard Thompson succeeded his father-in-law to become Managing Director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach and took over the running of the park. This decade saw the introduction of many new rides including The Rollercoaster, The Pleasure Beach Express and the worldfamous, twin-tracked coaster, The Grand National.

1933

Bring me Funshine!

The cheery face of Mr. Funshine was the official logo of Blackpool Pleasure Beach for more than 70 years.

Despite being retired in 2006, his big beaming yellow face is still hugely popular with visitors to the park and is still to be found brightening up souvenirs and merchandise.

The logo was designed

by Tom Purvis, a British

1939

1940 - 1950

u The Second World War put a temporary halt to progress at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

However, during these challenging times the park remained open enabling thousands of evacuees, service personnel and the British public to escape the reality of war.

graphic designer and illustrator whose art deco design work covered many aspects of Blackpool Pleasure Beach including posters, programme covers, and postcards.

A selection of his trademark red and black drawings from the 1930s, shown here, are now displayed as artwork in the new seafront Boulevard Hotel.

Tom Purvis was born in Bristol in 1888, the son of a sailor and marine artist.

After leaving school he attended Camberwell College of Art in London for more than three years, studying under influential painter and printmaker Walter Sickert and French artist Edgar Degas.

1952 1950 - 1960

u In this decade, the park started a return to prominence with the opening of the highly regarded Wild Mouse wooden rollercoaster in 1958 followed

by The Derby Racer in 1959.

This carousel has 56 horses, each one hand-carved at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Purvis was widely known as one of the most important English poster artists of his day, recognisable for his simplified, symbolic, twodimensional and colourful style of printing.

Purvis was widely known as one of the most important English poster artists of his day

He is probably best known for his work with international contemporary artist Austin Reed and the London North Eastern Railway, for whom he produced more than 100 posters from 1923-1945.

But, here in Blackpool, he will always be fondly remembered for bringing Mr. Funshine to the resort! visitblackpool.com 45

Building Blackpool Pleasure Beach into a world-renowned amusement park has been a long and honourable family tradition.

Managing Director, Amanda Thompson OBE, has followed in the footsteps of her father, grandfather and greatgrandfather and, to this day, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is very much a family affair.

Amanda’s mother, brother and sister are all actively involved. Deputy Managing Director, Nick Thompson, is involved in bringing new and exciting concepts to the park.

Amanda Thompson OBE is also a renowned producer and director of spectacular live entertainment and has been the recipient of the prestigious Michael Elliot Director of the Year award.

rk! e amusement pa ost ride-intensiv m s K’ U e th to ctions ful of small attra From just a hand 1970 - 1980 1960 - 1970

u This decade saw a collection of much-heralded rides opening at the park. These included an enchanting trip through the Looking Glass on Alice in Wonderland; the Grand Prix; overhead Monorail; everpopular Tea Cup ride and the world’s longest Log Flume.

1962

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1990 - 2000

1980 - 1990

u Geoffrey Thompson became Managing Director in 1976 and added exciting iconic rides including the Steeplechase, opened by the racehorse Red Rum in 1977. Two years later, Europe’s first 360-degree looping coaster, the Revolution, opened to huge acclaim.

1979

u In 1988, the year the British bobsleigh team were competing in the Winter Olympics, a dazzling new ride, the Avalanche, opened and carried over one million passengers during the first year. It was the first, and as of 2020, remains the only, bobsleigh rollercoaster in the United Kingdom.

1989

u Geoffrey Thompson’s reign saw an investment of £12 million for the world’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster at the time – the Pepsi Max Big One – which opened in 1994. At 235ft tall, The Big One changed the skyline of Blackpool’s seafront.

1994

Her productions include Mystique, Eclipse, Forbidden and the world famous Hot Ice Show returning to the Pleasure Beach Arena for 2021 with Euphoria.

Something for all the family u There is literally nowhere like Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the world’s most ride-intensive amusement park.

It has something for everyone including amazing shows, events, restaurants, bars and cafes and unique attractions plus two luxury hotels within walking distance.

It boasts an incredible 10 rollercoasters to choose from, plus younger thrillseekers can enjoy the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land with 12 rides and attractions from the ups and downs of the Blue Flyer to the soaking good fun of SpongeBob’s Splash Bash.

Voted ‘Best Indoor Attraction’ in the 2020 UK Theme Park Awards, Wallace & Gromit’s ThrillO-Matic transports riders into the colourful world of the eccentric inventor and his canine companion, travelling though scenes from A Grand Day Out and The Wrong Trousers to the Curse of the Were Rabbit.

2011

2019

2000 and beyond f 2000 saw the biggest investment up to this point of £15 million with the opening of Valhalla. f The Big Blue Hotel opened its doors in 2003 offering luxury accommodation.

The 157-bedroom hotel has now established itself as one of the most popular hotels in Blackpool.

f In 2004 Amanda Thompson OBE became Managing Director and invested £5m in the park with re-theming and refurbishment. f £8m was invested in 2007 with the opening of Infusion, the world’s first rollercoaster suspended entirely over water. f 2011 saw a six-acre area of the Pleasure Beach transformed into Nickelodeon Land.

f Red Arrows Skyforce landed in 2015 allowing riders to take a 360-degree spin in the sky.

A visit to Blackpool Pleasure Beach guarantees memories to last a lifetime.

As park Managing Director Amanda Thompson says: “Who would have envisaged my greatgrandfather’s dream would last 125 years and continues to be as popular in 2021 and beyond.”

Brrrrrr-illiant Shows!

It’s the hottest ticket in town for the coolest show!

Hot Ice has been wowing audiences at Blackpool Pleasure Beach since 1937.

The purpose-built ice theatre is the only remaining one of its kind anywhere in the world and has been recognised by the Guinness Book of Records.

f Another first opened in 2018 – ICON the UK’s first double launch rollercoaster costing £16.25m. f The £12m Boulevard Hotel opened in 2019 with 120 stylish rooms with views of the seafront or park, a 90-seat restaurant and state-of-the-art conference facilities.

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Fabulous Facts Behind the scenes at Blackpool Pleasure Beach!

f Every year more than a million

mouth-watering donuts are made and devoured! The delicious sweet smell is too great a temptation.

f Each day, the Big One travels on

average around 250 miles - which is just over the distance from Blackpool to London.

f Pizza the action? No problem! More than 70,000 are made every year.

f Rock around the clock. Visitors enjoy over 200,000 sticks of this popular boiled sugar confectionery.

f The Blackpool Pleasure Beach

maintenance teams use more than 170,000 screws, 12,000 litres of paint and over a million white lights every year.

f If laid end-to-end, all the hot dogs

that are eaten at Blackpool Pleasure Beach would go round the Big One track 23 times!

f Game, set and match. Stretching over an impressive six acres, Nickelodeon Land covers the same area as 27 Centre Courts at Wimbledon.

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