The beauty of Blackpool by night

From the world-famous Illuminations to the iconic Tower, Blackpool has always looked particularly striking when photographed at night.

These archive pictures show views of the resort in the darkness, with its glorious, well-known bright lights – as the Las Vegas of the north – shining bright in the night sky.

Today’s Memory Lane front cover shows the town glowing at night – with the backdrop of the Tower gleaming.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The beautiful reflections of the Tower and the Illuminations can be seen in the sea, in this archive undated photo of Blackpool Tower by night, below.

North Pier in 1982North Pier in 1982
North Pier in 1982

Pictured above are how the Illuminations looked, bathing the Promenade in their warm glow, back in 1966.

With their origins dating back to 1879, when the resort experimented with electric street lights or “artificial sunshine”, the Illuminations in their more modern form began in 1912, to mark a royal visit.

During the two world wars, the Illuminations did not shine.

In 1939, 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 was enforced.

1966 Blackpool Illuminations1966 Blackpool Illuminations
1966 Blackpool Illuminations
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With post-war austerity, they were not switched back on after the Second World War until 1949 – when actress Anna Neagle pressed the switch.

The Pleasure Beach by night features twice on this page.

The striking Art Deco casino building, with its distinctive tower, dominates the photo below. In its original form, the triple-tiered building was designed by local architect and then Blackpool Mayor, Alderman RB Mather.

The exterior of the building featured a white ferroconcrete façade with white electric lighting and the interior housed a billiard hall, cinema, restaurant and shop. It was worked on again and redesigned in the 1930s by Joseph Emberton.

The Pleasure Beach by nightThe Pleasure Beach by night
The Pleasure Beach by night

It is shown in 1954.

And an undated photograph of the Pleasure Beach shows how attractive the amusement park looks at night. The Big Wheel can be seen, along with the ice cream parlour.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The famous North Pier is pictured, all lit-up, in September 1982.

The stars who appeared in the resort had always had their names displayed in lights in Blackpool’s skyline and now it was the chance of local residents and visitors.

1954, the Casino at Blackpool Pleasure Beach1954, the Casino at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
1954, the Casino at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

A new service had been launched, the North Pier Lasergram, which allowed members of the public to have their personal message of choice displayed on the greeting board. For £1.50, they could see their words lit up for two minutes on the giant screen at the pier, in between doodle patterns and trade advertising.