158:
953:
582:
142:
529:
386:
38:
165:
647:
The role of the
Friends of the Grand has changed over the years. They now raise funds from subscriptions and social events to finance projects within the theatre, primarily aimed at enhancing the comfort of the patrons. The Friends have contributed in excess of £750,800 towards projects including the
446:
Matcham's brief was to build
Sergenson the "prettiest theatre in the land". The Grand was Matcham's first theatre to use an innovative 'cantilever' design to support the tiers, thereby reducing the need for the usual pillars and so allowing clear views of the stage from all parts of the auditorium.
473:
but the post-war rise in the popularity of television was probably the cause of the theatre's dwindling popularity toward the 1960s. The theatre's programme archives show that from 1964 the Grand was a summer seasonal venue. Plans were filed for the demolition of the historic site in 1972 but the
442:
and was opened in 1894 after a construction period of seven months, at a cost of £20,000 between
December 1893 and July 1894. The project was conceived and financed by local theatre manager Thomas Sergenson who had been using the site of the Grand for several years to stage a circus. He had also
599:
Since reopening in 1981, the board of directors of
Blackpool Grand Theatre Trust Limited, theatre proprietors, has been led by chairmen John Hodgson (to 1981), W Geoffrey Thompson OBE (1982 to 1993), Samuel G Lee (1993 to 2003), David Coupe (2003 to 2009) and Anthony P Stone (2009 to present).
489:
negotiated to lease and eventually buy the theatre back from EMI over a period of a few years. The purchase was complete by 1 October 1980 and a refurbishment, achieved partly through voluntary effort, was begun. Finally, on 23 March 1981 the Grand re-opened as a theatre once again to stage an
608:
The
Friends of the Grand supports the Grand Theatre and its programme of events. Formed in 1973 to save the building from demolition, the first Friends were literally 'hands-on'. They painted the dressing rooms, repaired holes to the ceiling and helped to get the theatre into shape.
461:
and on until the 1930s. The theatre now faced stiff competition from the newly introduced talking pictures and the building was operated as a cinema outside the summer tourist season. This practice continued until 1938 when the nearby
474:
Grand had become a Grade II* listed building earlier in the year, thanks to the initiative
Jeffrey Finestone, a member of the Victorian Society. This enabled a group of theatre friends to successfully oppose any redevelopment.
648:
provision of new carpets, seating and technical equipment. By Autumn 2008, the
Friends had contributed almost £250,000 to the Sam Lee Appeal to improve the amenities and to renovate the theatre interior.
589:
The theatre saw its centenary in 1994 and a restoration project was begun in the 1990s that was completed in 2007 after fifteen years of work and about £3million of investment.
775:
674:
207:
880:
801:
1332:
157:
1240:
918:
102:
74:
546:
403:
55:
511:. The theatre's return was further confirmed in May of the same year when a Royal Variety Performance was staged in the presence of
1009:
81:
1073:
341:
17:
725:
1153:
1033:
612:
Funds were raised in many ways, including
Midnight Matinées; all part of the bid to save the theatre. Early Friends included
593:
88:
1225:
1099:
1337:
70:
1138:
911:
859:
843:
759:
568:
485:
hall. After three years of bingo use, the group of friends, now called the
Friends of the Grand, with the support of
425:
121:
592:
In 2006, the Grand was named the United
Kingdom's National Theatre of Variety. The title was awarded nationally by
1245:
1058:
779:
678:
463:
1327:
1235:
1109:
1104:
1004:
986:
952:
550:
407:
59:
1306:
805:
904:
200:
1168:
95:
1163:
1148:
1043:
1275:
1199:
976:
486:
1270:
1220:
1133:
512:
495:
450:
Sergenson's successful directorship of the theatre ended in 1909 when he sold the operation to the
313:
1143:
891:
539:
396:
48:
477:
The theatre was unused for three years before an agreement was reached with the Grand's owners,
1285:
499:
1204:
1194:
1158:
1094:
1078:
481:, that a refurbishment of the then unused building would take place if it could be used as a
1230:
8:
1290:
1265:
896:
703:
1068:
1063:
885:
855:
839:
755:
1189:
981:
255:
1280:
942:
633:
625:
596:
who staged an all-star gala performance to celebrate the theatre's new accolade.
508:
451:
369:
1048:
641:
617:
1321:
1173:
892:
Interview with Paul Iles, past-Manager of the Grand, at The Laughing Audience
613:
439:
289:
222:
209:
651:
The Friends are also the founding angel of the National Theatre of Variety.
637:
629:
504:
470:
581:
141:
1053:
458:
1038:
553: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
482:
410: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
928:
361:
191:
838:
Band, Barry (1993). Blackpool Grand Theatre, 1894-1930. Barry Band.
528:
385:
37:
621:
875:
301:
491:
364:, Lancashire, England. Since 2006, it has also been known as the
776:"Grand Theatre Reseating 2007: Phase II – The Sam Lee Appeal"
926:
478:
438:
The Grand was designed by Victorian theatre architect
62:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
443:transformed the fortunes of other local theatres.
1319:
164:
912:
749:
675:"Theatre Heritage and Conservation Statement"
669:
667:
665:
663:
457:The success of the Grand continued through
919:
905:
768:
754:. Blackstaff Press Ltd. pp. 125–126.
140:
778:. Blackpool Grand Theatre. Archived from
750:Mercer Walker, Brian (20 November 1980).
569:Learn how and when to remove this message
426:Learn how and when to remove this message
122:Learn how and when to remove this message
1333:Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire
832:Blackpool Grand Theatre, the Early Years
660:
580:
603:
469:The Grand was able to stay open during
14:
1320:
794:
743:
698:
696:
1154:Isle of Man to England Interconnector
900:
849:
829:
551:adding citations to reliable sources
522:
408:adding citations to reliable sources
379:
60:adding citations to reliable sources
31:
693:
454:Company for a considerable profit.
24:
852:Blackpool Grand Theatre, 1930–1994
823:
25:
1349:
869:
704:"Listed buildings in Blackpool 2"
518:
242:Blackpool Grand Theatre Trust Ltd
951:
752:Frank Matcham: Theatre Architect
527:
384:
163:
156:
36:
804:. Grand Theatre. Archived from
677:. Grand Theatre. Archived from
538:needs additional citations for
395:needs additional citations for
47:needs additional citations for
718:
13:
1:
1010:Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes
654:
927:Buildings and structures in
886:History of the Grand Theatre
881:Friends of the Grand website
850:Band, Barry (15 July 1994).
7:
366:National Theatre of Variety
10:
1354:
1149:Houndshill Shopping Centre
375:
71:"Grand Theatre, Blackpool"
1338:Grade II* listed theatres
1299:
1258:
1213:
1182:
1129:
1122:
1087:
1074:Miners' Convalescent Home
1029:
1022:
997:
967:
960:
949:
935:
487:Blackpool Borough Council
370:Grade II* Listed Building
351:
347:
337:
329:
321:
311:
307:
300:
295:
285:
277:
269:
264:
254:
246:
238:
199:
185:
151:
139:
1241:St Stephen on-the-Cliffs
1134:Blackpool Pleasure Beach
513:Charles, Prince of Wales
302:www.BlackpoolGrand.co.uk
27:UK theatre (opened 1894)
706:. Blackpool Civic Trust
358:Blackpool Grand Theatre
171:Blackpool Grand Theatre
146:Blackpool Grand Theatre
135:Blackpool Grand Theatre
18:Blackpool Grand Theatre
1286:Stanley Park Aerodrome
802:"Friends of The Grand"
586:
500:The Merchant of Venice
223:53.817287°N 3.053476°W
1328:Theatres in Blackpool
584:
496:William Shakespeare's
177:Location in Blackpool
1231:Noor-A-Madina Mosque
1139:Carleton Crematorium
830:Band, Barry (1986).
782:on 20 September 2008
681:on 17 September 2008
604:Friends of the Grand
547:improve this article
404:improve this article
228:53.817287; -3.053476
56:improve this article
987:Opera House Theatre
219: /
136:
1069:Little Marton Mill
1064:Grundy Art Gallery
808:on 11 January 2010
732:, English Heritage
587:
585:Inside the theatre
338:Reference no.
134:
1315:
1314:
1254:
1253:
1214:Places of worship
1169:Victoria Hospital
1118:
1117:
1088:Places of worship
1018:
1017:
998:Places of worship
579:
578:
571:
466:was constructed.
436:
435:
428:
355:
354:
132:
131:
124:
106:
16:(Redirected from
1345:
1127:
1126:
1027:
1026:
982:Empress Ballroom
965:
964:
955:
921:
914:
907:
898:
897:
888:at pastscape.org
876:Official website
865:
835:
818:
817:
815:
813:
798:
792:
791:
789:
787:
772:
766:
765:
747:
741:
740:
739:
737:
730:Heritage Gateway
722:
716:
715:
713:
711:
700:
691:
690:
688:
686:
671:
574:
567:
563:
560:
554:
531:
523:
431:
424:
420:
417:
411:
388:
380:
360:is a theatre in
234:
233:
231:
230:
229:
224:
220:
217:
216:
215:
212:
189:33 Church Street
167:
166:
160:
144:
137:
133:
127:
120:
116:
113:
107:
105:
64:
40:
32:
21:
1353:
1352:
1348:
1347:
1346:
1344:
1343:
1342:
1318:
1317:
1316:
1311:
1295:
1276:High Tide Organ
1250:
1209:
1205:Norbreck Castle
1195:Grand Metropole
1178:
1164:Trinity Hospice
1114:
1083:
1044:Central Library
1014:
993:
956:
947:
943:Blackpool Tower
931:
925:
872:
862:
826:
824:Further reading
821:
811:
809:
800:
799:
795:
785:
783:
774:
773:
769:
762:
748:
744:
735:
733:
726:"Grand Theatre"
724:
723:
719:
709:
707:
702:
701:
694:
684:
682:
673:
672:
661:
657:
634:Prunella Scales
626:Leslie Crowther
606:
575:
564:
558:
555:
544:
532:
521:
509:Prunella Scales
494:performance of
452:Blackpool Tower
432:
421:
415:
412:
401:
389:
378:
333:26 January 1972
317:
314:Listed Building
227:
225:
221:
218:
213:
210:
208:
206:
205:
194:
190:
181:
180:
179:
178:
175:
174:
173:
172:
168:
147:
128:
117:
111:
108:
65:
63:
53:
41:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1351:
1341:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1313:
1312:
1310:
1309:
1303:
1301:
1297:
1296:
1294:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1262:
1260:
1256:
1255:
1252:
1251:
1249:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1221:Central Mosque
1217:
1215:
1211:
1210:
1208:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1186:
1184:
1180:
1179:
1177:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1130:
1124:
1120:
1119:
1116:
1115:
1113:
1112:
1107:
1102:
1097:
1091:
1089:
1085:
1084:
1082:
1081:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1059:Grand National
1056:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1030:
1024:
1020:
1019:
1016:
1015:
1013:
1012:
1007:
1001:
999:
995:
994:
992:
991:
990:
989:
984:
977:Winter Gardens
974:
968:
962:
958:
957:
950:
948:
946:
945:
939:
937:
933:
932:
924:
923:
916:
909:
901:
895:
894:
889:
883:
878:
871:
870:External links
868:
867:
866:
860:
854:. Barry Band.
847:
836:
825:
822:
820:
819:
793:
767:
760:
742:
717:
692:
658:
656:
653:
642:Johnnie Casson
618:Alistair Cooke
605:
602:
577:
576:
535:
533:
526:
520:
519:Current status
517:
434:
433:
392:
390:
383:
377:
374:
353:
352:
349:
348:
345:
344:
339:
335:
334:
331:
327:
326:
323:
319:
318:
312:
309:
308:
305:
304:
298:
297:
293:
292:
287:
283:
282:
279:
275:
274:
271:
267:
266:
262:
261:
258:
252:
251:
248:
244:
243:
240:
236:
235:
203:
197:
196:
187:
183:
182:
176:
170:
169:
162:
161:
155:
154:
153:
152:
149:
148:
145:
130:
129:
44:
42:
35:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1350:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1325:
1323:
1308:
1305:
1304:
1302:
1298:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1271:Empire Cinema
1269:
1267:
1264:
1263:
1261:
1257:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1226:Reform Jewish
1224:
1222:
1219:
1218:
1216:
1212:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1187:
1185:
1181:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1131:
1128:
1125:
1121:
1111:
1108:
1106:
1103:
1101:
1100:United Hebrew
1098:
1096:
1093:
1092:
1090:
1086:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1032:
1031:
1028:
1025:
1021:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1002:
1000:
996:
988:
985:
983:
980:
979:
978:
975:
973:
972:Grand Theatre
970:
969:
966:
963:
959:
954:
944:
941:
940:
938:
934:
930:
922:
917:
915:
910:
908:
903:
902:
899:
893:
890:
887:
884:
882:
879:
877:
874:
873:
863:
861:1-898413-01-0
857:
853:
848:
845:
844:1-898413-00-2
841:
837:
834:. Barry Band.
833:
828:
827:
807:
803:
797:
781:
777:
771:
763:
761:0-85640-231-1
757:
753:
746:
731:
727:
721:
705:
699:
697:
680:
676:
670:
668:
666:
664:
659:
652:
649:
645:
643:
639:
635:
631:
627:
623:
619:
615:
614:Violet Carson
610:
601:
597:
595:
590:
583:
573:
570:
562:
559:November 2009
552:
548:
542:
541:
536:This section
534:
530:
525:
524:
516:
514:
510:
506:
502:
501:
497:
493:
488:
484:
480:
475:
472:
467:
465:
460:
455:
453:
448:
444:
441:
440:Frank Matcham
430:
427:
419:
416:November 2009
409:
405:
399:
398:
393:This section
391:
387:
382:
381:
373:
371:
367:
363:
359:
350:
346:
343:
340:
336:
332:
328:
325:Grand Theatre
324:
322:Official name
320:
315:
310:
306:
303:
299:
294:
291:
290:Frank Matcham
288:
284:
281:23 March 1981
280:
276:
272:
268:
263:
259:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
232:
204:
202:
198:
193:
188:
184:
159:
150:
143:
138:
126:
123:
115:
112:November 2009
104:
101:
97:
94:
90:
87:
83:
80:
76:
73: –
72:
68:
67:Find sources:
61:
57:
51:
50:
45:This article
43:
39:
34:
33:
30:
19:
1144:Central Pier
1105:Holy Trinity
1054:Odeon Cinema
1005:Sacred Heart
971:
851:
831:
810:. Retrieved
806:the original
796:
784:. Retrieved
780:the original
770:
751:
745:
734:, retrieved
729:
720:
708:. Retrieved
683:. Retrieved
679:the original
650:
646:
638:Billy Pearce
630:Timothy West
611:
607:
598:
591:
588:
565:
556:
545:Please help
540:verification
537:
505:Timothy West
498:
476:
471:World War II
468:
456:
449:
445:
437:
422:
413:
402:Please help
397:verification
394:
365:
357:
356:
265:Construction
118:
109:
99:
92:
85:
78:
66:
54:Please help
49:verification
46:
29:
464:Opera House
459:World War I
316:– Grade II*
226: /
201:Coordinates
1322:Categories
1259:Demolished
1159:South Pier
1079:North Pier
1039:Blue Flyer
1034:Big Dipper
812:7 November
786:7 November
710:7 November
685:7 November
655:References
503:featuring
368:. It is a
330:Designated
250:Provincial
211:53°49′02″N
82:newspapers
1291:Syndicate
1246:St Thomas
961:Grade II*
929:Blackpool
362:Blackpool
286:Architect
214:3°03′13″W
192:Blackpool
1266:Alhambra
1200:Imperial
1123:Unlisted
1049:The Elms
1023:Grade II
622:Ken Dodd
278:Reopened
256:Capacity
1236:St Mark
1110:St John
1095:Bispham
936:Grade I
736:19 July
492:Old Vic
376:History
342:1280615
296:Website
195:England
186:Address
96:scholar
1307:Listed
1190:Cliffs
1183:Hotels
858:
842:
758:
594:Equity
270:Opened
98:
91:
84:
77:
69:
1300:Lists
1281:Mecca
483:bingo
260:1,100
239:Owner
103:JSTOR
89:books
856:ISBN
840:ISBN
814:2009
788:2009
756:ISBN
738:2010
712:2009
687:2009
640:and
507:and
273:1894
247:Type
75:news
1174:Zoo
549:by
479:EMI
406:by
58:by
1324::
728:,
695:^
662:^
644:.
636:,
632:,
628:,
624:,
620:,
616:,
515:.
372:.
920:e
913:t
906:v
864:.
846:.
816:.
790:.
764:.
714:.
689:.
572:)
566:(
561:)
557:(
543:.
429:)
423:(
418:)
414:(
400:.
125:)
119:(
114:)
110:(
100:·
93:·
86:·
79:·
52:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
