![]() Actress Anna Neagle pulled the switch and the Illuminations shone once more! The austere climate of post-war Britain meant the lights did not come on again until 1949 after the council received permission from the government. However, the Illuminations were halted once again by the outbreak of the Second World War. Another new feature was a huge animated tableau added to the display along the cliffs. ![]() By 1929 all three of the piers were also illuminated, creating a dazzling show. The Illuminations returned in 1925 bigger and better than ever before, with lights stretching several miles along the Promenade from Manchester Square to Cocker Square. The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 meant the light display was put on hold for a total of 11 years! ![]() However, hopes of the Illuminations being a regular occurrence was short-lived. It was such a success that the Council decided to display the lights again that following September. The Illuminations became immensely popular, with thousands of people visiting the resort to see the promenade decorated with around 10,000 lights. The closest to our modern day Illumination displays first appeared in May 1912 to commemorate Blackpool’s very first royal visit as Princess Louise opened the new section of promenade named after her – Princess Parade. However, unlike today’s modern day technology with the Illuminations, the lamps used to go out as the tide came in due to water leaking into the cast iron wiring pipes! This installation brought visitors to the seaside resort to see this new electricity at work the start of the annual influx of tourists that we see today. ![]() In a time when residents were lighting their homes with candles, this installation left the public in wonderment, calling them ‘artificial sunshine’. The first set of Illuminations were introduced when Blackpool Council devoted the sum of £5000 to experiment with the concept of electric street lighting, starting off with eight arc lamps on 60ft poles along the seafront. These bright lights that fill tourists with awe and amazement have been doing so for over 140 years lighting up Blackpool since 1879. Taking a trip under the Lights on foot, by car or tram and being dazzled by the amazing display brings joy to children and adults alike. The Blackpool Illuminations have created magical memories for generations. ![]()
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