Since opening in 1878 the venue has welcomed millions of visitors across its collection of theatres, ballrooms, exhibition halls and public spaces.
Have you looked at the board in the Church Street entrance? It lists the big name artists that have performed at the Opera House in Blackpool through the years.
Here’s the list.
This commemorative ‘roll of honour’ was unveiled July 26th, 1989 by Lord Bernard Delfont to mark the centenary of the Blackpool Opera House.
- 1889 – Wilson Barrett
- 1890 – Brinsley Sheridan
- 1891 – Osmond Tearle
- 1892 – Charles Wyndham
- 1893 – Kate Vaughan
- 1894 – C. Aubrey Smith
- 1895 – Emma Hutchinson
- 1896 – Weedon Grossmith
- 1897 – Agnes Hewitt
- 1898 – Marie Studholme
- 1899 – Ada Blanche
- 1900 – Ada Reeve
- 1901 – Lily Langtry
- 1902 – Julia Neilson
- 1903 – Amy McNeil
- 1904 – Charles Chaplin
- 1905 – Victor Andre
- 1906 – Ellaline Terriss
- 1907 – Albert Chevalier
- 1908 – James Forbes-Robertson
- 1909 – Percy Hutchinson
- 1910 – Annie Hughes
- 1911 – Evelyn Millard
- 1912 – Anna Pavlova
- 1913 – Fred Terry
- 1914 – Edward Compton
- 1915 – Cicely Courtneidge
- 1916 – Neil Maskelyne
- 1917 – Seymour Hicks
- 1918 – Sir Thomas Beecham
- 1919 – Robertson Hare
- 1920 – Phyllis Neilson-Terry
- 1921 – Frank Forbes-Robertson
- 1922 – Mrs Patrick Campbell
- 1923 – Bransby Williams
- 1924 – Edna Best
- 1925 – Raymond Huntley
- 1926 – Jessie Matthews
- 1927 – Evelyn Laye
- 1928 – Wilfred Hyde-White
- 1929 – Peggy Ashcroft
- 1930 – Sir John Barbirolli
- 1931 – Gracie Fields
- 1932 – Carl Brisson
- 1933 – George Clarke
- 1934 – Billy Bennett
- 1935 – Albert Burdon
- 1936 – Randolph Sutton
- 1937 – Fred Sanborn
- 1938 – Stanley Holloway
- 1939 – George Formby
- 1940 – Arthur Askey
- 1941 – Frank Randle
- 1942 – Webster Both & Annie Ziegler
- 1943 – Wilson Pickles
- 1944 – Sid Field
- 1945 – Jimmy Jewel & Ben Warriss
- 1946 – Josef Locke
- 1947 – Dave Morriss
- 1948 – Charlie Chester
- 1949 – Arthur Hatnes
- 1950 – Nat Jackley
- 1951 – Vera Lynn
- 1952 – Terry Thomas
- 1953 – Harry Secombe
- 1954 – Tony Hancock
- 1955 – Alma Cogan
- 1956 – Eve Boswell
- 1957 – Yana
- 1958 – David Whitfield
- 1959 – Jill Day
- 1960 – Tommy Steele
- 1961 – Shirley Bassey
- 1962 – Eddie Calvert
- 1963 – Jimmy Edwards
- 1964 – Rosemary Squires
- 1965 – Stan Stennett
- 1966 – The Bluebell Girls
- 1967 – Bruce Forsyth
- 1968 – Tessie O’Shea
- 1969 – Val Doonican
- 1970 – The Bachelors
- 1971 – Rudy Horn
- 1972 – Cilla Black
- 1973 – Danny La Rue
- 1974 – Norman Vaughan
- 1975 – Freddie Star
- 1976 – Don Maclean
- 1977 – Dawson Chance
- 1978 – Tom O’Connor
- 1979 – Frank Carson
- 1980 – Mike Yarwood
- 1981 – Kenn Dodd
- 1982 – Syd Little & Eddie Large
- 1983 – Paul Daniels
- 1984 – Ruth Madoc
- 1985 – Tommy Cannon & Bobby Ball
- 1986 – Grace Kennedy
- 1987 – The Nolans
- 1988 – Les Dawson
- 1989 – Marti Webb
- 1990 – Dana
- 1991 – 42nd Street
- 1992 – Paul Nicholas
- 1993 – Joe Longhorn
- 1994 – Michael Barrymore
- 1995 – Aled Jones
- 1996 – Darren Day
- 1997 – Kid Creole
- 1998 – Darren Day
- 1999 – Russ Abbott
- 1999 – Shane Richie
- 2000 – Lesley Joseph
- 2001 – Lord of the Dance
- 2002 – Whistle Down The Wind
- 2003 – Cats
- 2004 – Joe Longthorne
- 2005 – David Essex
- 2006 – Bradley Walsh
- 2007 – Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown
- 2008 – Jane McDonald
- 2009 – Royal Variety Performance
- 2010 – Peter Andre
- 2011 – Calendar Girls
- 2012 – Starlight Express
- 2013 – Bob Dylan
- 2014 – Mamma Mia!
- 2015 – A Christmas Carol
- 2016 – Steve Tovey
- 2017 – Cannoci Chase Organ Club
2 Comments
It could well have been. I have just gone off what the plaque says that is situated in the Winter Gardens foyer.
I noticed what May be an error on your board. In 1916, you suggest Neil Maskelyne was the act, but was it not Nevil Maskelyne, the famous magician, who performed in that year. I am unaware of a Neil Maskelyne, so if it was as you suggest, can you give me some information on who the gentlemen was and what was his act.
Regards
Simon