Blackpool Tower The Tower Blackpool Tower, that world famous Victorian landmark, recently restored to it's former glory. The entertainment is first class and all holidaymakers visiting, think it's great. Tower World is situated on the ground floor area well below the 518 feet tower itself. Even the weather can't spoil the fabulous entertainment that abounds within the Tower building. You're sure to enjoy yourself. The basement auditorium holds the magical Tower Circus, it is part of the inclusive entertainment . There are several shows daily. Young and old alike will thrill to the marvel of the Circus. You can visit the spectacular state-of-the-art Laser Fantasy, which is screened on four giant screens. Why not experience the fabulous and well known grade listed ballroom, with its ornate ceiling. Deep down below the stage, the mighty Wurlitzer organ rises and plays almost 19,000 numbers in a season. If you would like to dance, that's great, or you can quietly sit and listen to the many tunes and enjoy yourself. There's only one admission charge for the whole building. You'll find plenty to keep you and the children happy all day. There's the Tower Aquarium, and Dawn of Ages ride. A visit to Jungle Jim's adventure playground is an absolute must, everyone loves it, so will you! SEE YOU SOON. Tower Height 518 ft 9 ins. (To the top of the flagpole) Tower Weight 2586 tons (2493 tons of steel, 93 tons of cast iron) Building was Started on 29th September 1891 Time it took to build 2 years 6 Months Original Cost £45,000 The Tower was first opened Whit Monday, 14th May 1894 Original Admission: 6d (2 & 1/2 pence) No. of trips lift makes a year Approx. 50,000 Blackpool is widely considered the epitome of the classical seaside resort. In this establishment we see glimpses of Coney Island in New York, Navy Pier in Chicago, Atlantic City in New Jersey, and the pre-1900 Galveston Island in Texas. The most visible part of the Blackpool experience is the tower. It was conceived as an answer to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and in its sheltering arms a number of amusement attractions sprang up so it could continue to make money in bad weather. The tower was intended to copy Paris' famous landmark, and was even supposed to originally be called "Blackpool Eiffel Tower." Though it's not as tall as the Eiffel Tower, it appears more sturdy. That's because it is subject to the battering of storms that roll in off the sea. There is a time capsule in the cornerstone of the Blackpool Tower. It contains a record with the voice of the man who laid the cornerstone along with newspapers and other period items. There used to be a very small zoo which included a lion. There is still a ballroom in the tower. The tower was built on the same site as an aquarium. The tanks were built into the tower's design. Like the CN Tower in Toronto, the Blackpool Tower has a "walk of faith." Parts of the floor are made from clear material that you can walk over while looking down. Blackpool Tower, made of steel and cast iron, stands just under 519' tall and weighs 2,586 tons. Building work started in September 1891 with the opening on 14 May 1894. The complex below is a mecca for holidaymakers and has always featured the most popular and up-to-date attractions. One of the most famous attractions is the ornately decorated Tower Ballroom with its Mighty Wurlitzer (3m/14r) organ which is played for dancing almost continuously in the season and at other times for concerts and various functions. The organ is known throughout the world from the recordings and radio broadcasts of Reginald Dixon who adopted a particularly bouncy style of playing and often used a registration consisting predominantly of deeply tremulated tibias. This became known as the "Blackpool Sound". Dixon was resident organist at the tower from 1930 until he retired in 1970, the only breaks being when he served in the RAF in World War II and in 1957 when fire destroyed the ballroom. Ernest Broadbent took over from Reginald Dixon. He had been with the Tower Company since 1952 playing Hammond organ with an orchestra in the Pavilion Theatre and as a solo artist in the Tower Lounge. In 1966 he became resident on the Empress Ballroom Wurlitzer and also played the Opera House and Tower Ballroom Wurlitzers when required. As well as playing for dancing he made many recordings and broadcasts on the organ just like his predecessor. Sadly, his period as number one organist in the Tower Ballroom was cut short by ill health and he retired in 1977. (Thanks to Alan Ashton for his help on Ernest Broadbent.) Phil Kelsall was appointed resident organist in 1977 and has followed on admirably from those before him, bringing his own talent and expertise, but continuing that legendary Blackpool style of playing. In the summer months he plays his dance music for the holidaymakers in the ballroom but in the closed season is renowned for his concert performances in this country and abroad. I have seen him in concert on the 50 rank Compton in Southampton Guildhall on many occasions and I can say that Phil is really one of the top artists of the theatre organ. He is also renowned for his recordings and videos on Technics electronics as well as the pipe organ. As the Number 1 at the tower, Phil adopted "Beside the Seaside" as his signature tune just as Reginald did all those years ago and an atmospheric clip (courtesy BBC Television "Songs of Praise") is included below. Thanks to Phil for giving permission for me to include the following picture: Make sure you visit and book into the ocvavia guest house, the best choice for accommodation in Blackpool.