Accession Number

B121

Series Title

PIERS

Programme Title

Programmes 1, 2, 3, 4

Producer

[Unknown]

Other Credits

[Unknown]

Transmission Date

01/01/85

colour , sound (sep), 13 mins 42 secs

Synopsis

B121/1: Programme on the role that piers have played in holidays by the seaside in North West England and the history of piers as entertainment venues. Sketches are shown of Southport Pier, the first pleasure pier built specifically, opened in 1860. The presenter interviews Peter Defigurado, architect and pier enthusiast from the Victorian Society. The proliferation of piers built between 1860 and 1890 are described and various stills of piers in the Victorian era and footage from the present day (including Blackpool, Southport, Lytham, New Brighton, Douglas, Ramsay, Morecambe, St Anne's and Fleetwood) are shown. A still shows the opening of Blackpool's first pier in 1863. There are shots of Ramsay pier, one of the longest in the country. The history of piers as entertainment venues is then given and there are stills of pier entertainers from the Victorian era, including "pierrots" and black face minstrels. Cyril Critchlow who runs Blackpool's Entertainment Museum is interviewed. Jack Roche from New Brighton remembers the Victorian spectator sport of diving off the end of piers and the one-legged diver Bernie Pickett. Archie Collis, Pier Manager at Morecambe, is interviewed about his memories and the entertainers who played there including Morecambe and Wise and Ken Dodd and stills are shown of Morecambe's Grand Ballroom. There is footage of Blackpool's Central Pier and Tower at night. 13m42s B121/2: Second part of programme on the peculiar English invention of piers, their demise in the 20th century and the expense of maintaining them. Pier enthusiast Peter Defigurado is interviewed about their architectural value and the need to preserve them. The demolition of several of the region's piers is described: at Douglas in 1894, Lytham in 1938 and New Brighton in 1978. There are also interviews with Archie Collis on the fire that destroyed part of Morecambe pier, Joe Packeet who owns a stall on Blackpool's North Pier and a representative from Lord Delphont's First Leisure Corporation, which owns all three Blackpool piers. There are various stills from the Victorian era and present day footage showing piers at Blackpool, Morecambe, St Anne's. There are general views of people walking and relaxing on piers and inside amusement arcades. 16m00s