New museum celebrates Blackpool

Anew museum called Showtown has opened in Blackpool, in north-west England. Showtown celebrates the Lancashire town’s history as the seaside home of showbusiness. Exhibits include outfits from the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, a Mr Punch puppet from 1850 and the popular children’s puppet characters Sooty and Sweep. The £13 million museum is housed in the old Palace nightclub, close to the Blackpool Tower. The museum’s head, Elizabeth Moss, told the BBC she hoped it would attract new visitors to the town.

Showtown features six galleries, including “Beside the Seaside” and “How’s Tricks?” where visitors can go behind the scenes in a Blackpool magic shop to try out practical jokes and magic tricks. The “Roll Up! Roll Up!” gallery features ringmasters, acrobats and clowns and highlights the close connection between Blackpool and the circus. Visitors to “It’s Showtime!” can go through a stage door to discover musicians and comedians who have all seen their names up in lights. “It’s Better with the Lights On” gallery celebrates Blackpool’s famous illuminations (huge displays of lights) that date back to 1879, and “Everybody Dance Now” shows the town’s history of ballroom dancing and Northern Soul (a style of music and dance).

Blackpool’s miles of sandy beaches, three piers and giant rollercoaster made it one of the UK’s top holiday destinations. In 1920, one in 10 people in Britain took their holidays in the town. It was also famous for variety shows on its pier, where lots of famous entertainers started their careers.

Even though it is loved for its sparkling entertainments, the town is now one of the poorest areas in the UK. More than a quarter of children’s families there struggle to afford some essential items, such as food, clothing and housing.

Moss hopes that Showtown will help people see that Blackpool still has lots of possibilities. Council leader Lynn Williams said it was important for people to see

Blackpool’s history. She said Showtown is a fantastic attraction, “which is what

Blackpool does best.”

The museum has a gallery about magic.

Donkey rides were a seaside tradition.