1940 Blackpool Tower & Winter Gardens Souvenir Programme Reginald Dixon Wurlitzer Vintage Seaside Memorabilia

This original c.1940 Blackpool Tower & Winter Gardens Souvenir Programme is a substantial 40‑page edition capturing the glamour, entertainment and cultural life of Blackpool during the early 20th century. The striking red, blue and gold illustrated cover reflects the resort’s iconic architecture and its reputation as Britain’s premier seaside destination.

Inside, the programme offers a rich snapshot of the era — including, on page 7, the Tower Ballroom programme featuring the legendary Reginald Dixon, who was performing twice daily on the famous Wurlitzer organ until 29 June 1940. Following this, the programme highlights the 1940 Grand Spectacular Children’s Ballet, Let the Children Sing, a wartime‑era production designed to lift spirits and celebrate young performers.

With its detailed content, evocative artwork and generous page count, this is a superb piece of Blackpool heritage. Ideal for collectors of seaside memorabilia, entertainment history, organ and ballroom enthusiasts, or anyone with a passion for the Tower’s golden age.

Blackpool in the 1940s: Entertainment Through Uncertain Times

The 1940s were a defining decade for Blackpool. Despite wartime restrictions, the resort remained a vital centre of leisure and morale‑boosting entertainment. The Tower Ballroom, already world‑famous, continued to draw huge crowds thanks to Reginald Dixon, whose mastery of the Wurlitzer became synonymous with Blackpool’s musical identity.

The inclusion of Dixon’s twice‑daily performances in this programme places it firmly in the early wartime period, just before the summer of 1940 brought major changes to public entertainment. The follow‑on feature — the Grand Spectacular Children’s Ballet, Let the Children Sing — reflects the era’s emphasis on uplifting productions designed to inspire hope and community spirit.

Programmes of this size and depth were often kept as treasured souvenirs, but relatively few survive today, making this a valuable and atmospheric piece of Blackpool’s cultural story.