August 27th, 2020
15 comments
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Blackpool Remembered – A Journey Back in Time
The eagerly awaited free pdf download is available from Here.
Your journey back in time starts here… soon!
Blackpool Remembered is a project by the fans for the fans – and it was always John Collier’s ambition to create something that could be freely downloadable.
A digital publication meant that the project was not constrained by any budget or production costs, and it could be as big as we wanted – and with over 350 pages and more than 70 contributors, the end result is indeed bigger on the inside than we ever imagined – proof that there is still so much love for the original Doctor Who exhibition in Blackpool, thirty-five years after it closed its doors.
Blackpool Remembered is a FREE digital publication, collated and edited by John Collier. It celebrates the original Doctor Who Exhibition on Blackpool’s Golden Mile, which ran from 1974 to 1985.
Hot on the heels of the latest series of Doctor Who, every year fans would travel the length and breadth of the country to visit the TARDIS and defy the Daleks – no other television show had its own permanent exhibition, and this was a chance to get up close and personal!
Blackpool Remembered charts the history of the exhibition, bringing together special memories, stories and photographs from the fans who visited it, as well as documenting the ever-changing exhibits which, like the series itself, regenerated every year to bring new thrills and excitement. Alongside this, are detailed recollections from some of the people who made it happen.
Travel back in time through a feast of nostalgia, with many previously unseen photographs, exclusive interviews and illustrations. Contributors include Steve Cambden, Julie Jones, Bob Richardson and Mike Tucker.
Although there have since been many Doctor Who exhibitions, Blackpool was unlike any other and remains fondly remembered by generations of fans. This is their story.
Blackpool Remembered – collated and edited by John Collier. Exclusive foreword by Steve Cambden. Cover illustration and design by Alex Storer (www.thelightdream.net)
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Frederick Holder
April 5th, 2021 - 9:49amMaybe somebody can help clarify whether Blackpool ever had a giant Dalek (one which people could walk into it) set-up in it in either 1971 or 1972. I have definite memory seeing this and going inside and I am sure that it had to be in either 1971 or 1972 as I only visited the UK in those two years during the 1970s. I am not entirely confident, though, that this necessarily would have been in Blackpool, but it was certainly some beach city.
If anybody can help with this, I would be extremely appreciative.
the ergon
April 5th, 2021 - 12:26pmI remember they used to have Daleks in the arcades you could sit in and they would move a little when you put money in and you could operate the guns and make them speak. These were usually the ‘Big Eared’ Daleks from the 1960s cushing movies.
Tardis
April 5th, 2021 - 3:43pmHi they had a dalek arcade ride on the North pier and the pleasure beach at Blackpool
the ergon
April 5th, 2021 - 5:50pmTardis, the 1960s ones in the arcades i remember were strategically placed near an entrance or corner and were quite intimidating in size. Imposing but could be scary to a small child.
Coleman
August 28th, 2020 - 6:23pmHave you any plans to turn it into a physical book? Would like to show my support by buying one if possible.
John Collier
August 29th, 2020 - 8:02pmHi Coleman. Thanks for your question. Because everyone submitted their pictures and memories for free we always said it would be a not for profit project. I would personally love to have a hard copy of our book! I guess there must be cheap ways of having one printed but for the time being we won’t be selling copies. Sorry, Hope you enjoy reading it.
Best wishes
John
John Collier
August 28th, 2020 - 11:32amThank you all so much for your kind words and support. Putting the book together has been a real dream come true and both Alex and myself have been blown away by the fan reaction. As I write this it’s approaching twelve hours since we released the book and we have already had over 1000 downloads. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Type 40
August 28th, 2020 - 1:06amWhat a delightful download. So many memories given visual life again.
GuyTheZygon
August 27th, 2020 - 10:16pmThis looks as if it’s going to be totallY brilliant! Give it Yo support, folks!
Dalek z
August 27th, 2020 - 8:03pmI have some photos from when I went in the early 80’s recovered from old negatives.
My favourite two are the Cyber Controller with two Cryons and that 6th Doctor Statue from Necros with the blood on it! That place scared me and I loved it, very fond memories!
Doug Who
August 27th, 2020 - 6:11pmThis is going to be absolutely fantastic and I am ridiculously excited to see the completed book. I think this will be one of the best things ever!
John and Alex are lovely and both (John in particular) should be very proud at getting this together and I know I am to have been able to contribute in a small way. It’s just brilliant they are sharing this with everyone and having seen a small preview I cannot recommend it highly enough!
I treasure the memories of my one visit many years ago…the theme blaring, descending into darkness, lots of fluorescent paint and being able to get so close to the monster costumes – nothing like it! Still have my silver pencil and silver carrier bag from that visit.
Roll on midnight!
the ergon
August 27th, 2020 - 5:46pmAh. those were the days. got a few photos stood outside that old exhibition. My favourite is me at 11 stood with an 80s cyberman with my brothers in 82. They used to show recordings on a loop of the 4 regeneration sequences on a small tv screen before you exited and there was the small gift shop where i bought my Dalek pencil case. I wanted the three videos of Revenge, seeds of Death and Pyramids but they were so pricey. The funniest thing i saw when i went in once, was the Kamelion Prop which had an out of order sign hung over it.
the ergon
August 27th, 2020 - 6:05pmSo much nostalgia. I had some happy memories at that exhibition. I was saddened when I went with my final holiday with my grandparents in 1985 during feast week and finding it no longer there. I felt like the kid just before the closing credits of ‘The snowman’. The one on the Golden mile in the noughties was alright but it wasn,t like you were entering the TARDIS. that first descent down those steps were scary as it was so dark. I,m going to buy this.
Coleman
August 27th, 2020 - 6:29pmI thought it was free?
the ergon
August 27th, 2020 - 8:23pmThe Pdf yes. i didn,t see that. I thought it might beable to buy in book form. i shall definitely be downloading tonight