Caroline Hall
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lilaclillian.bsky.social
Caroline Hall
@lilaclillian.bsky.social
Museums, archives & evidence-based learning. Drawn to the flicker of old images, the glow of forgotten stages and stories waiting to live again.
Three venues. Three legendary shows. Blackpool, 1949.

✨Water Follies with Tarzan - Johnny Weissmuller
✨Coconut Grove with Jewel & Warriss, and teenage Julie Andrews
✨The Orchid Room with rising Frankie Howerd

Blackpool fun at its glittering best

#Variety #JohnnyWeissmuller #FrankieHowerd
September 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
What is it about autumn & winter that draws us to mystery? This 1893 Blackpool programme feels perfect for the season: hand-painted scenery, limelight effects, and the title ‘A Detective’. Proof that the thrill of suspense never goes out of style.

#VictorianStage #BlackpoolHistory #FromTheArchives.
September 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Flip it over 👀 . This 1942 Blackpool Palace poster for Dorchester Follies hides another performer’s face on the back.

I love the little discoveries you make when researching in collections. I know it’s about paper rationing but I want to know who this was!
August 17, 2025 at 8:47 PM
This image was in a folder titled unknown female performers in our Cyril Critchlow Collection. The words in the background make me think this could be Coney Island?
#Blackpool #Collections #ConeyIsland
April 30, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Five years of closure, three collection moves, one new museum and and six months of recant and we are there. Time to celebrate with my amazing team.
April 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
A startling item from the #Cairoli collection highlighting the history of performance. We used this in the recent press campaign for the relaunch of the #Showtown history centre. I still find the French royal court association fascinating. I’ve put the google translation in the alt text.
April 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Well, this is it. The Showtown History Centre reopens Friday 25th April. I’m breathing a huge sigh of relief and happiness that we made it. I’m so grateful to all who have supported the process of safeguarding Blackpool’s collection and I can’t wait to see people using them again.
April 16, 2025 at 10:28 AM
We’re on the last few weeks now until we reopen the Showtown History Centre after 5 years of closure. We’re working on the books in our study collection. This little gem from #WorldWar1 is brilliant. Published in #Blackpool in 1918 by the R.A.M.C.
April 7, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Bit of break while planning the launch of the history centre. Good news - all of Blackpool’s collections are unpacked and on shelves. This little gem from 1900 shows the Kauffman Troupe of Trick Cyclists from the Pavilion Winter Gardens. Fabulous!
#collections #victorian
February 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Gorgeous drawing of the Empire Theatre of Varieties from when it was auctioned in 1900. It’s lovely to see this because it went through so many face lifts and renames until it became the Syndicate Nightclub. #collections #Blackpool #Theatres #musichall
January 31, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I love this. Image of the site of #Blackpool Illuminated advertisement in the Place de Brouckère in Brussels Belgium. I’ve never seen an image of the sign in place but I would love to. There were no limits to the ambition.
#collection #illuminations #brussels
January 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
For years dad told me Blackpool Tower was built on cotton bales which his grandma told him. Finally I have seen evidence this story was not true. Not told my dad because his childhood memory of his grandma is precious. This is a schedule of works for the building of #Blackpool Tower.
#collections
January 28, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Advertising from Blackpool was always fun and specifically designed to its placement location. The language and the designs changed over the years but not the #Blackpool optimism. This one is for Stratford on Avon people, as if you couldn’t guess. 😂
#Collections #Shakespeare
January 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Not from unpacking but from a kind donation. 100s of images from #Blackpool councils engineering department in the 1950s and 1960s that got forgotten then rescued. This small wallet contains images of traffic congestion and I can’t wait for them to be properly digitised.
#collections #photography
January 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Plenty of people around me loved these collections when we unpacked but as someone who struggles to bake a cookie they just looked like stress to me. Still thought I would share as Burton’s was so famous in Blackpool. #collections #blackpool #baking
January 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
The glazing on this frame didn’t make it but it’s a lovely dedicated signed engraving of Teresa Carreño. I’m guessing this means the Venezuelan pianist performed in #Blackpool though I haven’t had a chance to check yet and I haven’t had time translate either. So much to do!
#Collections #piano
January 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
The Tower Company commissioned beautiful paintings by various artists over the years for advertising. It’s been great to unwrap some of the original works this week. This is a large painting of the Palace Picture Pavilion where they exhibited films.
#Blackpool #Collections #cinema
January 9, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Hmmm 🤔, not quite sure why this is in the Tower Company Collection. It predates any major entertainment company in #Blackpool. However, amazing to have something from Astley’s. Think the date is 1828?
#collections #circus
January 8, 2025 at 2:36 PM
The Tower Children’s ballet keeps being raised as an important story that bridges the local/tourist dynamic of #Blackpool. Looking at this poster today I saw the quality of poster design and the investment the Tower Company put into it. Definitely a history to investigate.
#Collections
January 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Spent a great morning at Blackpool Tower with photographer Jonathan Lynch taking shots of the Charlie Cairoli Whiteface clown costumes. Not conserved yet and with no stand we improvised for the existing mannequin mounts using a Christmas tree stand!
#Blackpool #circus #collections
January 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Flicking through an autograph book we just unpacked and found this artistic entry by Frank Randall. The time and care - joy.
#Blackpool #Collections #Variety
January 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Before Christmas I was flicking through a notebook in the collection from 1870s. It contained this edited version of Garrick’s Advice to Married Ladies. It felt quite pointed that someone wrote this in a young ladies book. Wish I knew more. Transcript in alt text.
#Blackpool #Collections
January 4, 2025 at 12:29 PM
More posters today. Tessie O’Shea and Nat Jackley on the 1950 poster for Out of this world, the big season show at #Blackpool Opera House. I get so excited about the lovely poster design and illustration on some of these items.
#collections #Variety
January 3, 2025 at 12:58 PM
As it’s the year of the snake coming up and I’m a snake i think is was primed to focus on this photo immediately. Arimund Banu the snake charmer in #Blackpool 1934. The bra has been added for decency as she performed in the nude. Love her!
#collections #yearofthesnake
January 2, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Start of first work day of 2025
January 2, 2025 at 9:24 AM