The stage was small but with minimal scenery good costumes and clever lighting he prospered, at the same time he mounted a spectacular revue with a revolving stage that played around the number one Moss and Stoll tour, and became established as a top class producer. In 1936 he produced, at the Opera house (Shown Right), a spectacular revue called King Fun, which starred George Formby. He did a second season at the Opera House too but he and the Blackpool Tower Company then parted company acrimoniously...

Right - The Opera House in 1938, the year this programme was produced. The theatre was rebuilt by by Charles MacKeith in a much simpler 30s cinema style.

...He was well established by this time with four spectacular revues touring the number one and good number two theatres, and six pantomimes scattered around Lancashire and Yorkshire. In addition he obtained the contract to produce the summer seasons at the New Regal Theatre on the South Pier. He put a number of Northern artistes on the road to fame and discovered Jimmy Clitheroe and Frank Randle along with Josef Locke in later years.

Above - Blackpool Opera House 2003 - D.A.

He never forgave the Tower Company over the break up over the New Opera house that he established for them and this disagreement was instrumental in him setting up and producing summer shows at the Hippodrome, which was originally built as a Cinema, and was 100 yards up the road from the Opera House.

Above - Plaque in the Blackpool Opera House listing all Bill Toppers since 1895 - D.A.

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