A multitude of factors draw 23 million visitors to Blackpool annually. The town boasts attractions like the iconic Tower, the dazzling Illuminations, the expansive Coral Island arcade, and a picturesque beach, just to name a few.
Back in 1928, on a dreary day before the Pleasure Beach had reached its modern high-speed capabilities, a large crowd gathered in the Lancashire resort for a rather unique spectacle.
Historic black and white British Pathé footage captures the marriage of Max and Florence Chrysler outside Stephen’s on the Cliffs in Blackpool, followed by a grand procession through town, complete with elephants.
The couple, renowned as stars of one of Blackpool’s miniature villages located atop the Blackpool Tower, garnered immense public attention during the event.
Describing the village as a Victorian-style living museum akin to today’s themed villages, Hector Cerdeno likened the extravagant wedding to a Kardashian-style affair, involving the closure of the village and surrounding roads, making it a massive town-wide celebration.
These intriguing historical events are now showcased in an exhibition at Blackpool’s new Showntown Museum, shedding light on the stories of little people in the UK’s entertainment industry and how Blackpool became a hub for artistic endeavors.
During the early 1900s and 1930s, Blackpool witnessed numerous weddings among little people and hosted the Piccolo Company, a circus troupe comprising 32 little individuals known for their acrobatics and strongman performances at the Tower. Various little people gained fame across Blackpool’s three ‘tiny town’ attractions, including notable figures like Doodles, a clown at the Tower Circus for nearly three decades, and Paul Walker, Europe’s renowned small-scale movie actor.
Emily Langridge, involved in curating the Through Our Eyes: Little People Beyond the Circus exhibition, highlighted the significant attraction these performers held a century ago, drawing crowds from far and wide to witness these celebrity acts.
The exhibition, running until May 31, aims to vividly portray this history and honor its stars in a respectful manner, free from the patronizing language often prevalent in historical news coverage and advertisements.
An important aspect of the exhibition focuses on the grandeur of the weddings at that time. Despite some incomplete records, Emily acknowledged that certain little people couples appeared to have had multiple marriages, possibly driven by the beneficial publicity these events generated.
For Hector, showcasing the positive perspective with which little people in the entertainment industry were regarded in Blackpool during the inter-war years remains crucial, while acknowledging the less favorable aspects of how these acts were presented and promoted.
He emphasized the distinction between past and present treatment of little people, highlighting a shift from being part of circuses and sideshows to pursuing independent careers in various fields.
Rebecca Nuttall from Little People UK emphasized the exhibition’s role in educating audiences about respectful language usage and celebrating the community’s trailblazers, including individuals like scientist Tom Shakespeare, chef Louis Makepeace, and racer Joy Rainey.
Angel Flint, a full-time staff member at Showtown, praised Miss DQ, a drag queen with dwarfism, for breaking barriers in the entertainment industry and serving as an inspiration for aspiring individuals with dwarfism.
The exhibition’s design caters to the accessibility needs of individuals with dwarfism, placing displays at lower levels to ensure visibility and using mannequins representative of the performers for costume presentations.
Rebecca stressed the importance of accommodating different conditions and heights, aiming for inclusivity and understanding while acknowledging that perfection in these efforts may not always be attainable.
The exhibition will be open until May 31, with free entry granted upon obtaining a Showtown ticket.
