Funny Girls
 | This article contains promotional content. (August 2010) |
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  Funny Girls Location in Blackpool | |
| Former names | Blackpool Odeon |
|---|---|
| Address | 5 Dickson Road |
| Location | Blackpool, Lancashire, England |
| Coordinates | 53°49′16″N 3°03′05″W / 53.8211°N 3.0515°W |
| Owner | Basil Newby |
| Operator | Basil Newby |
| Type | Showbar |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 6 May 1939 |
| Renovated | 2002 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Funny Girls is a burlesque cabaret showbar on the North Shore of Blackpool, England, owned by English entrepreneur and businessman Basil Newby. The cast of the show comprise male dancers and drag performers. The showbar is in what was once the Blackpool Odeon, which was Odeon's largest original cinema in the United Kingdom.
Venue
The cinema was designed by Robert Bullivant and was opened on May 6, 1939. It has a capacity of 3,000 and is the largest original Odeon cinema. It was converted into a 3-screen cinema in 1975. In 1994, the building was registered as a Grade II listed building.[1] The cinema closed on December 5, 1998.[2][3]
Basil Newby took over the old Odeon in 2002 and had it re-decorated in the traditional Art Deco style. In 2019, Thwaites Brewery took over the venue but sold it back to Newby later that year.[2][4]
Cast
Betty Legs Diamond is a choreographer and original 'Funny Girl'.
DJ Zoe is the compere at Funny Girls.
The Funny Girls cast have performed at various platforms including the Royal Variety Performance.[5][6] They have also appeared in various television shows either to be interviewed, or where the Funny Girls showbar itself has been the backdrop, such as in the BBC Drama Blackpool.
Critical reception
Blackpool can still lead the way. Look at Funny Girls - it's the best show in the country. there is no place like it to celebrate a special occasion. There's still nothing like it anywhere else!
— Jim Davidson, Blackpool Gazette[7]
References
- ^ Historic England, "Odeon Cinema (1225407)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 12 November 2020
- ^ a b "Funny Girls". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "Bingo $112,000,000 Pastime in Britain". Variety. 5 July 1961. p. 1.
- ^ Graves, James (8 August 2019). "Baz Is Back! Legendary club owner Basil Newby buys back his 'beloved' Funny Girls". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ [1], IMDb listing for Royal Variety Performers 2005
- ^ [2], IMDb listing for Royal Variety Performers 2004
- ^ "Funny Girls News". Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2007., Official ITP Website
External links
Buildings and structures in Blackpool | |||||||
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| Grade II* |
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| Grade II |
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