Hi Scarlett, I checked back on this thread and saw your post and thought "what in the heck is Scarlett getting so excited about", ROTFL!!! Gather you like the Blackpool Rock???

With the couple of weeks I have had Blackpool sounds delightful to me. Well, anywhere outside to Vacaville sounds delightful if the truth be known ;;) but honestly, Blackpool sounds like fun!

Jean, you'll have to tell about the young man from t'Prudential.

All I can remember is the last bit where mother says:
"'Ere's your stick with the 'orses 'esd 'andle
Let's see what the tigers can do!"

Hi Scarlett - no offence - it's all taken in good humour ;)

Yes you can still get Blackpool rock:

http://www.blackpoolrock.com/

The old zoo was in the tower and pretty grim, there is a new zoo now, which I believe is much better and more spacious and humane for the animals.

Talking of the tower, does anyone else remember the amusement arcarde in the tower (we're going back 40 years now)? I remember being fascinated as a child by the slot machines where you put a penny in (an old penny, of course) and a little scene came to life with moving figures, often depicting something a bit gruesome, ghosts or the like. Anyone else remember these?

Albert Ramsbottoms return

Marriott Edgar

You've 'eard 'ow young Albert Ramsbottom,
In the Zoo up at Blackpool one year
With a stick with an 'orse's 'ead 'andle
Gave a lion a poke in the ear?

The name of the lion was Wallace,
The poke in the ear made 'im wild;
And before you could say "Bob's your Uncle,"
'E'd up and 'e'd swallowed the child.

'E were sorry the moment 'e'd done it;
With children 'e'd always been chums,
And besides, 'e'd no teeth in his noddle,
And 'e couldn't chew Albert on t'gums.

'E could feel the lad movin' inside 'im,
As 'e lay on 'is bed of dried ferns,
And it might 'ave been little lad's birthday-
'E wished 'im such 'appy returns.

But Albert kept kicking and fighting,
Till Wallace arose, feeling bad.
And felt it were time that 'e started
To stage a comeback for the lad.

So with 'is 'ead down in a corner,
On 'is front paws 'e started to walk,
And 'e coughed and 'e sneezed and 'e gargled,
'Till Albert shot out like a cork.

Old Wallace felt better direc'ly,
And 'is figure once more became lean,
But the only difference with Albert
Was 'is face and 'is 'ands were quite clean.

Meanwhile Mister and Missus Ramsbottom
'Ad gone home to tea, feelin' blue;
Ma says "I feel down in the mouth like."
Pa says, "Aye, I bet Albert does, too."

Said Ma "It just goes for to show yer
That the future is never revealed;
If I'd thought we was goin' to lose 'im
I'd 'ave not 'ad 'is boots soled and 'eeled."

"Let's look on the bright side," said Father;
"What can't be 'elped must be endured;
Every cloud 'as a silvery lining,
And we did 'ave young Albert insured."

A knock on the door came that moment,
As Father these kind words did speak.
'Twas the man from t'Prudential - 'e'd called for
Their tuppence per person per week.

When Father saw 'oo 'ad been knockin',
'E laughed, and 'e kept laughin' so
That the young man said "'What's there to laugh at?"
Pa said "You'll laugh an' all when you know."

"Excuse 'im for laughing," said Mother,
"But really, things 'appen so strange -
Our Albert's been ate by a lion;
You've got to pay us for a change."

Said the young feller from the Prudential,
"Now, come, come, let's understand this-
You don't mean to say that you've lost 'im?"
Ma says "Oh, no! we know where 'e is."

When the young man 'ad 'eard all the details,
A purse from 'is pocket he drew,
And 'e paid them, with int'rest and bonus,
The sum of nine pounds, four and two.

Pa 'ad scarce got 'is 'and on the money
When a face at the window they see,
And Mother says "Eeh! look, it's Albert."
And Father says "Aye, it would be."

Young Albert came in all excited,
And started 'is story to give,
And Pa says "I'll never trust lions
Again, not as long as I live."

The young man from the Prudential
To pick up the money began,
And Father says "Eeh! just a moment,
Don't be in a 'urry, young man."

Then giving young Albert a shilling,
He said "Pop off back to the Zoo.
"'Ere's yer stick with the 'orse's 'ead 'andle-
Go and see wot the Tigers can do!"

Oh the penny-in-the-slot machines! They were still more or less everywhere in my 1950s childhood - the Haunted House, the Hanged Man, the Laughing Policemen, not to mention What The Butler Saw (which I was never allowed to):

http://www.pennymachines.co.uk/Archi...ations-1.shtml
www.vintageslots.co.uk

grate thread and one that brings back happy memories. maria h good to read about stockport. i lived there all my life before moving 15 years ago to a differant life in ireland.almost everyone who lived in stockport or any of the northern towns 30/40 years ago spent there holidays in blackpool 40/50 miles away and we though we had been to another country.on the charra going there we used to see who could see the tower first and once it was spotted could never get our head round why it kept moving from one side of the road to the other. this always remained one of the wonders of the world. what about rhyl. and prestatyn. with the caravans and the robin hood camp site .ahh memories are what theseplaces are.
dave

Blackpool Zoo Going Strong
"The Blackpool Zoo's 32 acres are home to scores of species from (boy-eating)lions roaming and roaring in their den to proud peacocks parading along the pathways with fanned-out feathers...board the miniature Wild West train for a rattling rail journey, watch the giant tortoise - watch meals being prepared in the animal kitchen before going to catch the full flavour of feeding time. The sealions and penguins in particular absolutely delight in showing off at meal time." From Blackpool Borough Council guide "Blackpool Let's Party" So zoo is still going strong.

LoveItaly (and anyone who has not seen this) Rent the DVD <b>Funny Bones</b>. Stars Jerry Lewis, Oliver Platt and the brilliant Lee Evans and a cast of the goofiest comedians.
It takes place almost entirely in Blackpool, you will love it :D

The World of Coronation Street? Still There. My outdated Blackpool tourist pamphlet touts the &quot;new&quot; World of Coronation St. Blackpool attraction, opposite Pleasure Beach: &quot;it's Blackpool's latest attraction and relives 35 years of Britain's best-loved TV program. You'll see all the sets from the series, all them enhanced by stunning special effects, stroll down a moonlit replica of the street itself, accurate down to the very last cobblestone. There's even a chance to sample a pint of Newton and Ridley's in our recreation of the famous Rovers Return.&quot;
When i waz in Blackpool that year i hadn't started to watch Corrie - now i'm a fanatic and wonder if Blackpool still offers this attraction? I think i heard it may have closed.
And what does Newton and Ridley's mean - types of beer? Never heard of it on today's Corrie.

&quot;Newton and Ridley's&quot; is - or was - the fictional brewery to which the Rover's Return is tied. In all the to-ings an fro-ings as to who's in charge of the pub, maybe the brewery sold off its interest, but I haven't followed it that closely.

Scarlett, I have never seen Funny Bones, I will rent it next week as Michael will enjoy it too. Thanks.

And Maria, thanks for the last segment of dear little Albert. That put a smile on my face.