Mister Blackpool

The original Mister Blackpool was undoubtedly Charles Noden, who was the first person to publicise Blackpool as a holiday resort.

Many people associate the title with Reginald Dixon, the Tower organist from 1930 to 1970, and there have been many other “pretenders” to the crown, several of the main ones of whom I have listed below:

• Barry Morris – Director of Tourism, Blackpool Council, 1990s
• Basil Newby - Entrepreneur 1990s+
• Billy Fontaine – Comedian, 1990s
• Brian Crompton – Showbusiness consultant and archivist, died 2001
• Doug Garrett – Chief executive of ReBlackpool, 2005
• Geoffrey Thompson – Chairman of the Pleasure Beach, died 2004
• Jack Taylor – Theatrical impresario, died 1964
• Joe Longthorne – Singer, born 1955
• Josef Locke – Singer, born 1917
• Neil Ross – Singer, 2005
• Phil Kelly – Singer, died 2006
• Phil Kelsall – Tower Organist since 1975
• Trevor Hemmings – Businessman and Tower owner, born 1937

Some of these men, I have barely heard of, but take my word for it, they are known in their various circles as "Mr Blackpool" - check them out on Google and see for yourself!

Henry Banks was known as “the Father of Blackpool”.