Blackpool Mirror Ball - They shoot horses...Don't they ? !

 

Mirrorball – they shoot horses don’t they !

Many years ago while waiting for my new job to start I went around taking photographs of my town and penning now and again for the Gazette and local magazines of the time. In 2006 I had the chance to sit down with Michael Trainor who has been responsible for many of the public art schemes which included “The Great Promenade Show”. The Mirror ball at Blackpool took 3 years from start to finish and was finally lit up in the summer of 2002. Blackpool is also known as the ‘ballroom capital’ of Britain, it’s dimensions, 6 meters in diameter and has over 47, 000 mirrors and is named after the 1969 film with Jane Fonda about a ballroom marathon, hence the official title “They shoot horses don’t they?”. When this was dismantled I managed to get hold of four of the mirrors and boy were they damaged and sand blown with dirt and grit.  

Artist Michael came up with the idea as he felt the mirror ball reflected an image of Blackpool that many would identify with and see the artwork as one of uniqueness. The mirror ball itself has been made to last ten years or more, which of course would also depend on our ever changing weather and how it treats the artwork. A special adhesive was needed for the many mirrors that adorn ‘Horses’ that could also withstand the fylde coast climate, a micro system in itself. The council look after its maintenance and replace the gas cylinders every 3 months or so the mirror ball will keep on turning, if this did not happen it would stop altogether, in more recent years this alas has been the case. 

When asked Michael had the following to say about the project, “I wanted to create an object that reflected the glamour of the town and also attract more people to the town, many flock to see the illuminations, why not art?”.

Over the years Michael had been at the forefront of the northwest’s art scene constantly pushing forward the boundaries of performance, exhibitions and of course training and learning development within such a niche arena. With an impressive CV of previous achievements’ including the most recent Art B & B on the promenade, Leftcoast and Manchester’s Northern Quarter Association.

The  much needed refurbishment will see the structure re-mirrored and an overhaul of the internal bearings that ensure it can rotate in full circle once a minute, I must admit it’s been a while since at lot of us have seen this happen! The Mirror Ball will be returned to the promenade for the summer season in 2021 with the works taking around six months, for the 4.5 tonne ball and the £60, 000 cost will be met by the council maintenance budget.

When I was little (many years ago) my parents would take me to the same location, still not sure whether it was a paddling pool or a boating pool. We always called it the latter but, obviously, it served as either very popular it was too always a treat to visit as well. 

During lockdown and permitted exercise it was indeed lovely to see in 2020 many locals just promenading as they did in olden days taking in the sea air and taking snaps for the family albums.

 ( This article has also appeared in the Blackpool Evening Gazette )