by Chief Engineer » 05 Aug 2010, 21:45
As promised here is the story covering the opening night of the Blue Lagoon, first published in "The New Era Illustrated" July 1934.
The pictures above certainly give a glimpse at the decor and detail and give an feeling of how the Blue Lagoon felt on that first night, but the words below add the colour to the photographs and the feeling of Clacton's pride in the Kingsman family.
One little fact, that we would think quite strange for a dance hall today, was the lack of a bar, no alcohol at all.
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BOOM! BOOM!! BOOM!!! BOOM I I !
A general rush from hotels and boarding establishments along the front, and even from the town, to see the launching of the lifeboat—but no lifeboat appeared. The booming was assuredly the sound of rockets, but they were being fired to celebrate a far more auspicious happening—the Opening of the New Blue Lagoon—the latest and greatest of luxury Ballrooms, and the largest in the world over the sea.
Personally, we did not rush to see the lifeboat launched because we knew that the firing of the rockets marked the commencement of the ceremony of inauguration. Fourteen rockets in all were fired because this season is the fourteenth spent by happy holiday- makers on the most famous Pier around the coast.
The Opening of the New Blue Lagoon marked a New Era in the history of Clacton-on-Sea and, by invitation, we were present at the opening ceremony. Sir John Pybus, is his characteristically charming manner, referred to the fact that in November last the beautiful building was only in its inception stage, and surely Aladdin’s magician must have had a hand in its erection because it is difficult to realise how so ambitious a work could have been carried out in a few short months. On the Opening Night, Whitsun Monday, everything was finished to a detail.
Some driving force or rather dynamic energy was clearly behind the work, and who can guess the name of the possessor? Does his name begin with “K“?
Well no prize will be given for the answer. When Sir John Pybus jokingly referred to the fact that he could see many of his friends in the room, all looking more beautiful than ever, he was certainly telling the truth, because, under the really wonderful and novel lighting scheme, ladies looked more captivating than ever and gentlemen felt more sure of themselves.
But, before describing the lighting scheme, we should give some impression of the building, which is arranged mainly in the form of a sweeping architrave, which covers the whole of the dance floor area. On both sides are flat roofs, trellised and adorned with artificial blooms of roses and sweet peas amidst them being a myriad of tiny coloured lights. Beneath these are artistically arranged refreshment tables and chairs. In one corner is a novel alcove which accommodated Teddy Dobbs and his Band, who were in ,attendance to open the Season. The Bandstand is quite a clever inception; the lighting is concealed; and the painting, on the wall, of a stave of music, a clever thought.
The general decorative scheme is pea green and white—nevertheless it will always be. the “Blue Lagoon”
From the continuous windows, at one side, passers-by on the pier can be seen, whilst he other side looks out on to the open sea and the beach.
By the Blue Lagoon She’s Waiting “ should be a song that will be kept in memory for ‘all time because the Blue Lagoon is the spot dear to the heart of every girl visiting Clacton . In the Blue Lagoon many romances have had their inception, and surely Mrs. Kingsman ranks among the greatest of match-makers because she has so many friends who visit Clacton, year after year, who never fail to pay their regards to this very popular lady and to thank her for the happy hours at the Blue Lagoon when first they met and fell in love.
At the far end of the Lagoon is a mirrored wall which gives an indescribable effect of enormous length because it apparently doubles the area.
But we have left the good wine until last, and that is the Lighting Scheme. Across the broad sweep of the ceiling, at intervals, are luminous gas tubes which are generally termed neon tubes, and, although this term is not technically correct, it will suffice at the moment for our purpose. One of each set of tubes is of yellow glass, the other tubes being white, but the effect of the luminous gas passing through the yellow tube (this is a blue gas) causes it to radiate a bright green colour which, merging with the red and blue of the other tubes, mingling with the white of the ceiling, gives
perfect rainbow effect. Imagine, then or rather better visit Clacton and see the wonderful charm of a succession of rainbows.
We understand that nearly five miles of cable have been used in the lighting of the interior and exterior and there are actually 800 feet of luminous gas tubing used in the rainbow lighting.
After Sir John Pybus had spoken, the rainbow lighting was switched on, whereupon Mr. Kingsman junior, with the aid of a microphone, gave an address of welcome to the visitors, after which the National Anthem was sung and Mr. Fred Yeoman, as a vocal number sang “Ring up the Curtain” whereupon Teddy Dobbs and his boys settled down to the business in earnest, and the floor in a matter of seconds, invaded by a throng of delighted young people, all proud to be dancing in the New Blue Lagoon on the first night of its opening.
The high esteem in which Mr. and Mrs. Kingsman are held was evidenced by the enormous applause with which their names were greeted, and Clacton owes much to Mr. Kingsman who has, formed a meaningless, worthless landing stage into the most perfect amusement Pier we have ever had the pleasure of visiting.
It was on Whit Monday evening of 1933, that we stood on the Clacton front and watched a great pyrotechnic display celebrating the opening of the beautiful Swimming Pool, which is already so well-known.
Certainly, Mr. Kingsman is nothing if he is not a Showman. Every year, under his boundless energy, new attractions have been created. in addition to the New Blue Lagoon and the Swimming Pool, are the Ocean Theatre, in which first- rate entertainments are given by the best artistes, the management of which is under the directorship of Mrs. Kings- man and the Jolly Roger “ Theatre, which was completed and opened at the beginning of the 1 933 Season. Then we have the “Rambla “ Concert Party, a talented group of entertainers—a great show in the open air, with nothing to pay unless one requires a comfortable chair in which to enjoy the performance, whereupon the “large” amount of 2d. is entailed and Clown Bertram’s Theatre, wherein not only children but there parents are entertained.
Other attractions are Electric Boats on the Miniature Lake , the “Dodge ‘Em Motor Cars,” where one pays 6d. to have collisions which would assuredly be looked askance at on the road: side shows galore and every conceivable amusement including a new style of Roundabout with cunningly designed animals, on the backs of which people ride—a roundabout which is calculated to rouse one’s liver into a state of greatest activity because it travels at a speed we have never seen before. Add to this the pleasure of strolling along the Pier, which has a centre screen for the greater part of the journey so that should the breeze be over strong, there is always a sheltered side.
It seems a remarkable statement, but it is one of fact, that many thousands of visitors to Clacton , particularly those who travel by boat, never -leave the Pier until it is time to go home — they find all they want for a day’s full enjoyment without actually passing from the Pier to the town.