AS speculation mounts about the future of the Winter Gardens complex, the Citizen takes one of its regular trips down memory lane to look at the history of a building which is one of Blackpool's better known landmarks.

In August 1875 a group of eight Blackpool businessmen had the vision and courage to purchase 18,000 square yards of land for £28,000 - but few could have imagined the chequered history to follow.

Forming the Blackpool Winter Gardens and Pavilion Company Ltd, the local men planned the development of one of the most popular and famous entertainment and conference centres the country has ever seen.

Formed, according to its prospectus, "to provide a superior Gardens and Pleasure Grounds, with a magnificent Pavilion and other accessories of the kind now so popular", the first part of the Gardens to be completed was a magnificent open-air skating rink in July, 1876.

The official opening two years later, when the Grand Pavilion opened its doors, attracted prominent municipal and provincial leaders, including the Lord Mayor of London and the Lady Mayoress, as well as the sheriffs of London and Middlesex.

But shareholders were not as happy with proceedings. They received little in the way of profit during the first seven years.

However, in true Winter Gardens style, a rise followed the slump and by 1883 the company recorded receipts of £16,747 with a four per cent dividend.

Even so, takings were not up to the figures expected and directors soon became dissatisfied again - even more so when the prestigious Tower opened in 1894.

The first Opera House was opened in June,1889, at a cost of just under £9,500, with a production of The Yeomen of the Guard by the D'Oyly Carte company. Since then the stage has attracted other recognisable names - most notably Charlie Chaplin in 1904.Then followed one of the most successful programmes, the summer Sundays which attracted Patti, Kreisler and Caruso, the great tenor in 1909, who only left the building after a dozen encores.

But in the 1920's the romance ended again. Crippling losses in takings and lack off stars forced the directors to amalgamate the company with the Tower in 1928, thus ending its competition.

The following year, the Big Wheel was demolished. Purchased for £1,000 by the Winter Gardens Company Ltd in 1916, is was scrapped as a financial flop, dashing directors' aspirations.

A rapid re-think had to take place. The Olympia took the place of the wheel, the Spanish and Baronial Halls replaced the Victoria Annexe, the restaurant was built together with the Galleon Bar.

Oddly enough, it was during the two occasions of national uncertainty that the Winter Gardens owners were most certain of its future.

During the two World Wars the Gardens' bank balance was rocketing.

Around 3,000 people at a time were taught morse code in the Olympia as the Gardens turned its attention to war.

Entertaining the 50,000 servicemen and women who were posted in the town was no mean feat. But the Winter Gardens rose to the challenge, proving that in the face of adversity the complex could prosper.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.