1996 Blackpool

Souvenir Brochure - Introduction

Welcome to Rock With Laughter 1996!

How often do you and your family say, "There's not much worth watching on TV tonight"? Too often I would bet!

When was the last time you and your family had a really good laugh watching a light entertainment TV show? (Excluding the Eurovision Song Contest!) Probably not for a long time.

Today's Broadcasting Chiefs screen programmes THEY think the public want or that please the advertisers. Little new light entertainment talent is encouraged. Talent to entertain the nation must be replenished. The new generation of 'Forsyths', 'O'Connors', 'Cillas' and 'Barrymores' - where will they come from?

It is down to shows like tonight's ROCK WITH LAUGHTER to nurture new talent and present established acts with creative flair. Babby Davro, Brian Conley, Joe Pasquale, Shane Ritchie and Billy Pearce 'cut their teeth' in our shows, all progressing to headling the bill, whilst long established comedy acts such as The Grumbleweeds and Little and Large have been given a fresh new treatment. Tonight, undisputed comedy kings Cannon and Ball achieve their ambition to star in their own Rock 'N' Roll spectacular. We as producers are proud to be presenting Tommy and Bobby for the first time in Summer Season.

Rock With Laughter is Blackpool's most successful summer season show and has been seen by over half a million people to date. In 1993 Rock With Laughter transferred to television achieving six million viewers weekly despite a 'graveyard slot' on Monday nights through the summer!

We have a passionate commitment to entertain YOU the public with shows YOU want to see. So tonight, switch off the telly, forget your worries and cares and relax! Loosen tight clothing, flex your 'Chuckle Muscle' and let's go back in time together as once again we ROCK WITH LAUGHTER.

Nick Thomas and Jon Conway, London, July 1996

Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball are one of Britain's funniest and most successful double acts. In a career spanning over 25 years they have achieved a string of honours that includes them among the all-time greats of showbusiness.

On television they have starred in their own series practically every year since 1979. They have 'guested' on all the major shows including Wogan, Parkinson, The Des O'Connor Show, Sunday Night at the Palladium and several Royal Variety Shows. They featured in a BBC documentary Funny Business based on double acts, which also included footage of comedy legends Martin and Lewis, Laurel and Hardy, and Morecambe and Wise.

To add to their pedigree, they remain the only act to have won three separate National Club Awards and be names as the Variety Club 'Personalities of the Year'. Their feature film The Boys in Blue in addition to its cinema success, has gone on to become a video best seller. The boys have also been the subject of This is Your Life!

As the undisputed Kings of Live Entertainment, Cannon and Ball have set standards that will never be equalled

During the 1970s they built a strong reputation around the UK cabaret club circuit for being a great live act. They also toured extensively in the hotel circuits of Australia and South Africa.

In 1980 they 'topped the bill' for the very first time at the North Pier, Blackpool, where they played to capacity business for 22 weeks; a feat they surpassed in 1991 when they returned to the pier and celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a 25 week sell-out season.

Cannon and Ball with Peter Piper

Blackpool is a 'happy hunting ground' for the Lancashire born twosome, who played the 3,000 seat Opera House during the summer 1994. This was their third season at the theatre, following their enormously successful seasons in 1985 and 1987.

In addition to Blackpool, Tom and Bob have broken records in theatres all over the UK, including London. In 1981 they played a six-week season at the Dominion Theatre. Every seat was sold before the show opened, and in 1988 their pantomime Babes in the Wood broke all previous pantomime records at the world famous London Palladium, where Cannon and Ball created the record for the largest box office amount taken in one week in British theatre history.

During 1993 they were offered the chance to play a season in the USA. Orlando, Florida was the location. Their three month season was such a success that they were immediately re-booked for April, May June 1994, starring at King Henry's Feast, Orlando and making several US television appearances.

In 1995 they appeared on many major TV shows including The Des O'Connor Show, Noel Edmond's House Party and Talking Telephone Numbers.

After a month long Gospel Tour, and another trip to the USA, it was on to Glasgow for Babes in the Wood!

Rock with Laughter 96 fulfills Tommy and Bobby's ambition to star in their own Rock 'n' Roll spectacular, in this their first summer season for producer Nick Thomas. After an extensive Autumn tour and a trip to Israel, the boys play the Chinese Policemen in Aladdin for Nick at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.

Even after nearly 30 years of making people laugh, Tom and Bob are still enjoying every minute and are looking forward to entertaining for many years to come.

Other acts

Sheila Ferguson

Peter Piper

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