Blackpool's Opera House, which seats 2,900 people, was used to host the show in the 1950s era of acts such as Morecambe and Wise, Arthur Askey and George Formby. The annual event was first staged in 1912 and the proceeds go towards the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund. The show's staging in Blackpool comes in the wake of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing being staged at the resort's Tower Ballroom last month.
Presidential News - Bruce Springsteen was presented with a Kennedy Center honour by President Barack Obama at a White House reception on Sunday. "I'm the president but he's the boss," said Obama as he introduced the star. Actor Robert De Niro, comic Mel Brooks, jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck and opera singer Grace Bumbry were also honoured.
The Kennedy Center annually awards figures from the world of arts for their contribution to US culture. "We worked really hard for our music to be part of American life and our fans' lives," said Springsteen, 60. "So it's an acknowledgement that you've kind of threaded your way into the culture in a certain way. It' satisfying," he added. John Mellencamp, Jennifer Nettles, Melissa Etheridge and Sting all sang Springsteen tracks at the event.
Closing Down - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York is to close just a year after it opened, it has been announced. S2BN Entertainment, one of the corporate partners behind the venture, made the announcement in a statement but gave no reason for the decision. The annex, which opened in December 2008, is the home to hundreds of items from artists including The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. It will close its doors on 3 January 2010. A message on the museum's website said it was exploring opportunities for a travelling tour that would bring the collection of displays to music fans and rock enthusiasts around the world.
(Jim Evans)
