Poster for Portobello Bathing Pool Water Fantasy

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

50840

Title

Poster for 'Water Fantasy' performance at Portobello Bathing Pool, 16th July 1955

Description

One paper poster for 'Water Fantasy' at the City of Edinburgh Portobello Bathing Pool on Saturday 16th July 1955 at 7:30pm. Printed in black on blue water effect paper and priced at 3p. The poster lists the performances happening during the event such as Anne Dupray, Johnny Wirls, Freddy Fellows and The Water Lily's as well as the admission prices.

Date

1955

Size

22.8 x 14.5 cm

Type

Document; Paper; Promotional material

Location

Museum of Edinburgh

Accession number

HH5308/3/90

Copyright

The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

When Portobello's outdoor pool opened in 1936, it was the largest swimming pool in Scotland, and featured state of the art wave technology, Art Deco architecture, and promise of a great day out in heated water. In its first season, it boasted 290,000 bathers and almost 500,000 spectators. One of the pool’s many unique selling points was the heated water, allowing the pool to be open from the month of May through to September every year until the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Construction on a site next to the coal-fired Portobello Power Station meant the pool could be maintained at a temperature of 20 degrees, although many who remember it may not agree it felt very warm.

During the 1950s, the bathing pool hosted numerous galas and diving shows, making visitor figures soar. Many of the posters for these performances can be found in the Museums & Galleries Edinburgh collection.

During the 1970’s the pool’s popularity dwindled with the increase of cheap package holidays abroad. A further blow came when the power station closed in 1978, meaning the water could no longer be heated. In 1979 Portobello bathing pool closed its doors for the final time and was demolished in 1988. Memories of the pool, however, live on.

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Related subjects

Places > Edinburgh areas > Portobello

Sport and leisure > Activities > Bathing

Sport and leisure > Activities > Swimming

Sport and leisure > Sports and recreation facilities > Baths

Sport and leisure > Sports and recreation facilities > Diving boards

Sport and leisure > Sports and recreation facilities > Swimming pools

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