Very cool. Just so you know, this sign is a Roto-Sphere. More about them here:
http://agilitynut.com/sca/roto.html

When did it go? As young teenagers we thought it looked like something from the small ads in the back of dirty magazines and we always called it the 'sex aid'. I had forgotten all about it until I was watching Quadrophenia and there it was spinning around in front of the beach. I don't remember ever seeing it with the neon tubes working though.

I think its a real shame that the illuminations have all gone now - it makes Brighton seem a dull and boring place compared to other seaside resorts. Considering the council tax they charge everyone in the B & H city area you would think they would have been maintained and kept up to standard - assuming they really Do want to attract people to the area...

I wasn't born when these were taken, but do remember them when I was growing up. BRING BACK THE SPUTNIK!

I found this on pathe news: from 1973 http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=74306 at the end there’s the Sputnik in all its neon glory, also the peacock illumination.

Do you reckon there is any chance of the 'proper' illuminations ever being brought back including Sputnik (what happened to it?)?  If Blackpool can, why can't we - and keep the season going? Perhaps businesses could contribute? and the Council - difficult at the moment admittedly. Rather this than the wheel or the [London] Eye thingy!

Sarah, unless the illuminations somehow represented 'diversity' and 'multi-culturalism', there is no way at all that the council would ever spend money bringing them back....