'Brighter Largs' was the theme of a glorious illuminations display lasted for 16 days in September 1933 which had the scenic seafront of Largs positively glowing as a 'modern day Venice'.

The Largs and Millport Weekly News reported: 'The £5000 municipal illuminations scheme was officially inaugurated and the town was a blaze of light along more than a mile of the seafront, and indications point to the illuminated being a brilliant and impressive spectacle.

'The flood lighting of the principal building on the front was a feature of the scheme. The steeples of St Columba"s Parish Church and the Clark Memorial were illuminated with a battery of high power lamps, while Barrfields Pavilion and Routenburn golf clubhouse were also floodlit, besides some of the hotels and other buildings on the front.' An attractive scheme was in operation at the Noddle Burn Walk, which was transformed into a fairy glen with garlands of fairy-lamps in the trees, and illuminated 'birds" perched on the branches.

The Campbell fountian in the centre of Mackerston putting green was ornamented with neon lighting in the from of a waterfall, while a decorated yacht was anchored in the yacht pond.

A huge crest of the burgh in its correct colourings had been mounted on the facade of the Municipal Chambers. The 'News' reported: 'The carnival atmosphere will be enhanced by the erection of an electric music amplifier on the roof of the bathing station. the apparatus was in use at the Kelvin Hall Radio Exhibition: arrangements have been made for the erection.' Mssrs Young arranged to send down an illuminated bus to the town while Messrs Williamson are decorating one of their fleet of steamers. The boathirers were collaborating in the scheme by illuminating and decorating their motor launches in the form of gondolas to add an exotic touch to affairs.

The business people of the town gave enthusiastic co-operation to the authorities, and practically all the hotels, boarding houses, and the shops in the main thoroughfares arranged excellent schemes of decorative lighting.

There was a big impetus in house-letting for the fortnight, and the railway company arranged to run evening 'cruise" trains from Glasgow and all parts of the West of Scotland, while the bus companies also prepared special arrangements. Steamer excursions were charging a schilling (5p) trip round the bay to enable Largs people to view the illuminations from the water.

In the local jottings section, a correspondent said: 'It is encouraging to the supporters of the illuminations scheme that indications point to an exceptionally busy fortnight. There has been a splendid impetus to those bookings, mainly as a result of the illuminations, and the day visitors by excursion trains and steamers will run into tens of thousands.

The bright lights of Largs certainly seemed to have the desired effect judging from comments during subsequent editions of the 'News'.

In a section entitled 'Bonnie Largs'. a contributor called George the Tramp, said that the illuminations display was high class. He said: 'Where did the crowd come from on Friday night? Motor cars seemed all over the place. Let no one doubt the attracting power of coloured lights after this. The day, or rather the night, of romance is not passed when a town can be lit up in the twinkling of an eye. It looks a veritable fairyland.' The 'Daily Express' newspaper was also glowing in tributes to the town with an article headlined 'Largs: A Modern Venice.' Following the sparkling reviews, the 'News' also gave credit to the efforts by local shopkeepers and businesses. 'Most effective schemes of decorative and floodlighting are in operation at Royal Hotel, Victoria Hotel, Anchor Inn, Castle Pension, Elderslie Hydro, and Barra House (later the Marine and Curlinghall Hotel). Even in the side streets the business people have co-operated splendidly. This is particularly the case in Nelson Street while the Co-operative Society have a fine show in Boyd Street.' Provost White give a speech at the launch of the inaugural illuminations display and pointed out that while there had been controversy given the spend of the lighting, he believed it was worthwhile in 'further popularising the town of Largs as a holiday resort and a watering place". The floodlighting of St Columba"s Parish Church signalled the switching on of the scheme throughout the town.

During the illumination showing, much interest was taken up in the weekend with the operations of a novel craft described as a 'water bus". It was constructed with the help of a few friends by Mr George White. The water bus consisted of the body and the engine of an ordinary touring motor car mounted on two 20 foot water-tight floats. A propellor was driven by the engine and the rudder for steering was controlled by the driving wheel. The launching of the craft was watched by a large crowd on the beach and when it moved off with the engine running a cheer was raised by the spectators.

On its preliminary run Mr White was accompanied by six passengers, and the craft developed a speed of about four or five miles an hour in its cruise around the bay.

Apparently some trouble was caused on account of water splashing into the engine, but it is hoped to make measures to remedy this, it was reported. Mr White, who was quite pleased with the experimental run, believed that with certain adjustments, the 'water bus" could be made a practical proposition for hiring purposes.