Critchlow, Cyril, 1923 - 2008
Dates
- Existence: 1923 - 2008
Biography
Cyril Critchlow was born in Staffordshire in 1923 and moved to Blackpool with his family as a teenager in the late 1930s.
Cyril developed an interest in magic from an early age and became known as a magician during the Second World War under the stage name of Reval.
Throughout his life in Blackpool, Critchlow became an avid collector of ephemera relating to Blackpool’s entertainment heritage from the 1860s to the present day and wrote several books on the subject. He was also a passionate heritage campaigner and in 1977 he fulfilled a lifelong dream when he opened The Museum of Entertainment on Coronation Street, where he displayed his personal collection of entertainment ephemera.
Critchlow presented magic shows and gave talks on Blackpool history of entertainment at the ‘Witches Café’ which he also ran. In 1980 he became the proprietor of a small theatre of variety and he even worked as a spotlight operator at the Winter Gardens Theatre for a while. In the mid-sixties he was elected town Councillor. Additionally, he was a founder member of the Blackpool Magicians’ club, becoming at one point President and Honorary Life Member. He was a member of Equity, The Magic Circle, Blackpool Heritage Forum and he was President of the North West Music Hall and Variety Friendship Society.
He was still entertaining with his magic act in his 80s performing as Wizardo, Harry Potter's grandfather and took part in Sheffield University’s Cabinet of Curiosities held at Blackpool in 2008.
Cyril Critchlow died after a short illness in 2008.
Found in 620 Collections and/or Records:
London Palladium Poster, June 1991
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Contains colour illustration. Printed by Dewynters PLC London.
Lord George Sanger and Pops Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1957
2p.p
Lord George Sanger’s Circus Programme, c1958
2p.p.
Lord George Sanger’s Circus Programme, c1930 - 1939
Contains handwritten notes, 2p.p.
Lord George Sanger’s Circus Programme, 1945
3p.p.
Lord John Sanger and Sons Ltd. Royal Hippodrome and Menagerie Programme, c1910
2p.p
Lyric Theatre Poster, From 5 September 1985
London. The Alchemist. Contains illustration.
Lyric Theatre Programme, 1978
London. Filumena by Eduardo de Filippo, Joan Plowright, Colin Blakely, Trevor Eve, Christopher Guard, Larry Lamb, Sharon Mughan, Patricia Hayes and others. Contains photographs of the acts, 20p.p.
Magic Bulletin, June 1948
Knights of Magic bulletin. Contains photographs 4p.p.
Magic Instructions, c1900 - 1999
Magic trick instructions from Cyril Critchlow’s shop contained in four folders.
Magic Studio Brouchure, c2000
International Magic. Entertaining Diversions and Deceptions, 32p.p.
Magical Criticisms, October 1921
Hugh Mackay, Edinburgh. Printed by bishop & Sons, Ltd, Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, 8p.p.
Magik Poster, c1900 - 1999
The Miraculous World of Reveen the Impossibilist. Colour illustration.
Marine Theatre Poster, Week commencing Monday 12 January 1948
Lyme Regis. Wal Scott Present the Great Blackpool-Torbay Coast-to-Coast (Road Show) ‘Shine’, Sylvani continental illusionist, Sunya Musical comedy star, Paul Gray xylophonist, Isolde & Alexis music and dance, Shoe Shine Girls, Roys Instrumentalists Supreme, Beautiful Georgette dancing juggler, Vera Scott Pianist, Wal Scott & Christina. Red, blue and yellow type on white background and border. Printed by Wilsons, Printers, Leicester.
Maskelyne and Cooke’s Entertainment Bureau Handbill, c1900 - 1999
Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. Handbill for agents. Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Limited, London and Eccles. 2p.p.
Maskelyne's Mysteries Handbill, c1950
Comedy Theatre, Panton St. London. The Great Masoni performs the Indian Rope trick, The Temple of Ah Ling, The Garden of Wong.
Maskelyne's Theatre of Mystery Programme, 1919
London. The Kobes, Japanese equilibrists, Herbert J. Collings, Musicus, the magic of melody, Nevil Maskelyne presents Goff Godfrey in a reproduction of the Cardiff Seance as described by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Oswald Williams illusionist, Leslie Harris, Fred Cooper and Company stock-whip expert. Contains illustration on the front cover. Printed by Bradley & Son., Ltd., Printers, Reading, 4p.p.
May Moore-Duprez Poster, c1920 - 1929
The Original Jolly Dutch Girl. Two piece poster. Blue and red illustration by JP Seaborn. Printed by David Allen & Sons Ltd. 17 Leicester Street.
May Moore-Duprez Poster, c1920 - 1929
The Original Jolly Dutch Girl. Two piece poster. Blue and red illustration by JP Seaborn. Printed by David Allen & Sons Ltd. 17 Leicester Street.
McDonald’s International Circus Poster, Christmas holiday 1991 - 1992
Cork, Ireland. Colour illustration of big top and animals.
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 619
- Collection 1
- Subject
- Acrobats 15
- Aerialists 3
- Animal trainers 3
- Animals 40
- Business 52
- Circus 126
- Clowning 37
- Comedians 49
- Dance 36
- Equestrians 4
- Fairs 4
- Fakirs 3
- Family 9
- Fire eating 3
- Freak shows 3
- Gymnasts 1
- Jugglers 8
- Magic 104
- Male impersonators 3
- Menageries 2
- Mimes 3
- Minstrel shows 4
- Motion pictures 8
- Music 3
- Music-halls 12
- Musical performances 42
- Pantomime 31
- Performers 357
- Pierrot 9
- Puppets 24
- Showman 26
- Showwoman 12
- Singing 29
- Skating 3
- Stunt performers 3
- Travel 9
- Variety 267
- Ventriloquists 9
- Wild west 3
- World War, 1914-1918 5
- World War, 1939-1945 8
- Wrestling 4
- Zoos 3 + ∧ less