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:
North Pier New Pavilion Handbill, 1955
Blackpool. Promotional postcard for Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show containing photographs. 2p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Handbill, 1956
Blackpool. Promotional postcard for Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show containing photographs. 2p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Handbill, 15 June 1951
Blackpool. Promotional postcard for Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show containing photographs. 2p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Poster, Commencing 18 May 1945
Blackpool. Dave Norris assisted by Billy Smith, Collinson & Breen comics, Robert Wilson tenor, Ingrid Hageman soprano, Helga Stone impressionist, Terry’s Juveniles, Pat Martin, Iris Kirkwhite Dancers, Eddie Ready & Joy, Bram Martin and his Broadcasting Orchestra. Red and blue type on white background.
North Pier New Pavilion Poster, Commencing 18 May 1945
Blackpool. Dave Norris assisted by Billy Smith, Collinson & Breen comics, Robert Wilson tenor, Ingrid Hageman soprano, Helga Stone impressionist, Terry’s Juveniles, Pat Martin, Iris Kirkwhite Dancers, Eddie Ready & Joy, Bram Martin and his Broadcasting Orchestra. Red and blue type on white background.
North Pier New Pavilion Poster, Commencing Friday 14 May 1948
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s ‘On With the Show’, Bunny Doyle, Sylvia Cecil soprano, Betty Jumel, Redvers Llewellyn baritone, Dancing Debutantes, Jack Leonard, Marca Rita, Jimmy Campbell and his orchestra, Alec Halls, Francois & Marie. Red and blue type on white background. Printed by Stafford & Co., ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottm.
North Pier New Pavilion Poster, Commencing Friday 14 May 1948
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s ‘On With the Show’, Bunny Doyle, Sylvia Cecil soprano, Betty Jumel, Redvers Llewellyn baritone, Dancing Debutantes, Jack Leonard, Marca Rita, Jimmy Campbell and his orchestra, Alec Halls, Francois & Marie. Red and blue type on white background. Printed by Stafford & Co., ltd., Printers, Netherfield, Nottm.
North Pier New Pavilion Poster, Commencing Friday 14 May 1948
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s ‘On With the Show’, Albert Modley Wins the Medal. Red and blue type and white background and photograph.
North Pier New Pavilion Poster, Commencing Friday 14 May 1948
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s ‘On With the Show’, Albert Modley Wins the Medal. Red and blue type and white background and photograph.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1938
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show, Bertini and His Famous Band, Tessie O’Shea singer, Robert Naylor tenor, Peggy Desmond pianist, The Five Sherry Brothers dance act, Alexis & Dorrano Apache dancers, Frank Randle, Marietta-Oddininos. Contains illustrations on the front cover and photographs of the acts inside. 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1941
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show,Margaret Eves soprano, Sidney Burchall baritone, Dave Morris assisted by Bill Smith comedian, Beryl Reid comedienne, The Norman Thomas Trio ‘Three coloured Aristocrats’, Don Phillipe and Marta, Bebe Terry, Dorothy Williams Britain’s youngest comedienne, Terry’s prize juveniles by arrangement with Madame Terry. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 4p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1944
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show, Dave Morris, Sylvia Cecil, Henry Gill, Mary Naylor, Koba and Kalee, Collinson and Breen, Bram Martin and his Broadcasting Band, Billy Smith, Joy Caville dancer, Navarre dancers, Terry’s prize juveniles, dancing debutantes. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 4p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1946
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show, Dave Morris, Ingrid Hageman, Robert Wilson, Pauline Grant choreographer, Collinson & Breen, Billy 'Uke' Scott, Billy Smith, Jimmy Campbell and his famous orchestra, Terry’s juveniles , John Tiller dancers, Terry’s prize juveniles, dancing debutantes. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 4p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1949
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show Silver Jubilee, Albert Modley comedian, Betty Jumel comedienne, Sylvia Robin soprano, Tudor Evans baritone, Peter and Sam Sherry, The Melomaniacs, Buster Shaver and his Wonder Lilliputians, The Three Falcons adagio dancing, Jimmy Campbell and his orchestra, Miss Ada Alsop, The John Tiller Girls. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 18p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1949
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show Silver Jubilee, Albert Modley comedian, Betty Jumel comedienne, Sylvia Robin soprano, Tudor Evans baritone, Pat Hartley, Peter and Sam Sherry, The Melomaniacs, Buster Shaver and his Wonder Lilliputians, The Three Falcons adagio dancing, Jimmy Campbell and his orchestra, The John Tiller Girls. contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 4p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1949
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show Silver Jubilee, Albert Modley comedian, Betty Jumel comedienne, Sylvia Robin soprano, Tudor Evans baritone, Peter and Sam Sherry, The Melomaniacs, Buster Shaver and his Wonder Lilliputians, The Three Falcons adagio dancing, Jimmy Campbell and his orchestra, Miss Ada Alsop, The John Tiller Girls. Contains insert for ticket orders and photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 4p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1950
Blackpool. Souvenir of Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show, Albert Modley comedian, Tano Ferendinos tenor, Maureen Rose soprano, Betty Jumel comedienne, The Melomaniacs, Buster Shaver and his tiny stars Olive, George and Richard, Diana Stuart dancer, The Falcons adagio dancers, Jimmy Campbell and his orchestra, The John Tiller Girls. Contains photographs of the acts. 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1951 Festival Season
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show, Diana Rhodes, Dale Rogers dancer, Donna Mareska ballet, Keith Kennedy tenor, The 12 Humming Birds, The Five Skyliners, Maureen Rose, Ben Wrigley, Maureen Rose soprano, Le Trio Carletti dancers, John and Rene Arnaut, Dick Thorpe, Joy Dexter, The John Tiller Girls. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 4p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1952 Festival Season
Blackpool. Lawrence Wright’s On With The Show, Bob and Alf Pearson, Ernest Arnley, Reco and May, Sylvia Gaye, Tudor Evans, Gloria Day, Henry Lytton, Maureen Sims, Larry Macklin, Cox Twins, Chas Warren and Jean, Miles Twins, Nemecs and Violet, The John Tiller Girls. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 4p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1952
Blackpool. Sylvia Gaye soprano, Chas Warren & Jean comedy act, Bob and Alf Pearson, Ernest Arnley comedian, Gloria Day singer and comedienne, Henry Lytton comedian, Tudor Evans baritone, Maureen Sims dancer, Larry Macklin, Reco & May high wire act, Cox Twins comedy act, dancing, Miles Twins dance, Nemecs and Violet, The John Tiller Girls. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 8p.p.
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