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 Programme, 1952
Blackpool. Sylvia Gaye soprano, Chas Warren & Jean comedy, 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, dancing, Miles Twins dance, Nemecs and Violet, The John Tiller Girls. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 4p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1953
Blackpool. The Beverley Sisters, Phillip Kelly, Jack Storey, Jack Desmonde, Virginia Vernon, The Merritones, Larry Macklin, The Three Monarchs, Diana Dove, Dehl Trio, Freddie Harrison, The John Tiller Girls, Dancer not on Sunday no dancing allowed. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1953
Blackpool. The Beverley Sisters, Phillip Kelly tenor, Jack Storey, Jack Desmonde, Virginia Vernon dancer, The Merritones vocal act, Larry Macklin, The Three Monarchs harmonica players, Diana Dove actress and singer, Dehl Trio Spider and the Fly Ballet, Freddie Harrison piano and acrobatics, The John Tiller Girls, Dancer not on Sunday-no dancing allowed. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1956
Blackpool. Frankie Vaughan singer, Bert Waller pianist, Wendy Brandon ballerina, Syd & Max Harrison comedians, The Dehl Trio adagio act, Ted Lune comedian, Tony Edwards, Valerie Joy, Valerie Gray & Arthur Downes vocalists, The Southlanders Jamaican harmony team, Sydney Walmsley trumpeter, Larry Macklin. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed: Gazette & Herald, Blackpool, 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1957
Blackpool. Bernard Delfont presents 3 Great stars in Show Time, Ruby Murray, Tommy Cooper, Ken Platt, Morton Fraser’s Harmonica Gang, The Four Jones Boys, Patricia & Neil Delrina dancers, 16 Voices of Vernon’s. Contains photographs of the acts, 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1957
Blackpool. Bernard Delfont presents 3 Great stars in Show Time, Ruby Murray, Tommy Cooper, Ken Platt, Morton Fraser’s Harmonica Gang, The Four Jones Boys, Patricia & Neil Delrina dancers, 16 Voices of Vernon’s. Contains photographs of the acts, 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1959
Blackpool. Bernard Delfont presents his great Show of Stars in Show Time, Charlie Drake comedian, Edmund Hockridge, Three Monarchs, The Mudlarks, Doreen Hume, Shelia Holt and Tom Gillis, Evers and Toni acrobats. Contains photographs of the acts. 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1960
Blackpool. Bernard Delfont presents Show Time, Bruce Forsyth, Teddy Johnson and Pearl Carr, Mr and Mrs Music, Pinky & Perky television Puppets, Elaine and Rodolph continental dance stars, The 3 Monarchs, Penny Calvert, Jimmy Lee. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Brown & Son (Ringwood) Ltd., Ringwood, Hampshire, and at 44/46 Kingsway, London, 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1962
Blackpool. Bernard Delfont presents Show Time, Harry Worth, Edmund Hockridge, Shelia Buxton, Bert Weedon, Billy Dainty, Les Angoly’s continental novelty. Includes four page programme order, lose insert and photographs of the acts. Printed by Brown & Son (Ringwood) Ltd., Ringwood, Hampshire, and at 44/46 Kingsway, London, 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1963
Blackpool. Bernard Delfont presents the show of stars Show Time, Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise, Russ Shepherd, Matt Monro, Lena Martell, Saveen, Daisy May & Friends, The Strong Brothers, San Remo Trio. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Brown & Son (Ringwood) Ltd., Ringwood, Hampshire, and at 44/46 Kingsway, London, 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1964
Blackpool. Bernard Delfont presents Show Time, Mike and Bernie Winters, Jimmy Tarbuck, Ken Morris and Joan Savage, Danny Williams, Hetty King, Randolph Sutton, Printed by Brown & Son (Ringwood) Ltd., Ringwood, Hampshire, and at 44/46 Kingsway, London, 8p.p.
North Pier New Pavilion Programme, 1965
Blackpool. Tommy Trinder, Edmund Hockridge, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, The 3 Monarchs with Cedric, Tony Holland the musical muscle man, Rosemary Carroll songstress. Contains photographs of the acts and handwritten notes. Printed by Hastings Printing Company, Portland Place, Hastings, 8p.p.
North Pier, South Pier and Opera House Poster, May, June and July 1983
Blackpool. Russ Abbot, The Rockin Berries and Paul Daniels. Contains photographs.
Northern Magic Circle Handbill, Easter Sunday 9 April 1966
Donald Peers, Ken Ashburn with is magic barrel, Phil Haigh, Fred Barton compere, Marvillo comedy magician, Dell & her Doves, Drew Masters & Tess, Da Silvas Marionettes. Colour illustration. Printed by central Printing Co. (Chas. Sowden) Ltd., Burnley, Lancs.
Note from Wilford Hutchinson, 1923
Typed note sent with goods from Wilford Hutchinson, dealer in high class magical goods.
Odeon Theatre Handbill, c1990 - 1999
Southport. Grand Gala of Magic with International Stars Billy McComb, Harold Taylor comedy entertainer, Jeffery Atkins & Company, Fred Sherry Austrian Manipulator, Tommy Nightingale Orchestra, Duo Flamenco Espanol, The Pharos Mysteries of the Sphinx, Morine, The Roger Stevenson Marionettes, Mr Joe, King of Diablo, The Rosinis, Van Buren & Greta. Red, blue and yellow print. Printed by Wilsons (Printers) Ltd., King Street, Leicester.
Ohmy Family Contract of Employment, 1910
Contract of employment between Bech-Olsen and Ohmy Family to perform in Copenhagen, typescript.
Ohmy’s Fete and Gala Programme, c1880 - 1989
Winter Gardens, Southport. Contains handwritten note from Ohmy on the reverse. Printed by R. Johnson and Co. Limited, Printers, Visiter Office, Southport, 1p.
Ohmy's Funeral Paperwork, 28 February 1942
Ohmy’s Funeral Paperwork. Administrative paperwork including a bill and receipt of payment from funeral directors for Claude Smith (Ohmy) funeral. Typescript and manuscript.
Ohmy’s Grand New Circus Programme, c1890 - 1899
Possibly Stockport, 1p.
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