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:
Ohmy’s Grand New Circus Programme, Wednesday 31 January 1906
Leigh, 2p.p.
Ohmy's Notice of Engagement, 1876
Ohmy’s notice of engagements for the performing season to Managers, on letter headed paper from Adams’ Agency.
Oliver Hardy Centenary Film Convention Programme, Sunday 7 June 1992
Theatre Royal, Hanley. Contains photographs of the acts, 12p.p.
Olympia Theatre Programme, Week commencing Monday 27 March 1967
London. Kajar, the internationally renowned Magician in Magicadabra with Jean Darling. Contains photographs of the act, 8p.p.
Order of Memorial Service for Horatio Nicholls, 2 July 1964
Order of memorial service for Lawrence Wright (Horatio Nicholls). St. Giles-in-the-Fields, Holborn, London. Printed on card, 4p.p.
Page from the Hippodrome Programme, February 1911
London. Featuring Perla in Souls dances of Brahma, The Brothers Lloyd and others, 2p.p
Palace Theatre Poster, c1950 - 1959
Hull. Ken Platt comedian, The Copa Cousins, Joy Jackley & Seth Jee, Jeanne & Jon, Gillian & June, David Demott uni-cyclist, Reg Daponte ventriloquist, Richard & Yolanda. Printed on box office Card.
Palace Theatre Poster, Opening 19 December 1977
Manchester. The Ken Dodd Laughter Experience. Contains photograph.
Palace Theatre Programme, 1982
London. Song and Dance by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Marti Webb, Stephen Jefferies and others. Contains lose insert for performer change and illustrations and photographs of the acts, 36p.p.
Palace Theatre Programme, Week commencing 12 January 1948
Blackpool. Chefalo! With Maddalena and Company, The Five Amith Brothers, Stage family from the BBC, Max Bygraves, the Lazy Comedian, Vic Wise & Nita Laine, The Dance Time, Shane Sisters, The Ben Abdrahman Wazzan Troupe-Whirlwind Acrobats. Red and black pint. Printed by: Richard Whewell (Bolton) Ltd, 4p.p.
Palace Theatre Programme, Week commencing 12 January 1948
Blackpool. Chefalo! With Maddalena and Company, The Five Amith Brothers, Stage family from the BBC, Max Bygraves, the Lazy Comedian, Vic Wise & Nita Laine, The Dance Time, Shane Sisters, The Ben Abdrahman Wazzan Troupe-Whirlwind Acrobats. Red and black pint. Printed by: Richard Whewell (Bolton) Ltd, 4p.p.
Palace Variety Theatre Handbill, Week commencing 25 August 1952
Blackpool. Passe Ta Fantasie featuring Reg Varney and others. Colour illustration.
Palace Variety Theatre Programme, Weeks commencing 4 and 11 November 1946
Blackpool. Contains illustrations on the front cover and photographs of the acts inside. Printed by Ayre & Senior Printers, Carter Street, Blackpool, 8p.p.
Palace Variety Theatre Programme, Week commencing 16 April 1951
Blackpool. Peter Casson The Master Hypnotist & Psychotherapist, contains illustrative photographs, 4p.p.
Palace Variety Theatre Programme, Week commencing Monday 11 August 1952
Blackpool. Contains illustrations. Printed by Ayre & Senior Printers, Carter Street, Blackpool, 4p.p.
Palace Variety Theatre Programme, Week commencing Monday 11 May 1953
Blackpool. Contains illustrations. Printed by Ayre & Senior Printers, Carter Street, Blackpool, 4p.p.
Palace Variety Theatre Programme, Week commencing Monday 12 July 1954
Blackpool. Contains illustrations. Printed by Ayre & Senior Printers, Carter Street, Blackpool, 4p.p.
Palace Variety Theatre Programme, c1955
Blackpool. Albert Modley, Mike and Bernie Winters, Edna Savage. Contains illustrations and photographs of the acts. Printed by Ayre & Senior Printers, Carter Street, Blackpool, 4p.p.
Palace Variety Theatre Programme, Week commencing Monday 26 November 1956
Blackpool. Separate Tables by Terence Rattigan. Contains illustrations. Printed by Ayre & Senior Printers, Carter Street, Blackpool, 4p.p.
Palace Variety Theatre Programme, Summer season 1958
Blackpool. George & Alfred Black’s Summer Showboat, Dave Morris in Club Night. Contains illustrations. Printed by Ayre & Senior Printers, Carter Street, Blackpool, 4p.p.
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