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:
Professor Dan Leano's Empire Combination Programme, c1910 - 1915
Programme for evening magic entertainment. Contains photograph, 4p.p.
Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows, c1890 - 1999
Circus, magic and variety show programmes including the Great Ohmy Circus, John Sanger Circus, Bertram Mills Circus and variety shows at various locations in Blackpool, London, Manchester and other theatres in England. Some of the variety performers showcased are Morecambe and Wise, Hetty King, Mae West, Bob Hope, Shirley Bassey, Larry Lamb and Cliff Richards.
Promotional Leaflet for Deveen International Illusionist, c1960 - 1969
Advertising leaflet for Deveen international Illusionist.
Promotional Leaflet for Deveen International Illusionist, c1960 - 1969
Advertising leaflet for Deveen international Illusionist.
Promotional Leaflet for Faust the Magician, c1980 - 1989
Autographed promotional leaflet for Faust the Magician.
Promotional Leaflet for Faust the Magician, c1980 - 1989
Promotional leaflet for Faust the Magician.
Promotional Leaflet for Harold Taylor, c1970 - 1979
Promotional leaflet for comedy magical entertainer Harold Taylor.
Promotional Leaflet for Jay Palmer and Doreen, c1950 -1959
Promotional leaflet for magic Comedy duo Jay Palmer and Doreen with photographs of their act.
Promotional Leaflet for Rahnee Motie, c1950 - 1959
Promotional leaflet for Rahnee Motie Youngest Girl Fakir with photographs of her act.
Promotional Leaflet for The Gen Magazine, c1900 -1999
Leaflet advertising subscription for The Gen The Best in Magic magazine, 4p.p.
Punch and Judy Article, February 1905
The Magic edited by Ellis Stanyon, 8p.p.
Race Meeting Card, 13 August 1964
Haydock Park race meeting card.
Research Material, c1930 - 1999
Various items including colour photographs of the Ohmy family grave and copies of photographs with notes on reverse as well as photocopies of various documents and some notes.
Rhaydini Poster, c1950 - 1959
Red and blue type on white background.
Ringling Brothers World’s Greatest Show Poster, 1910 original, c1990 - 1999 reproduction
Colour illustration of army of fifty clowns.
Robert Brothers Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Nelson Carr Road recreation ground. Black type with red and blue border on white background. Printed by: W.E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.
Robert Houdin Poster, c2000 - 2010
St James’s Theatre. Black and white illustration.
Rough Sea Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white film, silent. 9.5mm.
Royal Court Theatre Handbill, Week commencing Monday 3 November 1947
Leslie Henson on ‘1066 and all that’, Henry Caine, Babette O’Deal, Edwin Styles. 2p.p.
Royal Opera House Programme, Monday 23 February 1981
Covent Garden. The Royal Ballet in Mayerling. Contains illustrations and photographs of the acts, 58p.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