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:
The Houghton Weavers Poster, c1970 - 1979
Black and white illustration. Left blank for overprinting location and date.
The Ken Dodd Laughter Show Poster, 18 November 1985
Theatre Royal, Nottingham. Colour illustration and black and white photograph. Printed by Electric (Modern) Printing Co. Ltd., Cheadle Heath Works, Stockport.
The Lido Programme, Week commencing 31 December 1946
Bolton. Hyman Zahl presents ‘Bring on the Stars’, Issy Bonn, Beryl Orde, Forsythe, Seamon and Farrell, Jack Daly, The Famous Colleano Family. Red and blue print, 8p.p.
The Lyric Theatre Programme, September 1983
London. Blood Brothers by Willy Russell, Barbara Dickson. Contains illustrations and photographs of the acts, 28p.p.
The Magic Circle Golden Jubilee Programme, Wednesday 27 - Saturday 30 April 1955
Park Lane Hotel, London, 16p.p.
The Magic Palace Handbill, c1990 - 1999
Blackpool. Box Office Card for Blackpool attractions. Red, blue and yellow print with illustration.
The Magic Palace Programme, Saturday 14 November 1981
Blackpool. Murray 80 Years of Magic, a Theatrical Supper and Night of Magic to celebrate the 80th birthday of Murray. Host’s Cyril and Shirley Critchlow. Silver front cover, 16p.p.
The New ABC Theatre Programme, Summer season 1965
Blackpool. The Morecambe and Wise Show, The Alfrero, Mark Wynter singer, Anna Dawson, The Three Hermanis, The Pamela Devis Dancers, Marvo illusionist. Contains illustrations on the front cover and photographs of the acts inside. Printed by Horsley Bros., (T.U), 646 Romford Road, Manor Park, London, 16p.p.
The New Lord John Sanger's Circus and Menagerie Programme, c1930 - 1939
3p.p.
The New Super Casey’s Court Poster, c1930 - 1939
Lithograpic quad poster depicting stars of 1920s and 1930s who received their tuition in Casey’s Court. Illustrations by Cooke. Printed by Ludlo Press, 373 Earlsfield Road SW 18.
The Queen's Theatre Programme, November 1984
40 Years On by Alan Bennett, Paul Eddington, Phyllida Law, David Horovitch, Doris Hare, Stephen Fry and others. Contains colour illustrations and photographs of the acts, 40p.p.
The Rocky Horror Circus Show Poster, c1980 - 1999
Herne Bay. Black and white print.
The Second British Juggling Convention Poster, 26 - 27 March 1989
Bath Sports Centre. Colour illustration.
The Stage and The World’s Fair Scrapbook, c1920 - 1939
Scrapbook containing newspaper cuttings from the Stage and The World’s Fair about performers including Charlie Chaplin, Joe Hodson and Dan Leno. 26pp, nineteen blank, seven lose pages and one lose envelope.
The Thrillseekers Poster, c1980 - 1989
Dare devils on the slant wire dicing with death on motorbikes. Contains colour illustration. Left blank for overprinting location and date. Printed by the Wellbrook Press, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny.
The Traditional Russian Circus Poster, c1990 - 1999
Battersea Park. Featuring the Mighty Mongolian Warriors. Contains colour illustration.
The Traditional Russian Circus Poster, c1990 - 1999
Ruislip. From Russia With Love Tour. Contains colour illustration.
The Tron Poster, Wednesday 9 - Sunday 20 November 1983
Glasgow. World premiere ‘Burke and Hare’ by Richard Crane. Contains red photograph.
The Vagabond King Programme, 1960
Winter Gardens, Morecambe. Starring John Hanson. Contains photographs, 16p.p.
The Wonderful Kellar Poster, 1888 original, c1900 - 1999
Boston Museum. Black and white illustration.
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