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:
Tram Ride Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white film, silent. 9.5mm.
Un Barbier Dans La Cage Aux Lions Poster, 1894
Colour illustration from newspaper.
Uncle Sam’s Great American Circus Poster, c2000 - 2010
Long Eaton, Breaston Road. Contains colour illustration.
Uncle Sam’s Great American Circus Poster, c2000 - 2010
Long Eaton, Breaston Road. Contains colour illustration.
Untitled Number 1 Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white amateur film. 9.5mm.
Untitled Number 2 Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white amateur film. 9.5mm.
Untitled Number 3 Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white amateur film. 9.5mm.
Untitled Number 4 Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white amateur film. 9.5mm.
Untitled Number 5 Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white amateur film. 9.5mm.
Untitled Number 6 Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white amateur film. 9.5mm.
Various Items Belonging to John E. Sanger, 1926 - 1980
Miscellaneous items some belonged to John E. Sanger, including invoices, a hand written summary of accounts and a leave pass during war service and part of The Bodie Book on hypnotism and mental suggestion.
Various Items Related to the Ohmy and Sanger Families, c1880 - 1980
Various items related to the Ohmy and Sanger families, including World War Two related material and other personal items.
Various Items Related to the Ohmy Family, c1880 - 1890
Various items related to the Ohmy family, including a photograph of presentation of Address to Ohmy certificate.
Various Items Related to Variety, c1837 - 2008
Various items related to variety theatre in Blackpool and other locations.
Various Newspaper Cuttings, c1940 - 1949
Newspaper cuttings from various sources.
Vaudevile Theatre Programme, 1953
Strand, London. Red Headed Blonde a farcical comedy by Val Guest. Contains photograph of act. Published by Payne Jennings & Killing Ltd., Gloucester House 19 Charing Cross Rd., W.C. Printed by John Waddington (Stoke Newington) Ltd., London N16, 8p.p.
Victoria Palace Poster, c1951
London. Jack Hylton Presents the Crazy Gang in Knights of Madness. Contains colour illustration and photographs.
Victoria Theatre Poster, Wednesday 23 December 1964 - Saturday 23 Jaunary 1965
Broughton Bridge, Salford. Ken Platt in Mother Goose. Contains colour illustration. Printed by Llandudno Advertiser Ltd., Llandudno.
Villa Marina Poster, Summer season 1977
New Garden Room. Terry Reaney and his Orchestra, The Johnny Hilton Duo and Singers, Adult Talent Competition Finals, The Amazing Margoe’s Show, The Salamander, Show for children. Blue and red type on white background printed on two sided box office card.
Wales Wizard of Variety Card, c1950 - 1959
Promotional card for Professor Dan Leano Wales’ Wizard of Variety contains a photograph.
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