Critchlow, Cyril, 1923 - 2008

Person

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:

Welephant's Circus Poster, Tuesday 13 - Sunday 18 September 1988

Item

Reference code: 178R27.207

Scope and Contents

Prestwich. Contains colour photograph of clown.

Dates: Tuesday 13 - Sunday 18 September 1988

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Posters

Wellington Pier Pavilion Poster, c1980 - 1989

Item

Reference code: 178R27.86

Scope and Contents

Great Yarmouth. A Night At the Music Hall with Ken Platt, Beryl Johnson singer, Calvin Kay, Danny O’Dea, Ray Dawson & His Music, Gordon Glenn accordion star, Malcolm Vaughan. Red and black type on yellow background with illustration.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Posters

Whitehall Theatre Programme, September 1957

Item

Reference code: 178K27.96

Scope and Contents

London. Rix Theatrical Productions present Reluctant Heroes, a farce by Colin Morris, Philip Levene, Darcy Conyers, Brian Rix and others. Contains illustrations, 8p.p.

Dates: September 1957

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows

Williams Het International Circus Poster, c1960 - 1969

Item

Reference code: 178R27.187

Scope and Contents

St-Niklaas-Markt, Belgium. Contains colour illustration of clowns.

Dates: c1960 - 1969

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Posters

Windsor Magazine Articles, c1895 - 1939

Item

Reference code: 178G25.5

Scope and Contents

Cuttings from Windsor Magazine: Fenwick, A J, Travelling shows & Branch, C E, on animals entitled. Do animals reason?, 10p.p.

Dates: c1895 - 1939

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Newspaper Cuttings and Scrapbooks

Winter Gardens Pavilion Programme, c1940 - 1949

Item

Reference code: 178K27.46

Scope and Contents

Blackpool. George & Alfred Black present Norman Evans ‘Over the Garden Wall. Contains colour illustrations. Printed by Ayre & Senior, Ltd., Black Reads Road, Blackpool, 4p.p.

Dates: c1940 - 1949

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows

Winter Gardens Pavilion Programme, c1940 - 1949

Item

Reference code: 178K27.47

Scope and Contents

Blackpool. George & Alfred Black present, ‘Something to Sing About’, introducing Morecambe and Wise and Ken Platt, Also Harry Worth, Jean Bayless, Allan Jones, Annette’s Beau Belles, Claudine Goodfellow, Malcolm Goddard, Rob Murray Australian Juggler, The Three Cottas, The Morlidor Trio and others. Contains colour illustrations. Printed by Ayre & Senior, Ltd., Black Reads Road, Blackpool, 4p.p.

Dates: c1940 - 1949

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows

Winter Gardens Pavilion Programme, c1955

Item

Reference code: 178K27.48

Scope and Contents

Blackpool. George & Alfred Black present, The Dave King Show, Featuring Shani Wallis, Warren, Devine and Sparks-Australian comedians, Howard Jones, Mrs Shufflewich, The 12 Daydreams, The King Tones, Margaret West, Reggie Arnold and others. Contains colour illustrations. Printed by Ayre & Senior, Ltd., Black Reads Road, Blackpool, 4p.p.

Dates: c1955

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows

Winter Gardens Pavilion Programme, 1968

Item

Reference code: 178K27.49

Scope and Contents

Blackpool. George & Alfred Black present, The Tommy Cooper Show, Featuring Vince Hill, Lyn Kennington, 5 Medifreds, Leigh Foster & Vreni Zullig, Chris Kirby. Contains colour illustrations and photographs of the acts and includes ticket for the show on the 22nd June. Printed by United Printing Services, Blackpool, 12p.p.

Dates: 1968

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows

Winter Gardens Pavilion Programme, 1950 - 1951

Item

Reference code: 178K27.50

Scope and Contents

Blackpool. George & Alfred Black with Jack Hylton introduce you to the stars of ‘Take it from Here’, Jimmy Edwards, Joy Nichols, Dick Bentley and others. Contains colour illustrations and photographs of the acts. Printed by Ayre & Senior, Ltd., Black Reads Road, Blackpool, 4p.p.

Dates: 1950 - 1951

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows

Winter Gardens Pavilion Programme, 1960

Item

Reference code: 178K27.51

Scope and Contents

Blackpool. George & Alfred Black present, ‘Don’t Stop You’re Killing Me!’, Bob Monkhouse, The Peters Sisters, Jerry Desmonde, Rob Murray, The Trotter Brothers, Trio Vitalites and the Cabaret Club Lovelies. Contain colour illustrations and photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette, Blackpool, 4p.p.

Dates: 1960

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows

Winter Gardens Pavilion Programme, c1945 - 1949

Item

Reference code: 178K27.52

Scope and Contents

Blackpool. Annie Get Your Gun, Neville Mapp and Barbara Shotter. Contains colour illustrations and photographs of the acts. Printed by Ayre & Senior, Ltd., Black Reads Road, Blackpool, 4p.p.

Dates: c1945 - 1949

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows

Winter Gardens Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1970

Item

Reference code: 178K27.53

Scope and Contents

Blackpool. The Norman Wisdom Show, Joan Turner, Nino Fredini, Reg Thompson, Tony Fayne, Shelia O’Neill Dancers. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by United Printing Services, Stanley Road, Blackpool, 8p.p.

Dates: Summer season 1970

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows

Winter Gardens Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1964

Item

Reference code: 178K27.54

Scope and Contents

Blackpool. George & Alfred Black present, The Dick Emery Show, The Rae Landor Dancers, Clinton Ford, The Kaye Sisters, Eddie Calvert with his 'C' Men, Colin Crompton, Jimmy Nicol and the Shub-Dubs. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by: Gazette Printers, Blackpool, 4p.p.

Dates: Summer season 1964

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Cyril Critchlow Collection / Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows

Winter Gardens Pavilion Programme, Summer season 1961

Item

Reference code: 178K27.55

Scope and Contents

Blackpool. George & Alfred Black present, Putting on the Donegan, Lonnie Donegan, Gil & Freddie Lavedo, Norman Vaughan, The Dallas Boys, The John Tiller Girls, Suzi Miller, Peter Appleby, Peter Huggett, Les Bennetts. Contains colour illustrations and photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette Printers, Blackpool, 4p.p.

Dates: Summer season 1961