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:
Blackpool Opera House Programme, Summer season 1967
George and Alfred Black present The Big Show of 1967, Bruce Forsyth, Millicent Martin, Marvyn Roy, Baranton Sisters. Contains photographs of the acts. Printed by Gazette Printers, Blackpool, 12p.p.
Blackpool Opera House Programme, Summer season 1968
George and Alfred Black present The Big Show of 1968, Ken Dodd, Tessie O’Shea, Sylvan, Fred Roby, The Bluebell Girls, The Diddy Men, Valente Valente, Robert Colman, Felicity Hayman, Keith Spencer. Contains illustrations and photographs of the acts. Printed by United Printing Services, Blackpool, 8p.p.
Blackpool Tourism Awards 1999 Ticket, 4 February 2000
Ticket for presentation and dinner. Gold ticket no.123.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, Summer season 1956
Blackpool Tower International Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Starring Roberts Brothers International Circus. Contains colour illustration.
Blackpool Tower Poster, 1984
All New Super Circus. Includes All Star Wrestling with Big Daddy. Colour photograph with clown illustration.
Blackpool Tower Poster, 1983
Peter Jay presents International Super Circus. Includes All Star Wrestling with Big Daddy. Colour photograph with clown illustration.
Blackpool Winter Gardens and Opera House Programme, c1930 -1939
Colour illustrations on front and back covers.
Blackstone Programme, c1940 - 1949
Blackstone’s Secrets of Magic Tour, 16p.p.
Bobby Robert's Super Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Trearddur Bay. Contains colour photograph of acts.
Booklet, May 1904
Great Paper & String Tricks. Booklet Number 12 in a series. Contains illustrations, 16p.p.
Britain Today Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white film about Britain showcasing various locations such as London, Manchester, Leeds and Blackpool. Cine Kodagraph. 16mm D-BETA.
British Rail Timetable, 11 February 1946
Day Walking Tour timetable, 2p.p.
Buffalo Bill Poster, c1887 - 1904 original, c1990 - 1999 reproduction
Colour illustrations of scenes from the Buffalo Bill visit.
Busch Berlin and Roland Bremen Circus Poster, c1960 - 1969
Aachen. Featuring black and white photographs of clowns and red and yellow type.
Business Records, c1876 - 1949
Various business records belonging to John Sanger and his family and the Ohmy family including contracts and financial records.
Cabaret Time Card, c1970 - 1979
Time card for the Savoy restaurant, featuring The Ian Stewart Quartet and Ted Rogers’ Star Entertainer’, The Wychwoods and the Savoy Dancers.
Capitol Theatre Poster, c1980 - 1989
Horsham. Christmas Startime featuring David Whitfield and others. Printed in neon colours.
Carl de Rome and Merete Poster, c2000 - 2010
Horrorshow!. Colour photograph. Autographed. Left blank for overprinting location and date.
Carl de Rome Illusionist Poster, c1990 - 1999
Black and white photographs of the act. Left blank for overprinting location and date.
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