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:
Carl de Rome International Illusionist Poster, c2000 - 2010
Colour photographs of the act. Left blank for overprinting location and date.
Central Hall Liberal Club Poster, c1920 - 1929
Settle. Hodson’s Dramatic and Variety Company, Various Plays. Printed by Robert Riley, Printer, Russell Street, Wednesbury.
Certificate of Attendance, 25 August 1906
Veterinary certificate of attendance to Mr Ohmy. Typescript and manuscript, 2p.p.
Certificate of Service, c1945
Certificate of war Service for John Sanger, 4p.p.
Charter Theatre Poster, 12 December 2002 - 5 January 2003
Preston. Cinderella, Raine Davison and others. Contains colour with photographs.
Chelsea Palace Theatre Poster, Week commencing Monday 31 August 1931
Shaun Glenville Irish Comedian, Florrie Forde chorus singer, Archie Glen Ben Said the funjuror, The Hearnes, Pauline Crothers and her violin, The London six-Harmony, burlesque, Dancing. Blue and red type on white background. Printed by John Waddington ltd., 108 Albion Road, Stoke Newington.
Cheque, 16 October 1926
Cheque made payable to Krohne & Seseman, signed by H.Sanger.
Cheque, 8 November 1926
Cheque made payable to Bert Evans, signed by H.Sanger.
Cheque, 13 December 1926
Cheque made payable to Hawes Brothers, signed by H.Sanger.
Cheque, 16 October 1926
Cheque made payable to Branch Brothers, signed by H.Sanger.
Cheque, 16 October 1926
Cheque made payable to Holmlee, signed by H.Sanger.
Chinese State Circus Poster, c1990 - 1999
Arcadia Theatre, Llandudno. Contains colour Illustration.
Chinese State Circus Poster, c1990 - 1999
Camden Roundhouse. Contains colour Illustration.
Chipperfield's Circus Poster, Wednesday 29 June - Sunday 3 July c1994
Ynys. Contains colour illustration. Printed by W.E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.
Christmas Greetings, c1890 - 1910
Christmas greetings from grandma Ohmy to Master John. Colour illustration of cottages and church on cover, 4p.p.
Christmas Greetings from Mark and Joan Raffles, c2000 - 2008
Christmas card from Mark and Joan Raffles to Cryril and Shirley Critchlow. Illustration of Tivoli theatre bill from 1945 on the front with details of the acts described inside the card.
Christmas Greetings from Milton Woodward, c1930 - 1999
Christmas card from Milton Woodward and Millicent Copper.
Christmas International Showcase Poster, c1980 - 1989
National Basketball Arena, Tallaght. Colour photographs.
Christopher in his Magical Musical Revue Christopher’s Wonders Handbill, Monday 11 September c1950
New Theatre Cardiff. 50 Fabulous Feats. Printed by Electric (Modern) Printing Co. Ltd., Manchester 8.
Church of the Holy Spirit Poster, 9 July 1927
Harlescot Shrewsbury. Grand Dance. Special Engagement of Professor Dan Leano’s No. II Famous Novelty dance Orchestra. Contains photographs. Printed by Edwin Jones & Son, Printers, 5 Argyle Street, Wrexham.
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