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:
Correspondence, c1900 - 2008
Items of personal correspondence and correspondence related to the Sanger and Ohmy families.
Correspondence Between John Everet Sanger and the Ohmy Family, c1936 - 1989
Correspondence between John Everton Sanger and the Ohmy family, mainly his mother and grandmother while John was serving in the Royal Navy during World War II and from Vicky during the 1970s-1980s, also some from other acquaintances, other correspondence and empty envelopes.
Correspondence Machine Card, 1955
Correspondence machine card belonging to John Everton Sanger. Typescript and manuscript on yellow card.
Correspondence Related to John Sanger, c1900 -1999
Correspondence related to John Sanger, including letters, postcards and telegrams.
Correspondence Related to the Ohmy and the Sanger Families, c1900 -1999
Various pieces of correspondence related to Ohmy and Sanger family members.
Correspondence Related to the Ohmy Circus Family, 1905 - 1929
Postcard correspondence related to the Ohmy Circus family, including a postcard from Lillie Reeve to Mr Claude Smith while he was a prisoner of war in Germany.
Costume Patterns, c1950 - 1959
Punch and Judy Show dress patterns for Policeman, Hangman and Dog Toby. Printed by Nutt and Stevens Ltd., Leicester.
Cotswold Hall Dursley Poster, c1924
£50 challenge. Mr H. A. Mills Passing through a Local Man Supported by 6 star Turns. Blue type with checker border on white background.
County Borough Of Southport Pier Head Poster, c1940 - 1949
Fred E. Rayne presents The Tonics, Joe Hodson comedian, Rene Rayne soubrette, Helen Allayne musical comedy soprano, Arthur Dixon Pianist Entertainer, Frank Elans entertainer, Mamie Benson The Versatility Girl, Teddie Stanton comedian, Doris Foskett a smile and a song. Red and black type on white background. Printed by ‘Visiter’. Printing Works, Tulketh Street.
Coventry Theatre Poster, 26 December 1975 - 6 March 1976
The Black and White Minstrel Show. Contains colour illustration.
Crucio's Tavern Card, c1940 -1949
Card for Curcio’s Tavern, New York.
Cyril Bertram Mills Presents Centre Circus Poster, c1970 - 1979
Brighton. Colour illustration on mount board.
Cyril Critchlow Collection
Dan Leano Brouchure, c1910 - 1929
Promotional brochure for Professor Dan Leano Wizard, contains a photograph.
Dan Leno Poster, c1896 original, c1900 - 1999 reproduction
Poster of photograph on mount board.
Davenport Theatre Poster, 21 December 1996 - 19 January 1997
Stockport. Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp, Geoffrey Hughes and others. Contains colour photographs.
De La Warr Pavilion Poster, c1930 - 1949
Bexhill. Tissington and Craig Productions present Edgar Sawyer in the scintillating Summer Show ‘Moonshine’, Edgar Sawyer comedian, Linda Love soprano comedienne, Bobby Bent Comedian, Yvonne Ford Speciality dancer, Jean Ward Acrobatic dancer, Robert King Baritone, Leo Conriche at the grand piano, Marjorie Yardley piano, Derek Pilcher drums, Doreen Brebner speciality dancer, The Izna Roselli Dancers. Black type on yellow background. Printed by Willsons, Printers, Leicester.
De Randel's Marionettes Poster, c1940 - 1949
Dunes Theatre Mablethorpe. ‘Children’s Competitions and Variety’. Red and blue type on white background. Printed: Taylors, Printers, Wombwell, Yorks.
De Randel's Marionettes Poster, c1940 - 1949
Dunes Theatre Mablethorpe. Children’s Competitions and Variety. Red and blue type on white background. Printed: Taylors, Printers, Wombwell, Yorks.
De Randel's World Famous Marionette Programme, c1945 - 1949
Contains list of characters and press reviews. Printed by Taylors, theatrical Printers, Wombwell, Yorks, 4p.p.
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