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 40 Collections and/or Records:
Argyle Theatre of Varieties Poster, Week commencing Monday 10 February 1896
Argyle Theatre of Varieties Poster, Week commencing 10 November 1890
Argyle Theatre of Varieties Poster, Week commencing Monday 26 December 1892
Argyle Theatre of Varieties Poster, Week commencing Monday 16 October 1899
Birkenhead. Tom Leamore comedian, The Four Vampires pantomimists, Major Doyle Lilliputian Comedian, Robert Gilbert’s marvellous troupe of acrobatic dogs, The Three Sisters Slater-song and dance, Jesse Burton baritone and descriptive vocalist, The Vitascope, The 2 Emeralds duettists and expert dancers, Lily Marney Irish Comedienne. Red, blue and yellow type on white background. Printed by S Griffith & Co, Printers, Liverpool.
Blackpool Elephants Bathing Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white film showing elephants bathing in the sea at Blackpool, silent. 9.5mm, DVD, 4 D-BETA formats.
Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, Summer season 1956
Circus and Magic Films, c1930 - 1999
A collection of black and white amateur films in a range of reel to reel formats on magic, circus and other topics. Some have been digitised.
Circus at the Zoo Film, c1930 - 1999
Black and white film on circus and animal in captivity, with sound. 16mm D-BETA.
Circus Busch-Roland Poster, c1980 - 1989
80th year. Colour illustration of animals and acts and photo of big top.
Circus Hoffman Poster, c1970 - 1979
Preston North End Football Club. Illustration of showgirl and tiger.
Circus Hoffman Poster, c1970 - 1979
Tenby. Illustration of showgirl, elephant and clown.
Circus Hoffman's American Three Ring Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Bootertown Blackrock Park. Colour illustration of big top and animals.
Circus Hoffman's American Three Ring Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Bootertown Blackrock Park. Colour illustration of tiger and showgirl in neon pink.
Circus Hoffman's American Three Ring Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Towyn Ty Mawr holiday Park, Wales. Colour illustration of showgirl and tiger in pink.
Circus Hoffman's American Three Ring Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Newport. Colour illustration of showgirl, elephant and clown in pink.
Circus Krone Poster, c1980 - 1989
Ulm. Colour illustration of animals and acts.
Cirkus Merano Poster, c1980 - 1989
Colour illustration of clown and elephant by Thomas. Left blank for overprinting location and date.
Cirkus Merano Poster, c1980 - 1989
Colour illustration of clown and elephant by Thomas with tear off tickets. Left blank for overprinting location and date.
Cirkus Merano Poster, c1993
Bodo. Colour illustration of clown and elephant by Thomas.
Cirkus Merano Poster, c1984
10 Year anniversary. Colour illustration of clown and elephant and cake by Thomas. Left blank for overprinting location and date.
Filtered By
- Subject: Animals X
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 39
- Collection 1
- Subject
- Acrobats 5
- Aerialists 1
- Animal trainers 3
- Business 1
- Circus 31
- Clowning 10
- Comedians 8
- Dance 6
- Equestrians 1
- Fakirs 1
- Family 1
- Fire eating 2
- Freak shows 1
- Jugglers 3
- Magic 5
- Male impersonators 2
- Menageries 2
- Mimes 2
- Minstrel shows 1
- Motion pictures 3
- Music 1
- Music-halls 2
- Musical performances 4
- Pantomime 4
- Performers 23
- Pierrot 3
- Puppets 4
- Showman 3
- Showwoman 3
- Singing 4
- Skating 2
- Stunt performers 1
- Travel 1
- Variety 8
- Ventriloquists 2
- Wild west 1
- World War, 1914-1918 1
- World War, 1939-1945 1
- Wrestling 2
- Zoos 3 + ∧ less