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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 37 Collections and/or Records:

Advertising Brouchure for Carlo and Company, c1990 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178I12.11
Scope and Contents

Promotional material for Clown Carlo and Company containing a four page programme, a four page insert and a leaflet.

Dates: c1990 - 1999

American Three Ring Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.233
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of clown.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Argyle Theatre of Varieties Poster, Week commencing Monday 1 August 1892

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.2
Scope and Contents

Birkenhead. Grand re-opening. The Killeno Family Male and Female Acrobats, Miss Myra Massey Double-voiced Vocalist, Captain Slingsby The Intercepted Letter, Mr Frank Seymour Eccentric Comedian, Vocalist and Dancer, Evalo and Roisso The Clown and the Turk, Mr J. Forde Irish Comedian, Vocalist and Dancer, Prof. Norton Royal Court Conjuror and Card King, Poole’s Minstrels. Green and red type on off white background. Printed by S. Griffith & Co, Printers, Liverpool.

Dates: Week commencing Monday 1 August 1892

Argyle Theatre of Varieties Poster, Week commencing Monday 23 October 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.239
Scope and Contents Birkenhead. The Marvellous Rikfords, The Eight Eldorado Girls vocalists and dancers, Tony & Frances Ryder -comic bar act introducing the female clown and three trained monkeys, Tom Woottwell loose legged comedian, The New Macs Irish knockabout comedy, Dulcie Laing vocalist and skipping rope dancer, The Dorrells duettists, vocalists and dancers, The Vitascope, Preston and Balmaine Illustrated songs, Duets etc, introducing the latest American Coon songs. Red, blue and yellow type on white...
Dates: Week commencing Monday 23 October 1899

Blackpool Tower Circus Programme, Summer season 1956

 Item
Reference code: 178K27.83
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli, Gilbert Houcke with the Circus Krone’s famous tigers, Krone’s wonderful Arab stallions, Krone’s Shetland ponies in The Children’s Nursery, Jozsi Vinicky, The See-Hee Troupe, The Theda Sisters, Edith Crocker and her Wonderful Bears, Krone’s Golden Horse ‘Pegasus’with his elephant friend ‘Lony’, The Zemgannos, Tibor Alexander and his dog revue, The D’Angoly’s king Kong, Tom and Jerry, The Heltanos. Contains colour illustrations on front cover and photographs of the acts...
Dates: Summer season 1956

Blackpool Tower Poster, 1984

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.27
Scope and Contents

All New Super Circus. Includes All Star Wrestling with Big Daddy. Colour photograph with clown illustration.

Dates: 1984

Blackpool Tower Poster, 1983

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.30
Scope and Contents

Peter Jay presents International Super Circus. Includes All Star Wrestling with Big Daddy. Colour photograph with clown illustration.

Dates: 1983

Busch Berlin and Roland Bremen Circus Poster, c1960 - 1969

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.42
Scope and Contents

Aachen. Featuring black and white photographs of clowns and red and yellow type.

Dates: c1960 - 1969

Circus Holiday Poster, Tuesday 9 - Sunday 14 July 1981

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.55
Scope and Contents

First Ever Visit. Dumfries. Colour illustration of clown face.

Dates: Tuesday 9 - Sunday 14 July 1981

Circus Holiday Poster, Tuesday 3 - Sunday 15 November 1981

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.63
Scope and Contents

Lea Bridge Road. Colour illustration of clown face on pink.

Dates: Tuesday 3 - Sunday 15 November 1981

Circus Romano Poster, c1980 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.189
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of showgirls and clown and red and yellow type. Left blank for overprinting location and date.

Dates: c1980 - 1999

Circus Vargas Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.56
Scope and Contents

Photograph of clown.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Cirkus Merano Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.34
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of clown and elephant by Thomas. Left blank for overprinting location and date.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Cirkus Merano Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.50
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of clown and elephant by Thomas with tear off tickets. Left blank for overprinting location and date.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Cirkus Merano Poster, c1993

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.51
Scope and Contents

Bodo. Colour illustration of clown and elephant by Thomas.

Dates: c1993

Cirque Achille Zavatta Poster, c1970 - 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.198
Scope and Contents

Le Pouliguen Place de la Duchesse Anne, France. Colour photograph of clown

Dates: c1970 - 1979

Cirque Perrier Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.61
Scope and Contents

Swanscombe. Colour illustration of clown and showgirl. Printed by W.E. Berry Ltd. Bradford.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Cyril Critchlow Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0089
Scope and Contents The Cyril Critchlow collection contains programmes, posters, handbills, books and magic journals, many of which relate to shows in Blackpool where Cyril resided and includes material on entertainment venues such as Blackpool’s North Pier, Central Pier, South Pier, Tower Circus and a small collection of programmes from other national venues. Additionally, it contains circus photographs and postcards mainly of the Ohmy Circus and Sanger Circus including individual circus troupes and performers...
Dates: c1837 - 2008

Duffy's Safari Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.54
Scope and Contents

Ireland. Colour illustration of clown face and animals. Left blank for overprinting location and date.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

Fossetts Circus Poster, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.59
Scope and Contents

Ireland. Sponsored by Smarties. Colour illustration of clown juggling smarties, features stars from the Hungarian State Circus. Left blank for overprinting location and date.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Filtered By

  • Subject: Clowning X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 36
Collection 1
 
Subject
Acrobats 4
Aerialists 2
Animal trainers 2
Animals 10
Business 4