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 49 Collections and/or Records:
Pier Theatre Handbill, c1950 - 1959
St. Annes. Comedy Season Playhouse starring Ken Platt. Red curtain border and blue print. Printed by A. Taylor & Sons Ltd., Wombwell, Barnsley, Yorkshire.
Pier Theatre Poster, 29 May - 30 June 1999
Bournemouth. Seaside Special with comedian Don Reid and others. A Night At the Music Hall with Derek Yelding and others. Top West End Performers in ‘Beyond the Barricades’. Contains colour with photographs.
Posters, c1887 - 2010
Circus, variety, pantomime and magic posters including Argyle theatre, Liverpool Empire, Blackpool Tower Circus, Robert Brothers, Austen Brothers, Sorcar, Vesta Tilley, Ken Dodd, Dan Leno, Florrie Forde and others.
Prince of Wales Theatre Programme, May 1984
London. Little Me a musical comedy, Russ Abbot, Shelia White, Lynda Baron, Tudor Davies and others. Contains colour illustrations and photographs of the acts, 28p.p.
Programmes for Circus, Magic and Variety Shows, c1890 - 1999
Circus, magic and variety show programmes including the Great Ohmy Circus, John Sanger Circus, Bertram Mills Circus and variety shows at various locations in Blackpool, London, Manchester and other theatres in England. Some of the variety performers showcased are Morecambe and Wise, Hetty King, Mae West, Bob Hope, Shirley Bassey, Larry Lamb and Cliff Richards.
The Cinema Poster, c1920 - 1949
Stanton Hill. Special Visit of Ronald Courtney and His Popular Players, Including Joe Hodson Yorkshire Comedian, Leo Rodway, Geo. Alexandra, Dia Phillips, Miss Elsie M Raye, Cissie Elliston, Clara Gardiner, Ronald Courtnay, Queenie Mona, Plus a selection of plays. Brown and blue type on white background. Printed by Bailey & Sons, Cinema Printers, Derbyshire.
Theatre Royal Poster, c1930 - 1939
Various Items Related to Variety, c1837 - 2008
Various items related to variety theatre in Blackpool and other locations.
Vaudevile Theatre Programme, 1953
Strand, London. Red Headed Blonde a farcical comedy by Val Guest. Contains photograph of act. Published by Payne Jennings & Killing Ltd., Gloucester House 19 Charing Cross Rd., W.C. Printed by John Waddington (Stoke Newington) Ltd., London N16, 8p.p.
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