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 8 Collections and/or Records:
Cyril Critchlow Collection
Empire Theatre Poster, c1930 - 1939
Gateshead, Corner of High St and Sunderland Rd. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with Joe Hodson, Kitty Iris famous BBC Soprano, Renee Rayne Winsome and Dainty, Madame Florettes Snowdrops, Little Molly, Edie Ross, Little Mickey, Bert Richardson juggler, Madame Wanna, Le Fleurette’s famous illuminated Ballet, Winette and her Little Sisters, Bert Thomas Autocratic Comedian. Red and blue type on white background.
Fossetts Circus Poster, c1900 - 1999
Ireland. Sponsored by Smarties. Colour illustration of clown juggling smarties, features stars from the Hungarian State Circus. Left blank for overprinting location and date.
Garrick Theatre Programme, Monday 3 August 1953
Southport. Society Four dance act, Walter Jackson comedian, Tony & Ruby aeriel equilibrists, Ken Morris mime, music and madness, The Oswinos continental foot jugglers, Rey Overbury & Suzetter the musician with the twinkling feet, Charles Ancaster, George Formby. Contains photographs of the acts, 8p.p.
Marine Theatre Poster, Week commencing Monday 12 January 1948
Lyme Regis. Wal Scott Present the Great Blackpool-Torbay Coast-to-Coast (Road Show) ‘Shine’, Sylvani continental illusionist, Sunya Musical comedy star, Paul Gray xylophonist, Isolde & Alexis music and dance, Shoe Shine Girls, Roys Instrumentalists Supreme, Beautiful Georgette dancing juggler, Vera Scott Pianist, Wal Scott & Christina. Red, blue and yellow type on white background and border. Printed by Wilsons, Printers, Leicester.
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.
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 Second British Juggling Convention Poster, 26 - 27 March 1989
Bath Sports Centre. Colour illustration.
Filtered By
- Subject: Jugglers X
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 7
- Collection 1
- Subject
- Acrobats 4
- Aerialists 1
- Animal trainers 2
- Animals 3
- Business 1
- Circus 4
- Clowning 4
- Comedians 5
- Dance 5
- Equestrians 1
- Fakirs 1
- Family 1
- Fire eating 2
- Freak shows 1
- Magic 4
- Male impersonators 2
- Menageries 1
- Mimes 3
- Minstrel shows 1
- Motion pictures 2
- Music 1
- Music-halls 2
- Musical performances 4
- Pantomime 3
- Performers 6
- Pierrot 3
- Puppets 3
- Showman 1
- Showwoman 1
- Singing 4
- Skating 2
- Stunt performers 1
- Travel 1
- Variety 6
- Ventriloquists 2
- Wild west 1
- World War, 1914-1918 1
- World War, 1939-1945 1
- Wrestling 2
- Zoos 1 + ∧ less