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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 357 Collections and/or Records:

A Central Circus Site Monograph, c1930 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178B20.1
Scope and Contents

Ohmy by Cyril Critchlow. A Central Circus Site, Chapter 11. Unpublished monograph with research notes. Typescript & Manuscript, 4p.p.

Dates: c1930 - 1999

ABC Blackpool Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.157
Scope and Contents

Blackpool. Les Dawson, Kenneth McKellar, Dougie Squires Second Generation, Bobby Bennett, The Sunshine Girls, Jumping Jack. Contains photographs.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

ABC Theatre Programme, Summer season 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178K27.59
Scope and Contents

Blackpool. Bernard Delfont Presents, The Army Game plus Blackpool’s Gayest Variety Show, Alfie Bass, Rosemary Squires, Bill Fraser, Albert & Les Ward, Michael Medwin, Saveen with Daisy, May ventriloquist, Norman Rossington, Frediani juggler, Ted Lune, Ossie Noble clown. Contains illustrations on the front cover and photographs of the acts inside. Printed by Horsley Bros., (T.U), 646 Romford Road, Manor Park, London, 8p.p.

Dates: Summer season 1959

Adelphi Theatre Programme, 1980

 Item
Reference code: 178K27.101
Scope and Contents

London. My Fair Lady, Tony Britton, Liz Robertson, Peter Bayliss, Anna Neagle and others. Contains illustrations and photographs of the acts, 28p.p.

Dates: 1980

Advertising Brouchure, c1980

 Item
Reference code: 178Z28.26
Scope and Contents

Stromboli Presents Professor Strom’s Menagerie of Freaks and Oddities, 4p.p.

Dates: c1980

Advertising Brouchure for Barry Sinclair, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178I12.13
Scope and Contents

Promotional programme for Barry Sinclair, Power Beyond Belief Hypnotist act.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

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

Advertising Card for The Amazing Bamforth, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178I12.9
Scope and Contents

Illustrated business card for The Amazing Baumforth, magic and illusionist act.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Advertising Postcard for Storytime Puppets, c1970 - 1979

 Item
Reference code: 178I12.10
Scope and Contents

Promotional postcard advertising Iain and Betty Smith, Storytime Puppets.

Dates: c1970 - 1979

Advertising Postcard for Ventriloquist, c1920 - 1929

 Item
Reference code: 178I12.6
Scope and Contents

Promotional postcard for Adkin the ventriloquist.

Dates: c1920 - 1929

Aldwych Theatre Programme, 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178K27.99
Scope and Contents

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, Richard Greene, George Relph, Virginia McKenna, Georgina Cookson and others. Contains illustrations and photographs of the acts. Printed by Henry Good and Son, Ltd., London, 8p.p.

Dates: 1954

Alexandra Theatre Poster, Week commencing 5 March 1973

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.113
Scope and Contents

Birmingham. John Hanson in Franz Schubert’s Lilac Time. Colour illustrations. Printed by Electric (Modern) Printing Co. Ltd., Manchester.

Dates: Week commencing 5 March 1973

Alhambra Theatre Poster, Commencing Monday 3 July 1960

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.151
Scope and Contents

Morecambe. Ken Platt in ‘Love Locked Out’. Contains colour illustration. Printed by electric (Modern) Printing Co. Ltd. Manchester.

Dates: Commencing Monday 3 July 1960

American Three Ring Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.233
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of clown.

Dates: c1980 - 1989

An Evening with Tommy Steele Poster, c1950 - 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.76
Scope and Contents

ABC Blackpool. Red and yellow poster with photograph.

Dates: c1950 - 1959

Apollo Victoria Theatre Programme, 1982

 Item
Reference code: 178K27.107
Scope and Contents

London. Lerner & Lowe’s Camelot, Richard Harris, Fiona Fullerton, Robert Meadmore. Contains colour illustrations, 20p.p.

Dates: 1982

Arcadia (The Victory Theatre) Programme, c1900 - 1950

 Item
Reference code: 178K27.89
Scope and Contents

Colwyn Bay. Catlin’s Royal Pierrots. Also at Scarborough, Llandudno and Touring Company. Mr Jackson Brown comedian, Mr Percy R. Willing pianist & accompanist, Mr James Carson comedian, Mr Louis Fredericks, Miss May A. Willis comedienne & dancer, Mr Sidney Frere, Mr Scott Richards basso, Miss Rita Hope soprano, Miss Ethel Beech soubrette. Contains handwritten notes. Printed by WH Smith & Son, Printers, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, 8p.p.

Dates: c1900 - 1950

Arcadia Theatre Poster, c1940 - 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.72
Scope and Contents

Drummond Road, Skegness. Frank A. Terry presents Aladdin and his wonderful Lamp with Les Lee & Al Dixon, Gloria Levine acrobatic Dancer and others. Printed by C.H. Major & Co. Ltd.

Dates: c1940 - 1959

Argyle Theatre of Varieties Poster, Week commencing Monday 10 February 1896

 Item
Reference code: 178R27.1
Scope and Contents Birkenhead. Fillis’ South African Dogs, The Mannons Renowned Pantomimists, Valrose Serio-Comic Vocalist, Adolph Faue Wire Equilibrist and Expert Tumbler, Miss Ailsa Cairns Serio-Comedienne and Burlesque Actress, Mr Alec Burnard Comedian, Author and Descriptive Vocalist, Mr Harry Zetter Eccentric Comedian and Dancer, Mr Walter Pussord The Great Necromancer and Patterer of the Day, assisted by Mr Sydney Lee. Monday Next, Tennyson and Gorman. Green type on off white background. Printed by S....
Dates: Week commencing Monday 10 February 1896

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

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