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 357 Collections and/or Records:
A Central Circus Site Monograph, c1930 - 1999
Ohmy by Cyril Critchlow. A Central Circus Site, Chapter 11. Unpublished monograph with research notes. Typescript & Manuscript, 4p.p.
ABC Blackpool Poster, c1980 - 1989
Blackpool. Les Dawson, Kenneth McKellar, Dougie Squires Second Generation, Bobby Bennett, The Sunshine Girls, Jumping Jack. Contains photographs.
ABC Theatre Programme, Summer season 1959
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.
Adelphi Theatre Programme, 1980
London. My Fair Lady, Tony Britton, Liz Robertson, Peter Bayliss, Anna Neagle and others. Contains illustrations and photographs of the acts, 28p.p.
Advertising Brouchure, c1980
Stromboli Presents Professor Strom’s Menagerie of Freaks and Oddities, 4p.p.
Advertising Brouchure for Barry Sinclair, c1980 - 1989
Promotional programme for Barry Sinclair, Power Beyond Belief Hypnotist act.
Advertising Brouchure for Carlo and Company, c1990 - 1999
Promotional material for Clown Carlo and Company containing a four page programme, a four page insert and a leaflet.
Advertising Card for The Amazing Bamforth, c1900 - 1999
Illustrated business card for The Amazing Baumforth, magic and illusionist act.
Advertising Postcard for Storytime Puppets, c1970 - 1979
Promotional postcard advertising Iain and Betty Smith, Storytime Puppets.
Advertising Postcard for Ventriloquist, c1920 - 1929
Promotional postcard for Adkin the ventriloquist.
Aldwych Theatre Programme, 1954
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.
Alexandra Theatre Poster, Week commencing 5 March 1973
Birmingham. John Hanson in Franz Schubert’s Lilac Time. Colour illustrations. Printed by Electric (Modern) Printing Co. Ltd., Manchester.
Alhambra Theatre Poster, Commencing Monday 3 July 1960
Morecambe. Ken Platt in ‘Love Locked Out’. Contains colour illustration. Printed by electric (Modern) Printing Co. Ltd. Manchester.
American Three Ring Circus Poster, c1980 - 1989
Colour illustration of clown.
An Evening with Tommy Steele Poster, c1950 - 1959
ABC Blackpool. Red and yellow poster with photograph.
Apollo Victoria Theatre Programme, 1982
London. Lerner & Lowe’s Camelot, Richard Harris, Fiona Fullerton, Robert Meadmore. Contains colour illustrations, 20p.p.
Arcadia (The Victory Theatre) Programme, c1900 - 1950
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.
Arcadia Theatre Poster, c1940 - 1959
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.
Argyle Theatre of Varieties Poster, Week commencing Monday 10 February 1896
Argyle Theatre of Varieties Poster, Week commencing Monday 1 August 1892
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.
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