Smile When the Raindrops Fall: The Story of Charley ChaseAt the age of ten, Charley Chase was singing and dancing on the street corners of Baltimore. Charley eventually became a local vaudeville attraction, but Baltimore could not contain the ambitious young man. After a brief, but memorable, stint in New York, Chase finally landed in Los Angeles in 1912. His timely arrival coincided with the birth of the film industry, and Charley Chase became a major force in the shaping of motion picture comedy. A human dynamo, Charley's talent and creativity seemed inexhaustible. As a writer/director/actor, Charley started out at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios. Working with Fatty Arbuckle and Charlie Chaplin, Chase quickly became one of Sennett's top directors. Later, at other studios, he directed, then starred in his own series of funny and inventive two-reelers. Behind the scenes, Charley Chase was instrumental in shaping the careers of both Laurel & Hardy and The Three Stooges. Chase's personal life paralleled his film work. At first he was energetic and optimistic—as was the infant film industry itself. As the movie grew up, Charley got older too. Chase's career, marred by family problems and alcoholism, mirrored the decline of the short film. Includes photographs and a detailed filmography. |
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Page 11
... Charley's singing act had been typical of those which most Irish bal- ladeers performed . He changed his billing to " Charles J. Parrott , Irish Comedian . " With the addition of a comedy monologue and an emphasis on funny songs , the ...
... Charley's singing act had been typical of those which most Irish bal- ladeers performed . He changed his billing to " Charles J. Parrott , Irish Comedian . " With the addition of a comedy monologue and an emphasis on funny songs , the ...
Page 12
... Charley felt he was in over his head . There was fierce competition for a few open spots . When each act registered it was given a number , which was called when the time came to audition . After what seemed an eternity , Charley's ...
... Charley felt he was in over his head . There was fierce competition for a few open spots . When each act registered it was given a number , which was called when the time came to audition . After what seemed an eternity , Charley's ...
Page 14
... Charley's material was more autobiographical than many people realized . After nearly six months on the road playing eastern cities , Charley literally had sung and danced his way to New York City . While there the troupe performed in a ...
... Charley's material was more autobiographical than many people realized . After nearly six months on the road playing eastern cities , Charley literally had sung and danced his way to New York City . While there the troupe performed in a ...
Page 20
The Story of Charley Chase Brian Anthony, Andy Edmonds. Charley was nineteen years old , and his life was about to take ... Charley's advances . Mr. Parrott had a lot to learn if he was going to court and win a girl like BeBe . But , as ...
The Story of Charley Chase Brian Anthony, Andy Edmonds. Charley was nineteen years old , and his life was about to take ... Charley's advances . Mr. Parrott had a lot to learn if he was going to court and win a girl like BeBe . But , as ...
Page 21
... Charley continued to ask BeBe out , and she continued to turn him down . Charley watched and studied what kind of a man ... Charley's journal is the variety of names he tried : Chas . J. Parrott , Charley Parrott , C. J. Parrott , and ...
... Charley continued to ask BeBe out , and she continued to turn him down . Charley watched and studied what kind of a man ... Charley's journal is the variety of names he tried : Chas . J. Parrott , Charley Parrott , C. J. Parrott , and ...
Contents
Its a Lovely Day for Something | 135 |
Sons of the Desert | 143 |
On the Wrong Trek | 153 |
Have you ever seen anything so Beautiful | 159 |
Columbia | 163 |
A Firehouse Mouse | 169 |
On the Hill | 179 |
Epilogue | 185 |
57 | |
Fancy Pants and Droopy Drawers | 67 |
Jimmy Jump and Leo the Lawyer | 73 |
OneTake Charley | 81 |
An Occupational Hazard | 93 |
The Talkers and a Severe Cold | 105 |
Gangway Charley | 117 |
Rough Seas | 129 |
A Note about the Films | 187 |
Charley Chase Filmography | 191 |
Sony Credits | 239 |
Bibliography | 243 |
Index | 247 |
About the Authors | 255 |
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Common terms and phrases
actors Angeles Anita Garvin Art Lloyd Arthur Seid BeBe Billy Gilbert Billy West Bud Jamison Chaplin Charles Parrott Charley Chase Charley's Charlie Hall Chase and Hugh Chase comedies Chase series Chester Conklin Columbia comedian Del Lord Dialogue by H. M. director Edgar Kennedy Edited by Richard Edited by William Elmer Raguse Elwood Ullman feature Filmed circa funny gags girls H. M. Walker Hal Roach Harold Lloyd Harry Bernard Harry Bowen Henderson Hollywood Hugh McCollum James Finlayson James Parrott Jimmy Parrott Jimmy's Keystone Leo McCarey Leo Willis Love Marvin Hatley movie Music Nick Cogley Noah Young NOTE Oliver Hardy one-reelers Paul Parrott performed Photographed by Art play Polly produced ranch Recording Engineer reels Richard Currier Richard Jones Roach lot Roach Studios scene Snub Pollard Song Stan Laurel star Stooges Story and screenplay Supervised by F theater Thelma Todd Titles by H. M. two-reelers vaudeville William Terhune