Write Charlie, December 2006, Issue 50

We Made It!! Our 50th Issue of Write Charlie

I promised something “special” last time. I hope you agree that the goodies enclosed in this issue are worthy of the description.

Photographs Charlie with Soprano Saxophone. (photo from Arthur Pedlar)

I think this colour photograph is probably the best I have seen and is surely suitable for a permanent framing. This one of Charlie now hangs on my study wall alongside other ‘greats’ including Coco, Grock, Popov and Charlie Rivel.

Charlie on a Stamp in 2002 (also Coco, Grock and ‘Joey’ Grimaldi)

Thinking of which, leads me to the next photograph of Charlie featured in 2002 on a ‘Europa’ stamp issue from Gibraltar. (This I mentioned in Write Charlie at the time – but found it very difficult to find the actual stamp – there were something like 60 countries who issued ‘Circus’ stamps in 2002 as part of a ‘Europa’ promotion). I enclose a photocopy of both sides of the souvenir ‘pack’ and the ‘archive’ sheet of stamps. No doubt there should still be some stamps available from stamp dealers. (Chris Stone came to my rescue by providing the Society with examples of these stamps for our archives).

Tower Medals
Those of you who have visited the Tower ‘Charlie Cairoli Exhibition’ will have seen the displayed collection of Charlie’s medals. I enclose a small photograph of one of Jimmy Buchanan’s Tower medals for your collection. This medal is now part of our Society’s archives. (This is a scan of the actual medal)

Tower Programmes
For a number of years, the Tower Circus programme carried a colour photograph of Our Charlie inside the front cover – usually with a pretty circusette! I enclose copies of two of these (there are more to come!)

Multi Instrumentalists?
A rare black & white photograph of the Cairoli family (Father, Porto and Charlie) displaying their musical instruments. This is an amazing collection – probably getting on for a hundred, and mostly three of each. (Arthur Pedlar)

A Publicity Pose?
Father, Porto and Charlie posing for a black & white studio photograph in the 1930’s? (Arthur Pedlar)

I Kid Ye Not!

Extracts from a 2007 newsletter of a Hotel somewhere in Blackpool. – I have copied it exactly as published on its web site!

AMAZING BLACKPOOL FACTS

Blackpool became a major seaside resort for tourism in 1870 – During this 19th century seaside revolution Blackpool was frequented by the working classes of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Many of Blackpool’s famous attractions were built during that thriving Victorian period – The 3 Piers, Blackpool Tower, The Grand Theatre, A gigantic wheel ride at the Winter Gardens (sadly now gone). The Promenade walks and Parkland areas.

It’s a town full of FIRSTS,
The BIGGEST the TALLEST the BEST.

Blackpool is still officially the busiest and most popular holiday destination in the whole of Europe – MORE people visit and stay in Blackpool than any other holiday destination in the whole of Europe.

Blackpool had the FIRST purpose built ice theatre in the whole world 1907. It was called the Ice Drome (not dome) and is situated at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach. This HUGE stunning ice ring now features the exciting “ECLIPSE” ice show spectacular. This show has international champions and Olympic skaters performing nightly stunts accompanied by dramatic sounds, lighting and costumes - a total contrast from the candlelit waltzes in 1907.

The FASTEST & TALLEST roller coaster in Europe.

The Ice Blast ride – was the UK’s first VERTICAL white-knuckle thrill.

Blackpool has the BIGGEST NIGHTCLUB in Europe (The Syndicate)

Blackpool has the LARGEST MIRROR BALL in the world (size of a double decker bus) & can be seen from the promenade south pier.

Blackpool’s famous Tower Circus officially opened on White Monday 1894 – The Tower Circus has always held in residence a prestigious CIRCUS CLOWN – This title was held for many years by the famous Charlie Cairoli who was a particular favourite of our current Queen Elizabeth 11. Cairoli appeared on many Royal Variety Performances playing his infamous kitchen sink trumpet. His white faced serious son “Charlie Jnr” would often preside in the ring dressed in a Harlequin outfit while playing a conventional trumpet. A shaved head stooge “Jimmy” would have custard poured into his floppy hat – Sadly Charlie passed away and the troupe disbanded –
The current resident prestigious Clown at the Tower Circus is “MOOKEY” – Mookey is a very funny fresh faced clown. Mookey sings, juggles and back-flips and is a truly multi talented magical Clown. He comes from circus royalty – both his parents and grandparents have all held court and captivated audiences around Europe. You can see him perform daily throughout the season at the tower circus. Watch in amazement as he magically transforms the ring into a water filled lake, complete with fountains, before your very eyes!

From the Gazette Circus spotlights for Beverly

 At this afternoon’s performance at the Blackpool Tower Circus the spotlight fell on the front row of the stalls and picked out a beaming little boy, hair neatly plastered, and wearing a cream coloured shirt, a pale blue tie and brown tweed trousers.
And in that little boy’s dark brown eyes, radiant with happiness, there were too, tears of thankfulness and joy.
For, as clown Charlie Cairoli told the audience, 11 year old Beverly of Normoss Road, or, as he put it “My little friend over there”, had been desperately ill; his life despaired of three months ago.#

Ambition
Now, although not fully recovered from pneumonia, Beverly was fulfilling his ambition to see the circus.
And as “Uncle” Charlie picked up his trumpet, walked over to Beverly and played with a genuine tenderness “You are my heart’s delight” Beverly’s face creased in a broad smile like a sliced watered melon and there were others all around him who simultaneously found it necessary to search for their handkerchiefs.
What Charlie did not tell the audience was that Beverly, whom he had frequently visited during his illness, had been his guest at lunch today along with Mrs H.J.Jobins, Beverly’s mother.
Charlie called at the house in his car on the stroke of noon and took them to a Blackpool restaurant, where Beverly tucked into soup, steak, mushrooms, spaghetti, crepe suzette and ice cream.

Excited
“He hardly slept a wink last night through excitement and so I kept him in bed until 11 o’clock today. He thinks the world of ‘Uncle Charlie’, and Charlie thinks the same of Beverly.”
Said Mr Cairoli, “Ah leetle Beverly – ‘ees a real trouper. An’ why? Because ‘ee can take his medicine with a great big smile.”

Beverly and his mother and father were guests of the management of the Blackpool Tower.
Photographers’ bulbs flashed and popped in Charlie’s dressing room and a picture they took will be presented to Beverly with the compliments of the “Evening Gazette.”

Charlie Strikes a New Note

Charlie Cairoli, who this year celebrates his 25th year as resident clown at the Blackpool Tower Circus, has a new role beginning Boxing Day on television.
He reads three stories for children in BBC2’s Play School programme. The first on Boxing Day is ‘Red Nose’; on Wednesday he reads the ‘Sick Bear’ and on Thursday it is the turn of ‘Making Music’.
Carole Ward and Peter Reeves read the stories on Tuesday and Friday.
Charlie also appears in the Christmas Day pantomime on BBC1 with Arthur Askey and Roy Castle.
This is a show designed to occupy the children for an hour and a half between lunch and tea.
The title is ‘Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp’ and Charlie’s role is to provide a little slapstick humour in places.
Charlie opens in pantomime at a Liverpool theatre next week.

Happy Families at the Circus

By Phyllis Smith
“Meet the family.”
The Circus is still in an uproar of laughs. “Encore” resounds through the Tower as the clown, beckoning me to follow, patters to his dressing room for another boisterous welcome from his most critical audience.
When Charlie Cairoli puts on an act for Blackpool born daughters Virginia and Jeanette only the best will satisfy, an at six year’s old Virginia is already at his (sic) musical studies. (Odd……ed?)

From Bradford Telegraph & Argus 3rd January 2003

Charlie’s clowning runs in the family

It may have taken 40 years but a Cairoli has got them rolling in the aisles at the Alhambra again.
Four decades after the great Charlie Cairoli starred in Bradford’s panto his son Charlie Cairoli Junior, has stepped into his father’s oversize clown boots for a starring role in this year’s Jack and the Beanstalk.
Charlie Junior said he was delighted to be appearing at the Alhambra on the 40th anniversary of his late father’s performances on the same stage. He said, “That’s absolutely brilliant, I didn’t actually know that. We know an awful lot about my dad’s career but there are gaps. I did some variety here with him in the ‘70s but I didn’t know he did panto here in ’62.
He always said a Cairoli would be back by public demand – he just didn’t say it would take 40 years! It’s a great feeling to know I’m on the same stage as my dad was 40 years ago. I think he’d be proud.”

Charlie junior, 56, trained as an engineer but joined his father in the clowning business after the pull of the stage became too strong. He partnered Charlie senior at Blackpool’s Tower Circus for nine years before his father died in 1980. Now Charlie jnr is sharing the limelight with Billy Pearce and Melandra Burrows in Jack and the Beanstalk until February.
Charlie senior, famed for his red nose and bowler hat, was known all over the world for his tricks, humour and ability to play countless musical instruments. The Italian born entertainer even gave a command performance for Adolf Hitler in 1936 but tossed the lighter the dictator gave him off Blackpool pier when war broke out three years later.
The clown caused a sensation when he starred in the Frog Prince alongside Freddie Frinton and Billy Dainty at the Alhambra in 1962.
Reviewing the show the Telegraph and Argus’s legendary theatre critic Peter Holdsworth reported how the clown’s performance brought the house down.
He wrote: “Charlie Cairoli is as superb as ever. A red nosed master of the kingdom of slapstick, he repeatedly proves the wisdom of the adage that the touchstone of art is apparent simplicity.
He is a realm of flying dough, eccentric musical instruments, collapsing tables and chairs, unexpected drenchings and incomparable mischief.”

(Charlie jnr is in pantomime at Bristol Hippodrome this year (2006) with Joe Pasquale in Peter Pan).

From The Scottish Music Hall Society web site

– an extract from their ‘Members Gallery’ re:- Dave McIntyre better known as Perzo the Clown.

At the tender age of fifteen I decided that I was going to become a clown, having spent numerous summers on Blackpool where the Tower Circus was always a must and Charlie Cairoli became my idol.
In my eagerness to secure work as a clown, at the age of 17 I wrote to Charlie at the Tower Circus asking him for work. The work wasn’t forthcoming but I did get an invite to meet him in his dressing room, a day I will never forget in the hour or so that I spent with him, watching him make up and talking with him, I learnt so much.
I also met Roy Rivers, multi-instrumentalist and unicyclist and spent that season at the Tower Ocean Rooms as comedy feed for him.