Write Charlie June 2007, Issue 52

Mooky’s Circus Masquerade

This year’s show at the Tower continues until the end of the Illuminations – starring Mooky, your favourite clown. Also his younger brother Bubu, who is continuing the family tradition – with juggling act on the motorbike – Wild on Wheels. There is also a very special “quintuple somersault!” by the Russian springboardists, and many more circus delights from a star-studded cast of international circus performers. On Fridays a completely different magic show is presented starring Andrew Van Buren.

Goodies

The last of the large coloured “Charlie” musical instrument photographs is enclosed. In the last two issues we’ve had Charlie with soprano saxophone, with trumpet and now with tenor saxophone - this photo dated 1973. Note also that he is wearing a “Charlie” badge – Has anyone still got one of these? They must be like gold dust!
A black and white photo of Charlie – once again amusing the children – this time it’s a little girl who’s shaking hands with Uncle Charlie.
Two portraits – one of Porto and one of a very old/young Charlie. These are from the 1930’s.
Lastly a better copy of a publicity photo of the Cairoli Trio – father - Jean Marie, Philip and Carletto (Charlie) – There seems to be something wrong with Charlie’s trousers! (You may already have a very poor copy of this – please replace it with this new one)

Charlie Cairoli CD

No further news from anyone. I expected someone to have a copy before now! Details are as in the last issue. While on about DVD’s and the like – have you seen “Wot we goin’ to call it?” Clive Webb and Danny Adams. This is obtainable from CFA merchandising and is of the slosh/water tradition beloved of most clowns. It’s only half an hour long but it’s full of traditional gags from this duo.

Pantomime

The pantomime this year at the Tower is Cinderella. The show starts mid-November and leads into Christmas and New Year. You need to book early as the Tower pantomime is extremely popular and rightly so.

Enclosure
Yet another biography has been received. This was e-mailed to me by Nigel. Perhaps you might be interested to compare it with the one by John Turner and published in his Dictionary of British Circus Biography? (This can be found in Issue 40 – June 2004)

Fun Days with the Cairoli’s
(continued from March 2007 issue)

Embarrassing

“The trouble with belonging to a crazy family like this, is that it sometimes gets embarrassing,” said Regina, who is studying to be a company secretary at the Blackpool Technical College and School of Art.
“I often come downstairs in my pyjamas and find the room full of people that Daddy has invited home,” Mary, a student at Layton Hill Convent and Charlie Jnr., who goes to St John Vianney School, agreed.
“My main worry is the damage they cause,” said Charlie. “They are ruining me. Do you know I had to take the carpets off the floors and have them rubber tiled. Every time something is broken they make a point of confessing to it individually at different intervals so that I can never find out who actually did it.”
No, the Cairolis are certainly not an ordinary family. But I don’t think for a minute that they would have it any other way.

Snippets from the Gazette

With his bulbous red false nose glowing like a traffic signal over a smouldering cigar stub, Blackpool Tower Circus’s star clown Charlie Cairoli told me about an annual bet he had had for the last seven years with his colleague Jimmy Buchanan.
Jimmy is the clown who appears with his mouth wide open, registering as much expression as a chloroformed codfish, while Charlie cheerfully slaps him, douses him with cold water or treats him to a faceful of blancmange.
“If ever I make Jimmy laugh he is going to treat me to a slap-up dinner,” Charlie told me. “I’ve tried everything. His control in the ring is fantastic. Jimmy is ticklish and if I tickle him outside the ring as I do sometimes in the ring, he would scream with laughter.”
In pantomime one winter, Jimmy had to stick out his tongue which Charlie gleefully tickled with a feather. “One night I put salt on the feather,” confessed Charlie. “I could see tears coming into his eyes, but he did not laugh. I’ve even tried sneezing powder.”
Thirtyfour year old Jimmy grinned broadly, and explained that to keep his codfish expression, he had to concentrate.
When he first teamed up with Charlie he presented himself in the full clown’s make-up he still uses for between-act appearances.
“Don’t wear that with me,” said Charlie, “You look daft without make-up.”
He meant it as a compliment.

Serious

Charlie Chaplin has shown that clowns can also be philosophers. In one serious moment, Charlie Cairoli revealed to me the true spirit of the circus. “When I read of the troubles of the world,” he said, “I feel like telling everybody that here at the Tower we have British, Lancashire-French – that’s me! German. Danish. Swedish. Bulgarian. Spanish. Italian. Swiss and Egyptian people. And we are all one happy family: just circus folks.”
“When I read about politicians and World leaders,” added Charlie, “I wonder who are the clowns in this world.”
UNO and Geneva delegates please note.

Broken Hearted Clown

A sad clown in the making is 14 year old John Michael Haigh of Elmwood Street, Dewsbury, whose ambition to appear on the stage with Charlie Cairoli of the Tower Circus has been foiled by the Yorkshire town’s education authority. The authority ruled that young John was too young to appear with Mr Cairoli at the Dewsbury Empire this week without a licence which would take three weeks to secure. The show ends a week on Saturday.
“Such a pity,” Charlie told a Gazette reporter today. “He really wants to do something, very rare these days, and he is quite good.”
What made Mr Cairoli think John has a future as a clown? “He is so intelligent, keen, and he can play the piano, trombone and the trumpet quite well for his age.”
John has come to Blackpool year after year to see his idol of the ring. But he has been too shy to approach him.
Mr Cairoli heard of his ambition, however, and wrote to John.
When Mr Cairoli arrived at Dewsbury, John had been waiting all day at the theatre for him with make-up which Mr Cairoli promised to show him how to use.
“I thought that it would fulfil his ambition, to let him play a little bit in the act,” said Mr Cairoli. “The authority said, ‘Nothing doing.’”
Asked if John would be seen in the Cairoli act, perhaps even at Blackpool, he said, “Perhaps when he is older, you never know.”

Fleetwood boy met star he loved

This week was the most wonderful week in two years for seven and a half year old Stephen Welsh of Princes Way, Fleetwood.
Two years ago this sunny faced boy was stricken with polio, the dreaded infantile paralysis. Yesterday afternoon he finally discarded his irons and wide-eyed with delight, sat in the Tower Circus and saw the show, and the star he loved so much.
The star was Charlie Cairoli and Stephen had been a fan of his for as long as he could remember in his young life.
Stephen was accompanied by Mr C.V. Zimmerman, hon. secretary of the famed circus organisation, The Big Top Fans.
Mr Zimmerman had occasion to go to Fleetwood hospital for treatment and there he met Stephen, undergoing electrical treatment. When Stephen heard that Mr Zimmerman was interested in the circus, he told him of his own love of the ring and in particular of Charlie.
“Would you like to meet him?” said Mr Zimmerman, and when he saw the boy’s wide-eyed wonder he added: “You certainly shall.”
Mr Zimmerman spoke to Charlie and Charlie asked that the boy be brought as soon as possible. Mr Ray Cawley, another member of the Big Top Fans and also a member of the charitable organisation, the Benevolent Dragons of Cleveleys, heard of the case. He, in his turn, insisted on bringing the boy to the circus in his car and taking him back.
Stephen can walk a few steps, but not many. Mr Zimmerman picked him up in his arms and carried him to a seat near the ring, and then the world that Stephen had only dreamed of for two years came to life.

Tower Medals

One of the most coveted awards in the international circus world is the Blackpool Tower Circus Medal, which is presented to every individual artist at the end of the season. (a photograph of one of Jimmy’s medals was enclosed with issue 50).
Charlie Cairoli tells me that the medals invariably attract attention wherever a circus performer goes to Europe. Not only does it establish a brotherhood between circus folk all over the world, but it also stands as a symbol of prestige.

The last of the large coloured “Charlie” musical instrument photographs is enclosed. In the last two issues we’ve had Charlie with soprano saxophone, with trumpet and now with tenor saxophone - this photo dated 1973. Note also that he is wearing a “Charlie” badge – Has anyone still got one of these? They must be like gold dust!

A black and white photo of Charlie – once again amusing the children – this time it’s a little girl who’s shaking hands with Uncle Charlie.
Two portraits – one of Porto and one of a very old/young Charlie. These are from the 1930’s

Charlie Cairoli. Very influenced by English-style clowning, he became the lead performer in the duo with the white clown, differing in this from most auguste clowns. Bibliothèque de l’Opéra, Tristan Rémy collection. (Cl. De Selva/Tapabor.)

Previous page: Porto, this “ring comedian,” succeeded in restoring value to the character of the auguste by limiting the authority of the white clown. (Cl. De Selva/Tapabor.)

Lastly a better copy of a publicity photo of the Cairoli Trio – father - Jean Marie, Philip and Carletto (Charlie) – There seems to be something wrong with Charlie’s trousers!

A black and white photo of Charlie – once again amusing the children – this time it’s a little girl who’s shaking hands with Uncle Charlie