Charley Chase

Charley Chase (October 20, 1893-June 20, 1940) was an American comedian, screenwriter and film director, best known for his work in Hal Roach short film comedies. He was the older brother of comedian/director James Parrott.

Renewed Interest

Since the 1990s, there has been a revival of interest in the films of Charley Chase, due in large part to the increased availability of his work and the undated, contemporary feel of his best comedies. An extensive website researching his life and work, The World of Charley Chase, was created in 1996, and a biography, Smile When the Raindrops Fall, was published in 1997. His films, particularly his canonical silent work, are now being screened in reperatory theaters more often than ever. Chase's sound comedies for Hal Roach were briefly televised in the late 1990s on the short-lived American cable network The Odyssey Channel. A retrospective of his silent comedies organized by The Silent Clowns Film Series was held in 1999 in New York City. A marathon of his silent films took place in 2005 on the American cable television network Turner Classic Movies. A Charley Chase DVD collection was released in 2004, and at least two more major releases of his classic silent comedies are due out in 2005.

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