Chic Sale
Encyclopedia
Charles "Chic" Sale was an American
actor and vaudevillian
. Named at birth Charles Partlow Sale, he was a son of Frank Orville and Lillie Belle (Partlow) Sale, and brother of writer, actress Virginia Sale-Wren.
In 1920, after a tour wherein he played "rural parts," he was engaged by Christie Studios on Gower Street
in Los Angeles
. According to Grace Kingsley in the Jan. 28 edition of the Los Angeles Times
, page II11, "It now comes to light that Chic Sale, appearing at the Orpheum this week, will as soon as his present tour is finished, about the middle of next month, return to town in the Capacity of a Christie star. Mr. Sale's first photoplay will be a five-reeler, adapted from Irvin S. Cobb
's 'The Smart Aleck,' after which he will be starred in other well-known stories suitable to his talents." The item goes on to mention that Charles Christie
, business head of the Christie studio, entered into a contract with Exceptional Pictures to produce the Sale film, to be distributed through Robertson-Cole, and notes Sales' occasional appearances in the Ziegfeld Follies
and the Shubert
Winter Garden
shows. The movie was eventually named "His Nibs
," and co-starred Colleen Moore
. Chic played many of the parts himself, the film being a spoof of the sort of "hick," backwater characterizations he specialized in.
In 1929, inspired by a carpenter named 'Lem Putt' from his hometown of Urbana, Illinois
, Sale wrote The Specialist, a play about an outhouse
builder. Because copyright infringement was widespread in Vaudeville, Sale enlisted the aid of two newspapermen to adapt The Specialist into a book. This enjoyed great success, and Sale spent the next several months responding to fan mail.
Sale had a career in Hollywood, appearing in various comic roles until his death from pneumonia in 1936. In contrast to his comic roles, one of his loftier appearances came as President Abraham Lincoln
in 1935. The Perfect Tribute was a short film dramatizing Lincoln's disappointment at the meagre reaction to his Gettysburg Address
. He encounters a dying and blind soldier who, not knowing he is addressing the President himself, tells Lincoln how inspiring the speech was.
Although an obscure figure today, Sale was a well-known popular culture
figure during the 1930s, and was often the subject of jokes by comedians like Groucho Marx
, usually in reference to The Specialist. Chic is also mentioned as an aside late in the Marx Brothers
film, Animal Crackers (film)
, in a conversation between Ravelli Chico Marx
and Groucho's character, Captain Spaulding (Groucho Marx). For many years--even after his death--"Chic Sale" was used as a euphemism
for an outhouse
. He is known to have found this unflattering, calling it "a terrible thing to have happen."
The late comedian Soupy Sales
(born Milton Supman) changed his stage name from Soupy Hines to Soupy Sales in honor of Sale.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor and vaudevillian
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
. Named at birth Charles Partlow Sale, he was a son of Frank Orville and Lillie Belle (Partlow) Sale, and brother of writer, actress Virginia Sale-Wren.
In 1920, after a tour wherein he played "rural parts," he was engaged by Christie Studios on Gower Street
Gower Street
Gower Street may refer to:*Gower Street *Gower Street...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. According to Grace Kingsley in the Jan. 28 edition of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, page II11, "It now comes to light that Chic Sale, appearing at the Orpheum this week, will as soon as his present tour is finished, about the middle of next month, return to town in the Capacity of a Christie star. Mr. Sale's first photoplay will be a five-reeler, adapted from Irvin S. Cobb
Irvin S. Cobb
Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb was an American author, humorist, and columnist who lived in New York and authored more than 60 books and 300 short stories.-Biography:...
's 'The Smart Aleck,' after which he will be starred in other well-known stories suitable to his talents." The item goes on to mention that Charles Christie
Charles Christie
Charles H. V. Christie was a motion picture studio owner.Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Charles and his brother Al left home to pursue a career in the fledgling motion picture industry...
, business head of the Christie studio, entered into a contract with Exceptional Pictures to produce the Sale film, to be distributed through Robertson-Cole, and notes Sales' occasional appearances in the Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
and the Shubert
Shubert
Shubert can refer to any of:*Franz Schubert, 19th Century Austrian composer*The Shubert family who were prominent in American theatre and founded the Shubert Organization, including:**Lee Shubert**Sam S. Shubert**Jacob J. Shubert...
Winter Garden
Winter Garden
Winter Garden may refer to:* A winter garden, winter-hardy plants grown for winter interest and decoration, or to be harvested for food between winter and early spring.-Places:* Winter Garden, California, former community in Kern County...
shows. The movie was eventually named "His Nibs
His Nibs (film)
-Story:The Slippery Elm Picture Palace screens the film ‘’He Fooled ‘em All’’ as various rural characters watch. The owner, operator and projectionist is “His Nibs.” He tells the audience that he has cut the titles from the film but will explain the action...
," and co-starred Colleen Moore
Colleen Moore
Colleen Moore was an American film actress, and one of the most fashionable stars of the silent film era.-Early life:...
. Chic played many of the parts himself, the film being a spoof of the sort of "hick," backwater characterizations he specialized in.
In 1929, inspired by a carpenter named 'Lem Putt' from his hometown of Urbana, Illinois
Urbana, Illinois
Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,250. Urbana is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area....
, Sale wrote The Specialist, a play about an outhouse
Outhouse
An outhouse is a small structure separate from a main building which often contained a simple toilet and may possibly also be used for housing animals and storage.- Terminology :...
builder. Because copyright infringement was widespread in Vaudeville, Sale enlisted the aid of two newspapermen to adapt The Specialist into a book. This enjoyed great success, and Sale spent the next several months responding to fan mail.
Sale had a career in Hollywood, appearing in various comic roles until his death from pneumonia in 1936. In contrast to his comic roles, one of his loftier appearances came as President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
in 1935. The Perfect Tribute was a short film dramatizing Lincoln's disappointment at the meagre reaction to his Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address is a speech by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and is one of the most well-known speeches in United States history. It was delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery...
. He encounters a dying and blind soldier who, not knowing he is addressing the President himself, tells Lincoln how inspiring the speech was.
Although an obscure figure today, Sale was a well-known popular culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
figure during the 1930s, and was often the subject of jokes by comedians like Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
, usually in reference to The Specialist. Chic is also mentioned as an aside late in the Marx Brothers
Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
film, Animal Crackers (film)
Animal Crackers (film)
Animal Crackers is a 1930 American comedy film, in which mayhem and zaniness ensue when a valuable painting goes missing during a party in honor of famed African explorer Captain Spaulding. The film was both a critical and commercial success upon initial release, and remains one of the Marx...
, in a conversation between Ravelli Chico Marx
Chico Marx
Leonard "Chico" Marx was an American comedian and film star as part of the Marx Brothers. His persona in the act was that of a dim-witted albeit crafty con artist, seemingly of rural Italian origin, who wore shabby clothes, and sported a curly-haired wig and Tyrolean hat.As the first-born of the...
and Groucho's character, Captain Spaulding (Groucho Marx). For many years--even after his death--"Chic Sale" was used as a euphemism
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
for an outhouse
Outhouse
An outhouse is a small structure separate from a main building which often contained a simple toilet and may possibly also be used for housing animals and storage.- Terminology :...
. He is known to have found this unflattering, calling it "a terrible thing to have happen."
The late comedian Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales was an American comedian, actor, radio-TV personality and host, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales; a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his...
(born Milton Supman) changed his stage name from Soupy Hines to Soupy Sales in honor of Sale.