Charles Penrose was an English music hall and theatre performer, and later radio comedian, who is best known for his unusual comic song "The Laughing Policeman".
Background
He was born in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, the son of a master watchmaker and jeweller. He initially followed his father into the jewellery trade, but enjoyed such success with his innovative laughing songs at local concert parties that he was invited to join a theatrical tour at the age of 18.
Career
His theatrical career took off, and he appeared in music hall and the West End. One of his most successful performances was in Tonight"s the Night at the Gaiety Theatre, London in 1914-1915. Penrose married architect"s daughter Harriet Lewcock in 1899.
In 1922, Penrose made the first recording of his song "The Laughing Policeman" under the pseudonym "Charles Jolly".
The Penroses wrote numerous other laughing songs including "The Laughing Major", "Curate", "Steeplechaser", "Typist", "Lover" and "Sneezing Manitoba". The B-side of The Laughing Sneezing Manitoba was a short comical sketch called "The Dog Vs The Cornet" where a little boy had to get his dog to out-sing a cornet player and make him stop playing.
Penrose was one of the first comedians to star on British Broadcasting Corporation, his most popular role being Sergeant Bob Evergreen in the wartime radio series The Pig and Whistle.
He was also a character actor in a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s.
Charles Penrose died of heart disease on 17 November 1952 at the Princess Beatrice Hospital, Kensington, aged 79.