Charles 'Chic' Sale

Acting

Charles 'Chic' Sale

Born 1885-08-25 · Huron, South Dakota, USA

Charles 'Chic' Sale was primarily a stage comedian, who, although he infrequently appeared on Broadway from 1902-30 and appeared in a handful of silent films, spent the majority of his career treading the boards of vaudeville as a comedian, usually in the persona of 'Lem Putt', a carpenter from Urbana, Illinois who specialized in the building of outhouses. By age 49 his stage act had become so popular that he felt compelled to write, with the help of two newspaper writers, a 3000-word collection of his monologues (at the urging of his lawyer who expressed dismay over lesser comedians stealing his act), which was published as "The Specialist". The book was a huge hit, published in nine languages, and remains in print to this day. (Sale took six months off touring to personally answer fan mail resulting from the book. A sequel was published as "I'll Tell You Why".) During the 1930s and '40s there were outhouses sporting "Chic Sale" signs all over the world, his name becoming synonymous for toilet (which didn't please him in the least) and the butt of fellow comedian Groucho Marx's jokes. After appearing in a flop Broadway show in 1930, Sale headed for Hollywood for good and became, thanks to effective makeup and complete mastery of his lanky body, a character actor. Still in his mid to late 40s, he convincingly played octogenarians. He did this so well that it was quite a shock to see him out of make-up; he was unrecognizable from his old man screen persona. Chic Sale died of pneumonia in 1936 at just 51 years of age. He was survived by his wife Marie.

Acting credits

When a Feller Needs a Friend poster
5.5

A lame boy's uncle tries to rescue him from his over-protective parents.

When a Feller Needs a Friend

1932

Treasure Island poster
6.5

In this early film adaptation of the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, young Jim Hawkins is caught up with the pirate Long John Silver in search of buccaneer Captain Flint's buried treasure.

Treasure Island

1934

You Only Live Once poster
7.1

Based partially on the story of Bonnie and Clyde, Eddie Taylor is an ex-convict who cannot get a break after being released from prison. When he is framed for murder, Taylor is forced to flee with his wife Joan Graham and baby. While escaping prison after being sentenced to death, Taylor becomes a real murderer, condemning himself and Joan to a life of crime and death on the road.

You Only Live Once

1937

Dangerous Crossroads poster
6.5

A railroad detective is having a difficult time stopping or even slowing down a gang that is robbing the merchandise carried on the freight trains, with inside information. However, his son and his son's young friends notice something that helps the railway detective get on the right trail.

Dangerous Crossroads

1933

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life poster
6.5

Documentary about James Stewart's long career as an actor and positive personal life.

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

1987

The Chief poster
5.5

The dim-witted son of a heroic fire chief tries to follow in his late father's footsteps, only to become the unknowing pawn of corrupt politicians.

The Chief

1933

His Nibs poster
7.0

Shenanigans at a small town movie theater.

His Nibs

1921

Men Of America poster
6.0

Bank robbers and killers cause mayhem in a small western town.

Men Of America

1932

No artwork available
9.0

A 1928 comedy short

The Ladies' Man

1928

Man Hunt poster
10.0

A bored small-town teacher gets mixed up with an escaped bank robber.

Man Hunt

1936

It's a Great Life poster
9.0

Desperate for work, Johnny Barclay leaves Ma and Grandpop to join the newly formed Civilian Conversation Corps. On the way he meets cynical young hobo Roscoe "Rockie" Johnson, and, although Rockie believes that hopping freight trains is a great life, Johnny convinces him to join the Corps.

It's a Great Life

1935

No artwork available
10.0

A wealthy young man writes a play under a different name to prove to his overbearing mother that he can succeed on his own.

The Man I Marry

1936

The Fighting Westerner poster
5.2

A mining engineer teams up with a crusty deputy sheriff to solve the mystery killings at an old mine where the owner's family waits for him to die, and where a valuable radium strike may have been made.

The Fighting Westerner

1935

The Star Witness poster
6.9

A tough District Attorney goes after a murderous crime gang, only to find that his witnesses, an innocent family, have clammed up in fear of reprisals.

The Star Witness

1931

No artwork available
NR

Charles 'Chic' Sale gets in the middle of a train robbery!

A Slip at the Switch

1932

The Great American Pie Company poster
7.5

In this comedic short, two pie vendors discuss merging their businesses, but one of them may have an ulterior motive.

The Great American Pie Company

1935

Stranger in Town poster
5.0

Crickle is a tenacious small-town grocer who stubbornly resists the efforts of a monopolistic chain-store firm to purchase his establishment. The chain manager retaliates by cutting off Crickles' supply of produce, whereupon his friends and neighbors save his business by supplying him with goods from their own farms.

Stranger in Town

1931

The Perfect Tribute poster
7.0

The day after his Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln meets a wounded Confederate soldier in a hospital. The blinded rebel, not knowing his visitor's identity, regales him with memorized lines from the speech.

The Perfect Tribute

1935

No artwork available
5.0

A man preparing to shoot his ailing elderly dog sadly recounts their time together.

Old Shep

1936

The Gentleman from Louisiana poster
8.0

In Victorian-era USA, a horse-jockey becomes a scapegoat in the nefarious schemes of a group of small-time criminals.

The Gentleman from Louisiana

1936

No artwork available
8.0

A candidate for Congress visits Mr. Bowman at his farm to ask for his vote. In reply, Mr. Bowman recites the title poem. It tells the story of his son, Bill, who answered his country's call to war. When Bill went to fight, he was a whole person, but he returned wounded in body, mind, and spirit.

Whisperin' Bill

1933

The Expert poster
7.3

An elderly gentleman arrives for an extended stay with his grown son in Chicago.

The Expert

1932

Important News poster
6.3

In this short film, a small-town newspaper editor struggles with what to publish on his paper's front page.

Important News

1936

No artwork available
7.0

A rich man's enemies cause him to lose his money, his best friend (his dog), as he goes to jail. Once free he spends all his time hunting for his lost dog.

Lucky Dog

1933

Behind the camera