Charles 'Chic' Sale

Charles 'Chic' Sale

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.

  • Title: Charles 'Chic' Sale
  • Popularity: 1.269
  • Known For: Acting
  • Birthday: 1885-08-25
  • Place of Birth: Huron, South Dakota, USA
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As: Charles Partlow Sale, Charles Sale, Chas. 'Chic' Sale, Chick Sale, Chic Sale
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Charles 'Chic' Sale Movies

  • 1930
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    Lem Putt, the Specialist

    Lem Putt, the Specialist

    1 1930 HD

    A carpenter who specializes in building outhouses becomes successful, but then things take a turn for the worse when his name becomes synonymous with...

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  • 1934
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    Treasure Island

    Treasure Island

    6.5 1934 HD

    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...

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  • 1935
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    The Fighting Westerner

    The Fighting Westerner

    5 1935 HD

    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,...

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  • 1928
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    The Ladies' Man

    The Ladies' Man

    1 1928 HD

    A 1928 comedy short

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  • 1937
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    You Only Live Once

    You Only Live Once

    7.1 1937 HD

    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...

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  • 1931
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    The Star Witness

    The Star Witness

    6.7 1931 HD

    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...

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  • 1932
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    The Expert

    The Expert

    6.3 1932 HD

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

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  • 1931
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    Stranger in Town

    Stranger in Town

    3 1931 HD

    Crickle is a tenacious small-town grocer who stubbornly resists the efforts of a monopolistic chain-store firm to purchase his establishment. The...

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  • 1932
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    A Slip at the Switch

    A Slip at the Switch

    1 1932 HD

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

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  • 1932
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    Men Of America

    Men Of America

    4 1932 HD

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

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  • 1933
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    The Chief

    The Chief

    3 1933 HD

    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.

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  • 1932
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    When a Feller Needs a Friend

    When a Feller Needs a Friend

    2 1932 HD

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

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  • 1936
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    The Man I Marry

    The Man I Marry

    1 1936 HD

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

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  • 1936
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    The Gentleman from Louisiana

    The Gentleman from Louisiana

    1 1936 HD

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

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  • 1935
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    It's a Great Life

    It's a Great Life

    1 1935 HD

    Desperate for work, Johnny Barclay leaves Ma and Grandpop to join the newly formed Civilian Conversation Corps. On the way he meets cynical young...

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  • 1936
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    Man Hunt

    Man Hunt

    1 1936 HD

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

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  • 1933
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    Whisperin' Bill

    Whisperin' Bill

    1 1933 HD

    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...

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  • 1934
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    Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

    Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

    1 1934 HD

    Jimmy Durante asks popular song writing team Mack Gordon and Harry Revel to demonstrate some of their songs. There is interplay with impersonator...

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  • 1921
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    His Nibs

    His Nibs

    5 1921 HD

    Shenanigans at a small town movie theater.

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  • 1924
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    The New School Teacher

    The New School Teacher

    5.5 1924 HD

    The new teacher is brutally terrorized by the pupils and becomes the laughingstock of town. Then dramatic events occur which give him a chance for...

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  • 1936
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    Important News

    Important News

    6 1936 HD

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

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  • 1936
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    Old Shep

    Old Shep

    3 1936 HD

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

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  • 1935
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    The Great American Pie Company

    The Great American Pie Company

    7.5 1935 HD

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

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  • 1988
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    James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

    James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

    6 1988 HD

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

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  • 1935
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    The Perfect Tribute

    The Perfect Tribute

    1 1935 HD

    The day after his Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln meets a wounded Confederate soldier in a hospital. The blinded rebel, not knowing his...

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  • 1933
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    Lucky Dog

    Lucky Dog

    1 1933 HD

    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...

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  • 1966
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    The Specialist

    The Specialist

    5.5 1966 HD

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