 Hello Buckles, Helen Roark, Charlie Roark’s sister just called to give me the sad news. Charles passed away at his home in Malvern, Arkansas last night. The funeral will be Monday in Malvern. Side Show Manager, Magician, Punch man, Illusionist, Ventriloquist and all around showman. Charles was 100% circus. He spent the day with us when Kelly Miller played Malvern in April. He was as dapper in appearance as always, and although moving a bit slower and having vision problems, his mind was as sharp as ever. We will miss that man so very much. He was a class act and the best friend you could have. Jim Royal  |
Saturday, August 20, 2011
From Jim Royal
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
What a loss. A real trouper.
Does anyone know how old Charlie was? He was 'way up there for sure.
Best Punch worker I ever saw. You only get that good by doing an act the right way many thousands of times.
Thanks, Jim, for letting us know.
Charlie when I worked on the front door on King Bros. Would start his SS opening with," My old grandaddy down in Shirt Tail Arkansas, you know where that is doncha. Its right next to the County Seat" and away he would go. Stayed in motels and drank straight whiskey every day. What a guy. Johnny
P.S. He had an attractive female traveling companion that drove him in his car from town to town. J. H.
As old school as it gets...Job well done my friend. As Mr.Punch would say.."That's The Way To Do It.."Rest in peace...You will be missed by many....
Whitey,
Charlie was 94 years old, and mentally sharp. He could tell you what day of the week it was that time on the old Cole show season of 42 when. . . .
For some reason, Barbara thought Charlie's last name was York. I said no it's Charlie Roark and still unconvinced she said, "Are you sure?" and I stated "Positively!"
By chance, later in the season he paid us a visit on the Polack Show and Barara asked "Charlie exactly what is your last name?" and he immediately shot back "Charlie York!"
I couldn't believe I had been wrong about that and a few days later she confessed that I had been set up.
With the passing of Charlie Roark, an era is nearly past as he went as far back as most anyone still around from the old Ringling show. He was with it as early as 1939 working the old time London Punch & Judy show under then-veteran manager Clyde Ingalls. Also seen in the side show that year were such famous folks from long ago as Koo-Koo the Bird Girl and the Siamese twin sisters Mary and Margaret Gibbs (all of whom were from western Massachusetts where I grew up). Giant Jack Earle and little Major Mite were both still trouping when Charlie Roark was there. It was a transition time for musical entertainment in the side show as minstrel bands gave way to Hawaiian bands; in 1939 Ringling carried both and Charlie Roark was there. He alternated a bit between the Cole and Ringling side shows doing magic, Punch, and inside lecturing in the 1940s. Along with Jackie Le Claire, how many folks are still around who went back so far as employees, and not just as kids growing up on shows, to the time before WWII?
Dick Flint
Baltimore
Dick:
I think the name was Gibb.
Buckles,
Sorry to hear of Mr. Roark's passing.
He was the first Punch and Judy man I ever saw -- and the best.
Jack
Post a Comment