An English Music Hall on Spring Street

A Night at The Empress

As a starving, neglected child, the English Music Hall became Charles Chaplin’s home and salvation. The son of actors had to sing for his supper, much like other film stars in their youth. His older brother persuaded Fred Karno to hire young Charlie at seventeen, and eventually he became Karno’s best performer.
David Robinson describes Chaplin’s entry into film in his book, Chaplin. His Life and Art, with speculation. The romantic notion of Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand on a date, seeing Chaplin at Hammerstein’s Theater in New York is possible, but Karno’s troupe performed coast to coast, including Seattle.
Chaplin appeared in Seattle for the final time in April, 1912. He was not quite twenty-three, performing as ‘The Inebriate' and delighting crowds at Seattle’s Empress Theater. Seattle historian Eric Flom describes this performance in a wonderful essay penned for History Link.org. Seattle theater critic Willis Sayre reviewed Karno’s act, "A Night in a English Music Hall," in glowing terms and more importantly…… he saved the program. This playbill from the Empress (formerly The Majestic and later re-named The Palace-Hip) and thousands more comprise the phenomenal Sayre-Carkeek collection donated by Mr. Sayre to the Seattle Public Library. Viewing this artifact, we are able to connect with our past, the history of performing arts in Seattle, and in this instance, the origins of the greatest performer to ever appear on film.

"Empress Notes" from the previous week’s program (March 25, 1912) announced Karno’s coming.

"The headline act at the Empress Theater for the coming week will be Fred Karno’s London Pantomime Company in the laughable English musical comedy entitled "A Night in An English Music Hall." The feature is one of the best comedy numbers that vaudeville has offered in many seasons. This will be the second appearance of this clever troupe and no doubt will be received with a great welcome, as on previous occasion the act was one of the biggest hits ever presented in a local theater. There are fifteen of England’s best comedians in the company and the list is headed by the clever English comedian, Chas. Chaplin, who will take the part of "The Inebriated Swell." "

Images from the Sayre-Carkeek collection courtesy of Seattle Public Library.

For Walter Crowley