Charles D. Chase (1886 – September 26, 1964), known professionally as Charlie Bell, was a whiteface circus clown for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. In addition, he’s known for his work in Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth.
Charlie ran away and joined a medicine show. There, he performed as a acrobat at the age of 7. He adopted the owner’s last name “Bell” and was know for the rest of his life as Charlie Bell. Known early in his career as the “world’s greatest tumbler,” he was part of an acrobatic troupe known as Rice, Bell and Baldwin. He joined Ringling Brothers in 1921 and worked there until his retirement in 1956.
Charlie Bell was inducted into the International Circus Hall of Fame in 1969. He was also one of four clowns featured on boxes of Kellogg’s Sugar Smacks cereal in 1956.
Bell would often perform with a small dogs, Trixie and Honey Boy, which he would dress up to look like other animals such as a rabbit or an elephant.
Personal life of Charlie Bell
He married Getrude Bell and had one daughter Charlotte Bell Kora. His two granddaughters, Tessie and Tosca Kora Fornasari, were both circus performers as is his great granddaughter Nicolette Fornasari.
Bibliography
- “CHARLES D. CHASE, CLOWN KNOWN AS CHARLIE BELL, DIES”. New York Times. September 26, 1964. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- Dykes, Dick. “Clown from–Martins Ferry, Ohio Times Leader”. Balloon Man Blog. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- Cashin, Pat. “Charlie Bell Sugar Smacks”. Pat Cashin’s Clown Alley. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- Kelly, Emmett (1956). Clown. Robert Hale. p. 231.
- Boring, Mel. Clowns, the fun makers. J. Messner. p. 78.