Skip to main content

Cairoli, Charlie, 1910 - 1980

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 15 February 1910 - 17 February 1980

Biography

Hubert Jean Charles Cairoli was an Italian-English clown, impressionist and musician.

Cairoli was born in Affori, Milan, Italy to a travelling circus family of French origin, he began his performing career at the age of seven, under the name 'Carletto'. In his twenties, he was performing around Europe with his father as The Cairoli Brothers, a knockabout acrobatic act.

Cairoli first appeared at the Blackpool Tower Circus in 1939 just as the Second World War broke out and became the Tower’s resident clown for the following forty years. Cairoli achieved worldwide fame appearing in circuses, films, television, theatres in the UK America and Europe and regularly performed in variety shows and pantomime. He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1970 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at London's Wembley Arena.

Cairoli retired in November 1979 at 69 due to ill health and died a year later on 17 February 1980.

In February 2000 in Blackpool, Cairoli was awarded a posthumous Lifetime Achievement award from the World's Fair circus newspaper.

His son, Charlie Cairoli Junior, adapted the role his father had made famous, although performing more cabaret and pantomime rather than in the circus.

Found in 89 Collections and/or Records:

Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 75 Poster, 1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.181
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli, Mary Chipperfield. Colour illustrations of a clown, a woman riding horseback, horses, a zebra, a lion, tigers and an elephants against a blue background, type in yellow, orange and white.

Dates: 1975

Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 75 Poster, 1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.212
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli, Mary Chipperfield. Colour illustrations of a clown, a woman riding horseback, horses, a zebra, a lion, tigers and an elephants against a blue background, type in yellow, orange and white.

Dates: 1975

Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 75 Poster, 1975

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.146
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli, Mary Chipperfield. Colour illustrations of a clown, a woman riding horseback, horses, a zebra, a lion, tigers and an elephants against a blue background, type in yellow, orange and white.

Dates: 1975

Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 78 Poster, 1978

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.159
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli clown, Mary Chipperfield animal tamer, Lilly Yokoi, Yong Bros. Colour illustration of a pouncing tiger, main background is blue with yellow and white stars, main title in yellow and red, act announcements in red and black on a yellow background.

Dates: 1978

Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic' 78 Poster, 1978

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.160
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli clown, Mary Chipperfield animal tamer, Lilly Yokoi, Yong Bros. Colour illustration of a pouncing tiger, main background is blue with yellow and white stars, main title in yellow and red, act announcements in red and black on a yellow background.

Dates: 1978

Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic Programme, 1975

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.78
Scope and Contents

Colour portrait photographs of Charlie Cairoli and Mary Chipperfield in circles and illustration of animal heads in yellow and red scroll joining the photos on a black starry background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by United Printing Services, Stanley Road, Blackpool, 6p.p.

Dates: 1975

Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic Programme, 1976

 Item
Reference code: 178K43.79
Scope and Contents

Colour illustration of Charlie Cairoli, showgirls and circus animals and riders on a red background on the front cover, inside black and white photographs of performers and acts with text, programme in the centre and commercial advertising. Printed by Renault Printing Co. Ltd., 54 College Road, Birmingham, B44 8BS, 6p.p.

Dates: 1976

Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic Programme, 1975

 Item
Reference code: 178K41.3
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and his Company, Mary Chipperfield and her animals, The Flying Marilees Flyers Aerialists, Circus Knie’s Horses, Franz R. Althoff elephants, Kris Kremo juggler, Fattini blancing act, Skating Rolwoods, Chy Bao Guy Troupe, The Six Bertinis trick cyclists and balancing act, Desmond and Marks clown, Helen Piderman. Notes of times handwritten on programme. Contains photos, 12p.p.

Dates: 1975

Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic Programme, 1977

 Item
Reference code: 178K41.14
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and his company clowns, Bronley’s Space Rocket, Rogana balance act, Circus Knie’s Horses and Ponies presented by Franz R. Althoff, Tommy Chipperfield and his lions, Bratuchin Cossack Troupe, Gina, Orlando and Celinas, Los Hermans, Inge Lise, Tommy de-Vel Trio jugglers, Normans and his udgerigars, Professor Grimble clown. Contains illustration on the cover with photos, 12p.p.

Dates: 1977

Blackpool Tower Circus Fantastic Programme, 1978

 Item
Reference code: 178K41.22
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and his company clowns, Lilly Yokoi trick cyclist, Yong Brothers balancing act, Mary Chipperfield and her magnificent animals, Norman Barrett ringmaster, The Salvadors ball balancing, Kludsky Troupe tumblers, Miss Wendy and her birds, Burger Sisters, El Gran Rober. Contains illustration on cover with photos, 12p.p.

Dates: 1978

Blackpool Tower Circus International Summer Season Programme, 1957

 Item — Box Hamilton Kaye Box 1: Series 178R29; Series 178T9; Series 178K28; Series 178I14; Series 178Z30
Reference code: 178K28.18
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli, Clown, Excess Baggage, Performing dogs, Krone’s Arabian Horses, Polar Bears and Shetland Ponies, The Flying Marileesm Aerial Texans, The Five Cristianis, Acrobats, Frances Duncan, Aerialist, Nino Rubio, Balancing act, The Yokoi Troupe, Cycling act, The Golden Linders, Water Fantasy, The Bedini Troupe, Tumblers, The Aerial Chapmans, Revolving ladder thrills, 12pp.

Dates: 1957

Blackpool Tower Circus International Summer Season Programme, 1960

 Item — Box Hamilton Kaye Box 1: Series 178R29; Series 178T9; Series 178K28; Series 178I14; Series 178Z30
Reference code: 178K28.19
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli, Clown, Benneweis’ Mixed group presented by Gerd Siemoneit, Animal act, The Myrons, Balancing act, Bob Gerry troupe, High Wire Walkers, Knie’s Elephants, chimpanzees and Arabian horses presented by Sacha Houcke, Dudi Smith and Rupert Bemmerl, The Five Amandis, Tumblers, The Balcombes, Fun on a ladder, The 3 Houcs, Jugglers, King Kong, Schaller Brothers, Clowns, Fattini, Clown acrobat, The Therons, Cycling stars, 12pp.

Dates: 1960

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.164
Scope and Contents

15 Devils of the Forest presented by Alfred Court big cat act, Emmy Truzzi equestrian act, Cairoli Trio clowns, Lou Lenny with her kicking mules, 7 Martinettes acrobats, Omega Trio, equilibrists, Doodles clown, Cavalini's canine comedians, 3 Van Normans, The Great Wallendas high wire. Main background is blue with white stars, main title in yellow, type in red and blue on a white background. Printed by W. E. Berry.

Dates: 1939

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1948

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.166
Scope and Contents Vojtek Trubka and his 7 tigers, The Great Alexander Troupe springboard acrobats, Armand Miehe presents Schumann's Norweigan Fjord horses, Cairolis clowns, Flying Alizes trapeze, Edouardo juggling, The Raspinis unsupported ladder act, Bert Bert and Bert, Darita, The Sayers, 4 Nymphs, Annette's Circusettes, Liberty horses presented by Miss Betty, Victor Julien and his pets. Colour illustrations of a tiger, a clown, trapeze artists, dogs and four performers riding a giant fish. Printed by...
Dates: 1948

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1958

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.167
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul clowns, Three Merkys comedy acrobatics, Rih-Aruso, Mills boxing chimpanzees presented by Willem Lenz, Knie's panthers, tigers, lions, polar and black bears and leopards presented by Eugen Weidmann, Knie's sea lions, 6 Flying De Pauls, 3 Antares, 3 Chiesas, Maurice and May, Alma Piaia, Ivan Bratuchin and his Cossack riders, Krone's Liberty horses presented by Jozsi Vinicky, Manja Vinicky and her high school acts, Little Jimmy. Colour illustrations of a clown, a...
Dates: 1958

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.168
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul clowns, Schickler Sisters, Josef Wiesner's 7 tigers presented by Helene Pimmer, Knie's log rolling elephants presented by Ruppert Bemmerl, 4 Palacios, Eldino and assistant, Trio Morlidor, Tibor Alexander's dogs, The Great Barton, The Great Pusztai Troupe, Carmel Gowan, The Two Angelos, 4 Dubowys, Knie's Tiger horses presented by Edith Schickler, Knie's 18 ponies presented by Ingrid Schickler, Hoppe's kicking mule. Colour illustrations of a clown, an elephant and a...
Dates: 1959

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1960

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.169
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli and his Company clown, The Bob Gerry Troupe, 5 Amandis, Knie's chimpanzees by Dudi Smith, The Myrons, Fattini, Schaller Bros, 2 Balcombes, 3 Houcs, The Cycling Therons, King King, Our Sammy, Little Jimmy, Gerb Siemoneit's animals from Benneweis, Sacha Houke presents Knie's horses, Rupert Bemmerl presents Knie's elephants. Colour illustrations of a clown and clothed chimpanzees at the top, a lion and a tiger at the bottom, acts listed in multicoloured fonts against...
Dates: 1960

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1961

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.170
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and Company. Colour illustration of a clown on a rocket in space with a collection of circus animals, monkeys, an elephant, a cat and a giraffe, background is a blue and purple night sky, type multicoloured. Printed by W. E. Berry.

Dates: 1961

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1965

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.171
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli and his Company, Ferdinando Jarz Troupe, Robert Bros 5 baby elephants presented by Dickie Baker, 3 Merkys, D'Angoly Jnr, Arno and Rita Van Bolen, The Tower Circusettes, Circus A Althoff's Liberty horses presented by F R Althoff, Circus A Althoff's Shetland ponies presented by Helene Althoff, Hoppe's kicking mule, 8 Jungle Queens presented by Captain Sidney Howes, 6 Biasinis, 5 Olanders, Skating Bredos, Dogsi's football dogs, The Trio Puerto Rico, Alma Piana. Colour...
Dates: 1965

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1966

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.172
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli and his Company, Gerd Siemoneit's lions, tigers, leopards, pumas and panther, Ruppert's bears, Rogana, Seven Lukacs, Jörgen and Conny, Desmond and Marks, Circus A Althoff's eight Arab Liberty horses presented by Franz Althoff Jnr, Maryse Begary, Tower Circusettes, Roberto Mariani Trio, triple high school by Franz Althoff Jnr, Elene Althoff and Evi Barrtch, 5 Medifreds, The Ascots. Colour illustrations of a clown, a leopard, a panther and a bear on a tall bicycle, type and...
Dates: 1966