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 Poster, 1958

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.144
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul clown, Three Merkys comedy acrobats, Rih-Aruso, Mills' Boxing chimpanzees presented by William Lenz, Knie's panthers, tigers, lions, polar and black bears and leopards presented by Eugen Weidman, Knei'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 tiger,...
Dates: 1958

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1938

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.162
Scope and Contents Hagenbeck's Elephants presented by Walter Kaden, Crocker's Teddy bears, Dario Bario Family clowns, Rubrio Sisters equilibrists, Capt. Tommy Kayes with his lions, Lopez Trio with Victor Fratellini comedy aerial gymnasts, Flying Alizes, Ellen Octavio animal trainer, Doodles clown, 3 Van Normans, Ryders 3, Camilla Caroli Troupe riding act, The Crystal Wonders, The Tower Mermaids. White, yellow, red and blue type on blue, red, yellow and green background with colour illustrations of clown heads...
Dates: 1938

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

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1967

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.173
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and his Company, Flying Leotaris, Taras Bulba and his tigers, Max and Barbara Morris with their sea-lions, Tibor Alexander and his Dog Revue, The 3 Villams, Tower Circusettes, Baily Fossettt's elephants and ponies presented by Ivor Rosaire, The Great Barton, Jean Claude, Gina The Girl in the Moon, Goldy the horse with Jack Rosaire, The Gerardis, Desmond and Marks, The Wilsons. Colour illustration of a clown, type and background multicoloured. Printed by W. E. Berry Ltd.

Dates: 1967

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1968

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.174
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and his Company clowns, Gerd Siemoneit's lions, tigers, leopards, pumas and panther, 6 Kludsky, Chy Bad Guy, The Four Rodriguez aerial acrobats, The Svenssons, Gabriella and her show dogs, Astralita, The Balcombes, Ivan Bratuchin and his Cossack riders, Concha and Concha, Giselle Palmas, Tower Circusettes, Desmond and Marks. Black and white photograph of a clown, type multicoloured on multicoloured background.

Dates: 1968

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1969

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.175
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and his Company, Flying Marilees, Circus Franz Althoff's 7 tigers presented by Miss Yvonne, Circus Franz Althoff's elephants presented by F.R. Althoff, 8 Danish Tiger horses and ponies presented by F.R. Althoff, 6 Ferkos, 4 Castors, 4 Bertolas, jockey chimpanzees presented by Al de Jonghe, Toly M, Tower Circusettes, Desmond and Marks. Black and white photograph of a clown, type multicoloured on multicoloured background.

Dates: 1969

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1970

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.176
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and his Company, Ruppert's bears, Valla Bertini Troupe, The Elwardos, Barbara Morris and her sea lions, The Svensons, The New Houdinys, David Rosaire and his Perky Pekes, Gerard Edon, Desmond and Marks, Freddie Kenton, Skating Sandras, The Charlies, Tower Circusettes. Small black and white photograph of a clown and black and white illustration of blackpool tower, type multicoloured on multicoloured background.

Dates: 1970

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1971

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.177
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli and his Company, The Flying Alizes, Robert Bros elephants presented by Ivor Rosaire, Duo Dobritch, Three Villams, The Crazy Monroe, Arturo Segura, Jean Lemoine and Partner, Leigh Marsh and her Poodle Cocktail, Joan Rosaire and Goldy, Desmond and Marks, Jerry, Jimmy and Johnny, Tower Circusettes, Hungarian State Circus Four Syrius. Black and white photograph of a clown, colour illustrations of trapeze artists, an elephant, performing dogs in clothes, a horse and a water...
Dates: 1971

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1972

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.178
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and his Company, Flying Leotaris, The Great Halassys, Rogana, Robert Brothers present their 4 elephants and 8 Appalloosa stallions, David Rosaire and his Perky Pekes, The Raluys, The Astoris, Desmond and Marks, The Keddellos, The Hermanis, The Tower Circusettes. Black and white photograph of a clown, type multicoloured on a multicoloured background.

Dates: 1972

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1973

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.179
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and his Company clowns, The Aerial Rodriguez, Dogsi's football dogs, Bartschelly, Jose and Mary, Brian Andro, Katja Schumann, Robert Brothers's 8 spotted ponies presented by Katja Schumann, The Two Palacys, Desmond and Marks, Trio Elios, The Two Fudis, The Tower Circusettes, Alham Sahari and Shira with their crocodiles and reptiles. Colour illustration of two crocodiles, type multicoloured on multicoloured background.

Dates: 1973

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1974

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.180
Scope and Contents

Charlie Cairoli and his Company, The Trio Hoganas, The Flying Alizes, Max Morris and his sea lions, Robert Brotherss four elephants, The Wychwoods and their poodles, Three Siefrieds, Six Benis, The Kludskys, Jerry, Jimmy and Johnny, Jean Claude and Yvette, Paul and Barry Harman, The Tower Circusettes. Colour abstract illustration of a clown's face and hat, type multicoloured on multicoloured background. Printed by Armitage Publicity Lancaster.

Dates: 1974

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1954

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.186
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul, Knie's panthers, polar bears, black bears, lions and tigers presented by August Natsch, Three Craddocks, Vivian and Tassi, 4 Ramses, 2 Rassos, Harold Gautier's Excess Baggage presented by Alma Michaels, The 7 Eagles, Two Cherks, Fattini, Knie's radio horses and wist drive horses presented by Wenzel Kossmayer, Argentine Pony Express presented by Douglas Kossmayer, dancing horse and his Partner Sandry presented by Douglas Kossmayer and George Ruzsa, Jimmy Scott,...
Dates: 1954

Blackpool Tower Circus Poster, 1953

 Item
Reference code: 178R47.187
Scope and Contents Charlie Cairoli with Paul clowns, 8 Flying Croneras, Fischer's elephants, 5 Hansels, John, The Balladinis, 5 Talos, Knie's Legionnaires equestrian act, Klant's lions presented by Tarzana, 2 Canters, Karl Kossmayers unrideable mule, Jimmy Scott, Little Jimmy, Annette's Circusettes, Carola's cockatoos and parrots, Trio Olympiads. Colour illustrations of lion and tamer, clown, aerial acrobat, elephant and a man on horseback, main background blue with a red stage curtain at the top, type red on...
Dates: 1953