Charley Chase is an unjustly forgotten comedy star from the 1930’s who worked at the Hal Roach Studios at the same time that Laurel and Hardy and the Our Gang did. In fact, in their day, they might be considered the ‘big three’ comedy short subject stars. Although it is difficult to find Chase comedies in the mainstream world, videos of his films along with ‘real’ 16mm and Super 8 film have long circulated in the collector world. Chase’s films are among some of my favorites. Sadly, Charley Chase himself died quite young in 1940, but I was especially happy to find that my friend Bob had an address for Mrs. June Hargis, Charley’s second and youngest daughter.
I had copied this address from Bob’s address book while visiting him in the Summer of 1997 and it didn’t take too long before I was utilizing it. Armed with only a large self-addressed-stamped-envelope, I composed a letter to the former Ms. Chase, relating just how much the film work of her father had meant to me over the years. Sending it out on September 3, I received her amazing one-of-a-kind response back in short order on September 15.
She sent me a photo of her with her dad Charley, peacefully fishing in one of their last photos together taken around 1940. From the aging and coloring of the photo, this was obviously an original from her own collection – possibly the only one of its kind. She signed it to me on the back side, dating it September 12, 1997.
Although a brazen move at best, I took a bold chance and sent the photo back to her – along with a Sharpie marker – and asked if she might sign it to me on the front side, so that I might display it on my wall and her signature would be visible. It was a brave and stupid move – but it panned out successfully. She did just what I ask her. Whether signed on the front or not, this has certainly got to be one of my most unique and treasured items.
June and Charley in a most serene photo not long before his death. One of the gems of my collection.
The magician reveals his secrets. An example of one of my ‘celebrity requests’ with a response from June Chase Hargis
Later on, Bob got back in contact with June and had her sign a couple of additional photos for me, one with her father as seen at top, and another with both of them along with Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly as seen below. She went on to come to some of the meeting of the Way Out West Tent of the Sons of the Desert in Los Angeles. I’m not sure, but I’d like to think that in some small way, the success I had with getting a signed photo from June Chase Hargis inspired Bob to seek her out and get her to some of their meeting, so everyone could enjoy meeting the daughter of this giant of film comedy before she passed away at the end of 2003.
Thelma Todd, Charley Chase, June Chase, and Patsy Kelly
Autographs of 1997 will continue…
So you got her address out of my book did ya? In fact, the answer to your question is yes, since you did hear back from June, I did persue getting her to our meetings and a banquet. I had little luck before that. But after her husband passed, she was willing to come out to meetings and answer mail. I had the honor of driving her to the meetings from her home in Yorba Linda. Good job young Bradley!
Bob
June 8th, 2008