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Charley Grapewin

January 01, 1970

Charles Ellsworth Grapewin (December 20, 1869 – February 2, 1956) was an American vaudeville and circus performer, a writer, and a stage and film actor. He worked in over 100 motion pictures during the silent and sound eras, most notably portraying Uncle Henry in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's The Wizard of Oz (1939), "Grandpa" William James Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road (1941), Uncle Salters in Captains Courageous (1937), Gramp Maple in The Petrified Forest (1936), Wang's Father in The Good Earth (1937), and California Joe in They Died With Their Boots On (1941).[1]

Charley Grapewin
Born
Charles Ellsworth Grapewin

(1869-12-20)December 20, 1869
Xenia, Ohio, U.S.
DiedFebruary 2, 1956(1956-02-02) (aged 86)
Corona, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupations
  • Vaudeville performer
  • actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • circus performer
Years active1900–1956 [citation needed]
Spouses
Anna Chance
​
​
(m. 1896; died 1943)​
Loretta McGowan Becker
​
​
(m. 1945; div. 1950)​

Biography edit

Born in Xenia, Ohio, Charles Grapewin ran away from home to be a circus acrobat which led him to work as an aerialist and trapeze artist in a traveling circus before turning to acting. He traveled all over the world with the famous P. T. Barnum circus. Grapewin also appeared in the original 1903 Broadway production of The Wizard of Oz, 36 years before he would be featured in the famous Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film version.

After this he continued in theatre, on and offstage, for the next thirty years, starting with various stock companies, and wrote stage plays as a vehicle for himself. His sole Broadway theatre credit was the short-lived play It's Up to You John Henry in 1905.

Grapewin in the c. 1900 silent film Chimmie Hicks at the Races.[2]

Grapewin began in silent films at the turn of the twentieth century. His very first films were two "moving image shorts" made by Frederick S. Armitage and released in November 1900; Chimmie Hicks at the Races (also known as Above the Limit) and Chimmie Hicks and the Rum Omelet, both shot in September and October 1900 and released in November of that year.[3][4][5] During his long career, Grapewin appeared in more than one hundred films, including The Good Earth, The Petrified Forest, The Grapes of Wrath, Tobacco Road, and in what is probably his best-remembered role: Uncle Henry in The Wizard of Oz. Prior to being cast in that film, Grapewin performed in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Broadway Melody of 1938 with Judy Garland (Dorothy in Oz) and Buddy Ebsen (the original Tin Man in Oz). He also performed with Garland in Listen, Darling. Later, in the early 1940s, he had a recurring role as Inspector Queen in the Ellery Queen film series.

Personal life and death edit

Grapewin married actress Anna Chance in 1896, and they remained together until her death in 1943.[6] Two years later, on January 10, 1945, he married Loretta McGowan Becker. That union ended in divorce in 1950.[citation needed]

Grapewin died on February 2, 1956, at his home in Corona, California at the age of 86.[1] His ashes are interred with his wife's in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, at the Great Mausoleum's Columbarium of Inspiration.[citation needed]

Selected filmography edit

 
Grapewin with Emma Dunn in Hell's House 1932
 
Grapewin in the trailer for The Good Earth ,(1937)
 
Grapewin in The Grapes of Wrath in 1940

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Charles Grapewin Is Dead at 86". The New York Times, February 3, 1956. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  2. ^ "Chimmie Hicks at the races". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  3. ^ "Chimmie Hicks at the Races". Complete Index to World Film. Accessed 02-19-2009.
  4. ^ . Sinema.com (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  5. ^ "Chimmie Hicks at the Races". Library of Congress Moving Image Collection. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "Mrs. Charles Grapewin". The New York Times. September 12, 1943. Retrieved 2007-08-21.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles Grapewin.

January 01, 1970
charley, grapewin, charles, ellsworth, grapewin, december, 1869, february, 1956, american, vaudeville, circus, performer, writer, stage, film, actor, worked, over, motion, pictures, during, silent, sound, eras, most, notably, portraying, uncle, henry, metro, g. Charles Ellsworth Grapewin December 20 1869 February 2 1956 was an American vaudeville and circus performer a writer and a stage and film actor He worked in over 100 motion pictures during the silent and sound eras most notably portraying Uncle Henry in Metro Goldwyn Mayer s The Wizard of Oz 1939 Grandpa William James Joad in The Grapes of Wrath 1940 Jeeter Lester in Tobacco Road 1941 Uncle Salters in Captains Courageous 1937 Gramp Maple in The Petrified Forest 1936 Wang s Father in The Good Earth 1937 and California Joe in They Died With Their Boots On 1941 1 Charley GrapewinNew York Clipper 1900BornCharles Ellsworth Grapewin 1869 12 20 December 20 1869Xenia Ohio U S DiedFebruary 2 1956 1956 02 02 aged 86 Corona California U S Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park CemeteryOccupationsVaudeville performeractorcomedianwritercircus performerYears active1900 1956 citation needed SpousesAnna Chance m 1896 died 1943 wbr Loretta McGowan Becker m 1945 div 1950 wbr Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life and death 3 Selected filmography 4 References 5 External linksBiography editBorn in Xenia Ohio Charles Grapewin ran away from home to be a circus acrobat which led him to work as an aerialist and trapeze artist in a traveling circus before turning to acting He traveled all over the world with the famous P T Barnum circus Grapewin also appeared in the original 1903 Broadway production of The Wizard of Oz 36 years before he would be featured in the famous Metro Goldwyn Mayer film version After this he continued in theatre on and offstage for the next thirty years starting with various stock companies and wrote stage plays as a vehicle for himself His sole Broadway theatre credit was the short lived play It s Up to You John Henry in 1905 source source source source Grapewin in the c 1900 silent film Chimmie Hicks at the Races 2 Grapewin began in silent films at the turn of the twentieth century His very first films were two moving image shorts made by Frederick S Armitage and released in November 1900 Chimmie Hicks at the Races also known as Above the Limit and Chimmie Hicks and the Rum Omelet both shot in September and October 1900 and released in November of that year 3 4 5 During his long career Grapewin appeared in more than one hundred films including The Good Earth The Petrified Forest The Grapes of Wrath Tobacco Road and in what is probably his best remembered role Uncle Henry in The Wizard of Oz Prior to being cast in that film Grapewin performed in Metro Goldwyn Mayer s Broadway Melody of 1938 with Judy Garland Dorothy in Oz and Buddy Ebsen the original Tin Man in Oz He also performed with Garland in Listen Darling Later in the early 1940s he had a recurring role as Inspector Queen in the Ellery Queen film series Personal life and death editGrapewin married actress Anna Chance in 1896 and they remained together until her death in 1943 6 Two years later on January 10 1945 he married Loretta McGowan Becker That union ended in divorce in 1950 citation needed Grapewin died on February 2 1956 at his home in Corona California at the age of 86 1 His ashes are interred with his wife s in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale California at the Great Mausoleum s Columbarium of Inspiration citation needed Selected filmography edit nbsp Grapewin with Emma Dunn in Hell s House 1932 nbsp Grapewin in the trailer for The Good Earth 1937 nbsp Grapewin in The Grapes of Wrath in 1940 The Shannons of Broadway 1929 as Swanzey film debut Only Saps Work 1930 as Simeon Tanner The Millionaire 1931 as Ed Powers Gold Dust Gertie 1931 as Nicholas Hautrey Heaven on Earth 1931 as Doc Boax Hell s House 1932 as Henry Clark The Big Timer 1932 as Pop Baldwin Disorderly Conduct 1932 as Limpy Are You Listening 1932 as Pierce uncredited Huddle 1932 as Doctor uncredited The Woman in Room 13 1932 as Andy The Washington Masquerade 1932 as Senator Simmons uncredited Lady and Gent 1932 as Grocer American Madness 1932 as Mr Jones uncredited The Night of June 13 1932 as Grandpop Jeptha Strawn Wild Horse Mesa 1932 as Sam Bass No Man of Her Own 1932 as George the Clerk Hello Everybody 1933 as Jed The Kiss Before the Mirror 1933 as Schultz Heroes for Sale 1933 as Pa Dennis Midnight Mary 1933 as Clerk Don t Bet on Love 1933 as Pop McCaffery Pilgrimage 1933 as Dad Saunders Turn Back the Clock 1933 as Dr Henderson uncredited Beauty for Sale 1933 as Freddy Gordon Torch Singer 1933 as Judson Wild Boys of the Road 1933 as Mr Cadman uncredited Female 1933 as Drunk at Hamburger Stand uncredited Hell and High Water 1933 as Peck Wealin Two Alone 1934 as Sandy Roberts Caravan 1934 as Notary The Quitter 1934 as Ed Tilford She Made Her Bed 1934 as Joe Olesen The Loudspeaker 1934 as Pop Calloway Return of the Terror 1934 as Jessup Judge Priest 1934 as Sergeant Jimmy Bagby The President Vanishes 1934 as Richard Norton Anne of Green Gables 1934 as Dr Tatum In Spite of Danger 1935 as Pop Sullivan Eight Bells 1935 as Grayson Party Wire 1935 as Will Oliver One Frightened Night 1935 as Jasper Whyte Shanghai 1935 as Truesdale Alice Adams 1935 as J A Lamb King Solomon of Broadway 1935 as Uncle Winchester Rendezvous 1935 as Martin Super Speed 1935 as Terry Devlin Ah Wilderness 1935 as Dave McComber The Petrified Forest 1936 as Gramp Maple The Voice of Bugle Ann 1936 as Cal Royster Small Town Girl 1936 as Dr Ned Fabre Libeled Lady 1936 as Mr Bane Without Orders 1936 as J P Kendrick Sinner Take All 1936 as Aaron The Good Earth 1937 as Old Father A Family Affair 1937 as Frank Redmond Captains Courageous 1937 as Uncle Salters Between Two Women 1937 as Dr Webster Broadway Melody of 1938 1937 as James K Blakeley Bad Guy 1937 as Dan Gray Big City 1937 as The Mayor The Bad Man of Brimstone 1937 as Barney Lane Of Human Hearts 1938 as Jim Meeker The Girl of the Golden West 1938 as Uncle Davy Three Comrades 1938 as Local Doctor Three Loves Has Nancy 1938 as Grandpa Briggs Listen Darling 1938 as Uncle Joe Artists and Models Abroad 1938 as James Harper Stand Up and Fight 1939 as Old Puff Burn Em Up O Connor 1939 as Doc Heath Sudden Money 1939 as Grandpa Casey Patterson The Man Who Dared 1939 as Ulysses Porterfield The Wizard of Oz 1939 as Uncle Henry Dust Be My Destiny 1939 as Pop Hero for a Day 1939 as Uncle Frank Lucky Higgins Sabotage 1939 as Major Matt Grayson The Grapes of Wrath 1940 as William James Grandpa Joad Johnny Apollo 1940 as Judge Emmett T Brennan Earthbound 1940 as Mr Whimser Rhythm on the River 1940 as Uncle Caleb Ellery Queen Master Detective 1940 as Insp Queen Texas Rangers Ride Again 1940 as Ranger Ben Caldwalder Tobacco Road 1941 as Jeeter Ellery Queen s Penthouse Mystery 1941 as Inspector Richard Queen Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime 1941 as Insp Queen Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring 1941 as Insp Queen They Died with Their Boots On 1941 as California Joe A Close Call for Ellery Queen 1942 as Inspector Queen A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen 1942 as Insp Queen Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen 1942 as Inspector Richard Queen Crash Dive 1943 as Pop uncredited Follow the Boys 1944 as Nick West Atlantic City 1944 as Jake Taylor The Impatient Years 1944 as Benjamin L Pidgeon Bellboy Gunfighters 1947 as Inskip Rancher The Enchanted Valley 1948 as Grandpa Sand 1949 as Doug When I Grow Up 1951 as Grandpa Reed final film role References edit a b Charles Grapewin Is Dead at 86 The New York Times February 3 1956 Retrieved January 22 2014 Chimmie Hicks at the races Library of Congress Retrieved 2020 05 20 Chimmie Hicks at the Races Complete Index to World Film Accessed 02 19 2009 Chimmie Hicks and the Rum Omelet Sinema com in Turkish Archived from the original on 2011 07 16 Retrieved 2009 02 19 Chimmie Hicks at the Races Library of Congress Moving Image Collection Retrieved April 17 2020 Mrs Charles Grapewin The New York Times September 12 1943 Retrieved 2007 08 21 External links edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles Grapewin Charley Grapewin at IMDb Charley Grapewin at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Charley Grapewin at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charley Grapewin amp oldid 1220572808, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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