Charles Penrose (stage name Charles Jolly) released many 'Laughing records' after the success of his first 'Laughing Policeman' in 1922 (an updated version, and more famous, re-write was released in 1926). He released records under a number of guises including Charles Jolly, Charles Penrose, Chas Jolly, Chas Penrose, Charles Pen Caws, Merry Andrew, The Jolly Jesters and several others. Most of the Laughing records also feature Kaye Connor (billed as Joy Day when Penrose uses the alternate name Merry Andrew)!
Throughout the 1920s, before the success of the 1926 re-issue of The Laughing Policeman, Charles Penrose was in a double act with another comedian, Billie Whitlock as Penrose & Whitlock. The records the pair did together were usually sketches rather than songs such as this outing as a pair of travellers on a stagecoach and another record called Potsdam in which the pair play German soldiers in the treches of the First World War. With the success of the later issue of the Laughing Policeman Penrose went solo and got his wife to write many more Laughing songs in the same style. Whitlock also released a version of The Laughing Policeman and several other Laughing records himself without the success of Penrose. His first record was released in 1911 and even the earlier records had a 'jolly' theme theme, often with laughing.
Charles Penrose (11 November 1873 -- 17 November 1952) was a music hall and theatre performer, and later radio comedian, who is best known for his unusual comic song \"The Laughing Policeman\". Charles Penrose was born Frank Penrose Cawse in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, the son of a master watchmaker and jeweller. His parents re-registered him as Charles Penrose Dunbar Cawse shortly after his birth.
Penrose was one of the first comedians to star on BBC Radio, his most popular role being Sgt. Bob Evergreen in the wartime radio series \"The Pig and Whistle.\" He was also a character actor in a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s.
Charles Penrose died of heart disease on 17 November 1952 at the Princess Beatrice Hospital, Kensington, aged 79.
