FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Very wise know way out before going in.”

GREETINGS! Charlie Chan takes his plenteous family to the mainland to view the wonders of the Grand Canyon. Along the way they stop to see a local circus; however, this diversion quickly becomes a case of MURDER UNDER THE BIG TOP!

OUR CHAT ROOM: Our Chat Room can be accessed the same way that we accessed by going to our “Chat Room” link at charliechan.info, or use this direct link: http://www.charliechan.info/id17.html

THIS WEEK’S PRESENTATION: “Charlie Chan at the Circus” (1936; 72 minutes); along with our “extra,” a Charlie Chan radio mystery, “The Landini Murder Case: Too many Suspects”. (15 minutes).

FEATURE INTRODUCTION: Charlie Chan takes his wife and twelve children, who are sightseeing on the mainland, to a circus owned by kindly John Gaines and his unscrupulous partner, Joe Kinney. Kinney, who had sent Chan free passes to bring him to the circus, tells the detective that he has been receiving threatening letters. Kinney, a man so widely disliked by his co-workers and employees, is murdered, and virtually any one might have killed him. Convinced to assist the investigation by circus performer Lady Tiny, Chan and Number One Son, Lee, travel with the circus seeking to unmask the killer.

FEATURE NOTES: According to ‘Hollywood Reporter’ news items and production charts, June Lang and John Dilson were to be in the cast, but their participation in the final film has not been confirmed. According to another ‘Hollywood Reporter’ news item, the film was shot "on location at the Al G. Barnes winter quarters," and a ‘Motion Picture Herald’ pre-release article states that "the Barnes Circus [was] used as a background for production settings." In a mid-1980s interview, Keye Luke mentioned that the winter home of the circus used in the film was in the eastern Los Angeles community of El Monte.

CAST (as credited):

Warner Oland: Charlie Chan
Keye Luke: Lee Chan
George Brasno: [Colonel] Tim
Olive Brasno: [Lady] Tiny
Francis Ford: John Gaines
Maxine Reiner: Marie Norman (also known as Marie Normand)
John McGuire: Hal Blake
Shirley Deane: Louise Norman (also known as Lou; also known as Louise Normand)
Paul Stanton: Joe Kinney
J. Carrol Naish: Tom Holt
Boothe Howard: Dan Farrell
Drue Leyton: Nellie Farrell
Wade Boteler: Lieutenant Macy
Shia Jung: Su Toy

UNCREDITED CAST (alphabetical):

John Aasen: Tower the Circus Giant
Esther Brodelet: Circus Performer
John Dilson: Doctor
Franklyn Farnum: Mike
Charles Gemora: Caesar the Ape
Faye Hee: Number Five Chan Daughter
Eugene Hoo: Number Three Chan Son
Eunice Soo Hoo: Infant Chan Daughter
Frances Hoo: Number Two Chan Daughter
Hippie Hoo: Number Five Chan Son
Anna Mar: Mrs. Charlie Chan
Paul McVey: Ringmaster
Lily Mui: Number Six Chan Daughter
Stanton Mui: Number Four Chan Son
Helen Quon: Number Four Chan Daughter
Mae Jean Quon: Number Three Chan Daughter
Anita Thompson: Circus Performer
Florence Ung: Number One Chan Daughter
Richard Ung: Number Two Chan Son
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR FEATURE: Please go to http://www.charliechan.info/id29.html

TRIVIA: With “Charlie Chan at the Circus,” Keye Luke would now appear in the remainder of the Charlie Chan films with Warner Oland.

THIS WEEK’S TERM: Decoration Day - Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day to remember those who have died in our nation's service. After the Civil war many people in the North and South decorated graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. Decoration Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan and was first observed officially on May 30, 1868. The South did not observe Decoration Day, preferring to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I. In 1882, the name was changed to Memorial Day, and soldiers who had died in other wars were also honored. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday to be held on the last Monday in May.

Nellie Ferrell: "It was on May 30, 1935 - Decoration Day."

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE: The Chan family interacts with Tower the Giant.



For a viewing of more than 500 images from ALL films in the Charlie Chan series, please visit our Gallery: http://www.charliechan.info/id448.html

IF YOU LACK A COPY OF OUR FILM: Often our features can be found online. CONTINUED GOOD FORTUNE, as “Charlie Chan at the Circus” IS AVAILABLE online! You may access it above at “THIS WEEK’S PRESENTATION” and also at our Chat Room as a link.

OUR MONTHLY POLL: Please take a moment to cast your vote in our MARCH 2021 POLL, right here: MARCH 2021 Poll

OUR FEBRUARY POLL RESULT:

QUESTION: Which of these police officials was the most antagonistic to Charlie Chan?

Lt. Macy (“Charlie Chan at the Circus”) 14%
Sgt. Kelly (“Charlie Chan at the Opera”) 43%
Sheriff “Tombstone” Fletcher (“Charlie Chan in Reno”) 43%

DO YOU HAVE A POLL QUESTION? Please feel free to suggest a Monthly Poll question! Send your ideas to: charliechanfamily@lyahoo.com.

OUR CCF CHAT ARCHIVE: Please take a look at our growing collection of CCF Chat Texts from previous years and this year: http://www.charliechan.info/id830.html

NEXT WEEK: “Charlie Chan at the Race Track”

OUR CHARLIE CHAN FAMILY NEWSLETTER for this year!

This is our third annual Charlie Chan Family Newsletter! It contains the work of a number of Charlie Chan Family members and friends. Thank you so much to Lou Armagno, aka, HonoluLou, who has put together and published yet another masterpiece! Please use this link to access this year's newsletter which covers the year 2020. Please enjoy!

AND… DON’T MISS THIS GREAT CHARLIE CHAN BLOG!: AND… DON’T MISS THIS GREAT CHARLIE CHAN BLOG!: A great blog site, The Postman on Holiday, is offered by our own Charlie Chan and Earl Derr Biggers expert, Lou Armagno which is: "A place to explore all things surrounding Detective Charlie Chan, his creator Earl Derr Biggers, and their connection with Hawaii, Cleveland, and mystery fiction." Updated each month, it can be found at this address: www.thepostmanonholiday.com

SO, REMEMBER, PLEASE JOIN US for this week’s feature, “Charlie Chan at the Circus.”

THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,

Rush Glick