Greetings!

It is always fun when I see a "Chan actor" appear, especially as something of a surprise, in another film. Usually, simply a familiar face reveals such an actor. However, this morning, while watching a crime short on TCM, "Know Your Money" (1940), I could not mistake a distinctive voice that sounded very familiar. Willie Fern, the "eccentric" museum guard seen in "Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum" immediately came to mind. Sure enough, a quick check at IMDb verified that Charles Wagenheim, our "Willie Fern," was the briefly-shown minor character in this short (who also appears in another Charlie Chan movie later in the series). His VOICE was a giveaway!

Two other Chan veterans also appeared in this short: Wade Boteler and Emmett Vogan.

Enjoy these "surprises" as you watch classic movies - and even the shorts - of the era!

Sincerely,
Rush Glick

Perhaps because I grew up half blind (until I was 14, needed glasses desperately), I most often recognize people by their voices. It comes in handy as the best actors are able to disguise themselves by wile alone, and many roles involve such alterations by makeup/appliances/masks/costumes that you can't see their faces clearly. Now, I can't say it's always a slam dunk; sometimes it eats at me a while til I can finally place them, but when I know a voice, no matter what my eyes tell me, I know a voice!

Dear Tenman,

Thank you for sharing that perspective! I hadn't given that aspect of characters'/actors' voices that consideration before. Radio shows of the past have that effect on me as, of course, there is no visual material involved.

Thank you, again!

Sincerely,
Rush