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Charles Joseph "Charlie" (sometimes spelled "Charley") Kelly (February 18, 1859 – June 15, 1918), known professionally as Charles J. Ross or Charley Ross, was a Canadian-American entertainer, composer and theatrical producer who performed in vaudeville,
"Charles J. Ross Dead. Prominent Travesty Actor Succumbs at 59 at Ross-Fenton Farm"
'' The New York Times'', June 16, 1918. Accessed February 9, 2012. "Charles J. Ross, many years ago a member of the Weber and Fields Company and later a headliner in vaudeville in the team of Ross and Fenton, died at his home in North Asbury Park today."The Players Blue Book, 1901 pg.128
/ref>
Ross married actress Ada Towne (known professionally as Mabel Fenton) on June 9, 1887, during a stopover at Deadwood, South Dakota amidst a vaudeville tour of the American West. The couple soon created the act Ross and Fenton and within two years became a staple of the Weber and Fields Company in New York performing their farce productions of classic and popular plays of the day. Ross later formed his own company and continued to perform well into the early decades of the twentieth century. The couple appeared in at least two films: ''Death of Nancy Sykes'' (1897) and ''How Molly Malone Made Good'' (1915).
In the late 1890s, Ross and his wife opened Ross Fenton Farm, a resort hotel in The New Jersey Coast in Three Centuries: Volume 3, By Peter Ross, Fenwick Y. Hedley 1902 pg. 22
/ref> Most of the resort burned to the ground in 1950. Some of the original houses are still standing, including the main house of Charles Ross and Mable Fenton.
burlesque
A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.
, and on the stage. Ross and his wife, Mabel Fenton, became popular for their parodies of classical plays.
Early life
Ross was born Charles Joseph Kelly to William and Caroline (née Brown) Kelly at Montreal, Quebec, where his father was employed as a carpenter.Staff"Charles J. Ross Dead. Prominent Travesty Actor Succumbs at 59 at Ross-Fenton Farm"
'' The New York Times'', June 16, 1918. Accessed February 9, 2012. "Charles J. Ross, many years ago a member of the Weber and Fields Company and later a headliner in vaudeville in the team of Ross and Fenton, died at his home in North Asbury Park today."The Players Blue Book, 1901 pg.128
/ref>
Career
Ross began as a circus entertainer with P. T. Barnum before his stage debut on April 5, 1885, at Miner's Bowery Theatre in Manhattan as a singer and impersonator. Next he performed with Herman's Transatlantic in a variety act at the Atlantic Gardens Bowery Theater. Over the next few years, Ross would develop his talent as a farce comedian playing with vaudeville companies in New York and on the road.
Ross married actress Ada Towne (known professionally as Mabel Fenton) on June 9, 1887, during a stopover at Deadwood, South Dakota amidst a vaudeville tour of the American West. The couple soon created the act Ross and Fenton and within two years became a staple of the Weber and Fields Company in New York performing their farce productions of classic and popular plays of the day. Ross later formed his own company and continued to perform well into the early decades of the twentieth century. The couple appeared in at least two films: ''Death of Nancy Sykes'' (1897) and ''How Molly Malone Made Good'' (1915).
In the late 1890s, Ross and his wife opened Ross Fenton Farm, a resort hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park () is a beachfront city located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area.
As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 15,188
that also doubled as their primary residence. For a number of years, Ross Fenton Farm was a popular mecca for New York area artist and entertainers.Mabel Fenton Dead Former Stage Star New York Times - Special to The New York Times.; April 20, 1931; pg. 16/ref> Most of the resort burned to the ground in 1950. Some of the original houses are still standing, including the main house of Charles Ross and Mable Fenton.
Death
Ross died on June 15, 1918, at Ross Fenton Farm after a long illness and failed operation. Ross' wife Mabel died on April 19, 1931, in Los Angeles at the age of 66. They are buried together at Glenwood Cemetery in West Long Branch, New Jersey.Broadway credits
Filmography
References
External links
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Charlie J. 1859 births 1918 deaths 19th-century American male actors 20th-century American male actors 19th-century Canadian male actors 20th-century Canadian male actors American male musical theatre actors American musical theatre composers American male silent film actors American male stage actors American theatre managers and producers Burials in New Jersey American burlesque performers Canadian emigrants to the United States Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States Canadian male musical theatre actors Canadian musical theatre composers Canadian male silent film actors Canadian male stage actors Canadian theatre managers and producers Male actors from Montreal People from Asbury Park, New Jersey Vaudeville performers 19th-century American male singers 19th-century American singers 19th-century American businesspeople