ACTOR’S FILM CHANCE

Southland Times, Issue 24163, 27 June 1940, Page 11

ACTOR’S FILM CHANCE

COMEDIAN WAITS 20 YEARS YOUTHFUL IMPERSONATOR OF CHAPLIN Sid Field, an English comedian, who played in an Australian vaudeville circuit a few years ago, is to enter pictures. There is a remarkable story about this comedian, who waited 20 years for the chance he wanted. His story begins when Sid, a Birmingham lad, was eight. He had a particular hero in those days, a little man who always seemed to be getting a bump from life —Charlie Chaplin. Sid took to impersonating the great Charles. He had not much in the way of “props,” but, with his cousin playing the part of Ben Turpin, he would give special backyard performances for his pals. Encouraged by their applause, Sid borrowed his father’s trousers, coat and hat, and went out into the streets to make his first public appearance. Street performances ended abruptly because the boy caused a congestion in the traffic, but a woman who saw him gave him a chance to appear indoors. /

From concerts he graduated to the stage. In 1916 he was so small that he was understudying Wee Georgie Wood.

Two years later Sid expressed an ambition to become a stage comic, but his mother would not let him. He also said he would like to work in pictures, but nobody wanted him to. Eventually, however, Sid became a comic and travelled a good deal. He was clowning in a William Henshall revue when producer Doc Solomon from Warner Brothers’ Teddington studios dropped in to see the show. That night Sid was asked to call at the Warner studios next day. A screen contract and a fountain pen were pushed in front of him—his film chance had come. He makes his debut in "That’s the Ticket.”