Charles Austin (comedian)

{{Short description|English comedian (1878–1944)}}

Charles Austin (born Charles Reynolds;{{cite book |last=Busby |first=Roy |author-link= |date=1976 |title=British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day |url= |location=London |publisher=Paul Elek |page= 17|isbn=0-236-40053-3}} 4 April 1878 – 14 January 1942) was an English music hall comedian.

He was born in London, and started performing in music halls in 1896,{{cite book |title=Kindly Leave the Stage – a History of Variety, 1919–1960 |author=Roger Wilmut |isbn=0-413-48960-4|year=1985|pages=41–42 }} initially as one half of a double act, Lytton and Austin. Inspired by the sight of a redundant police station,[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/180887806 Charles Vaude, "Charles Austin: Never Failed to Raise a Laugh", Sporting Globe, Melbourne, 2 September 1939] he developed a solo act in the character of an inept policeman, "Parker, P.C.", which he first performed at Collins's Music Hall in Islington in 1908.[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=asc&q=%22Charles+Austin%22#search Radio Times, Issue 522, 1 October 1933]. Retrieved 8 February 2021 Austin came to be described as "The King of Cockney Humour", and, starting in 1910, he recorded a number of comedy sketches as Parker P.C.{{cite web |title=Charles Austin: Parker P.C. |url=https://www.musichallcds.co.uk/cdr50_page.htm |website=Windyridge CDs |access-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214171444/https://musichallcds.co.uk/charles_austin.htm |archive-date=14 February 2016 |url-status=live}} With fellow music hall performer Billy Merson, he set up Homeland Films, with whom he made several silent short films, including Parker's Weekend (1916) and The Exploits of Parker (1917), directed by W. P. Kellino.[https://books.google.com/books?id=dVHaAAAAQBAJ&dq=homeland+films+austin+merson&pg=PA99 Rachael Low (ed.), The History of British Film 1914 - 1918 · Volume 3, Taylor & Francis, 2013, p.99]

Austin continued to perform through the 1920s. In 1929, the character was developed into a play, The Adventures of Parker, P. C., of which the Hampshire Advertiser said: "There is no doubt that never before has this great favourite been so excruciatingly, irresistibly funny."[https://mayflower-history.com/1929-july-to-septmber/ "5th August 1929 – The Adventures of Parker P.C.", Mayflower Historical Almanac]. Retrieved 8 February 2021 He also featured in BBC radio broadcasts during the 1930s, and appeared in two films, Hot Heir (1931) and We'll Smile Again (1942).[https://web.archive.org/web/20230718155705/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2c16285 Charles Austin Filmography, BFI]. Retrieved 8 February 2021 The 1934 film It's a Cop was based on one of his sketches.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200718132342/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6ad5ca43 "It's a Cop", BFI]. Retrieved 8 February 2021

Austin was actively involved in the benevolent charitable organization, the Grand Order of Water Rats, and was "King Rat" for an unprecedented six years (1912, 1913, 1918, 1927, 1928, 1932).[http://www.gowr.co.uk/all-water-rats/v/466 "Charles Austin", Grand Order of Water Rats]. Retrieved 8 February 2021

He died in London in 1942, aged 65.