Charles J. Ross

Charles Joseph "Charlie" Kelly (February 18, 1859 – June 15, 1918), known professionally as Charles J. Ross, was a Canadian-American entertainer, composer and theatrical producer who performed in vaudeville, burlesque, and on the stage. Ross and his wife, Mabel Fenton, became popular for their parodies of classical plays.[1]

Charles J. Ross
ca. 1909
Born	Charles Joseph Kelly February 18, 1859 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	June 15, 1918 (aged 59) Asbury Park, New Jersey, United States
Resting place	Glenwood Cemetery
Occupation	Entertainer, composer and theatrical producer
Years active	1885–1915
Spouse	Mabel Fenton ​ (m. 1887⁠–⁠1918)​

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.[1][2]

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.[1] 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.[2]

Driftwood of the Stage, 1904

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).[3]

Ross-Fenton Farm, circa 1900

In the late 1890s, Ross and his wife opened Ross Fenton Farm, a resort hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey 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.[4][5] 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.[1] Ross' wife Mabel died on April 19, 1931, in Los Angeles at the age of 66.[4] They are buried together at Glenwood Cemetery in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

Broadway credits

Poster for Ross & Fenton's Twirly Whirly (Library of Congress ca. 1890s)

Date	Production	Role	Notes
April 6 – May 27, 1899	Helter Skelter	Lord Shaggy Shetland
September 21, 1899 – May 5, 1900	Whirl-i-gig	Performer
September 6, 1900 – April 20, 1901	Fiddle-dee-dee	Marcus Finishus Lieutenant Tention
February 11 – May 4, 1901	My Lady	Cardinal Richelieu
November 4, 1901 – May 31, 1902	The Sleeping Beauty and the Beast	Queen Spadia
September 24, 1903 – May 28, 1904	Catherine	Duke de Coocoo
April 9 – September 15, 1906	The Social Whirl	Julian Endicott	Lyricist and songwriter
April 1 – April 14, 1907	The Social Whirl	Performer
July 8 – November 10, 1907	Ziegfeld Follies of 1907	Performer
January 2 – May 16, 1908	The Merry Widow Burlesque	Prince Dandilo
November 16, 1908 – January 30, 1909	The Merry Widow and The Devil	Prince Dandilo
September 1, 1909 – January 1910	The Love Cure	Torrelli
October 23 – October 1911	Mrs. Avery	–	Producer
April 11 – September 7, 1912	A Winsome Widow	Rashleigh Gay
July 22 – November 16, 1912	The Passing Show of 1912	Performer

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1897	Death of Nancy Sykes	Bill Sykes	Short film
1914	The Great Diamond Robbery	Mr. Bulford
1914	A Double Haul		Short film Alternative title: The Millionaire Detective
1914	A Strange Adventure		Short film
1915	How Molly Malone Made Good	Himself, Cameo Appearance
1915	The Senator
1916	Who Killed Simon Baird?	John Maitland	Alternative title: By Whose Hand?

References

1. 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."
2. The Players Blue Book, 1901 pg.128
3. Mabel Fenton at IMDb
4. Mabel Fenton Dead Former Stage Star New York Times - Special to The New York Times.; April 20, 1931; pg. 16
5. The New Jersey Coast in Three Centuries: Volume 3, By Peter Ross, Fenwick Y. Hedley 1902 pg. 22

External links

• Charles J. Ross at the Internet Broadway Database
• Charles J. Ross at IMDb
• Charles J. Ross at Find a Grave