Charles Penrose (entertainer) Charles Penrose (entertainer) Charles Penrose (born Charles Penrose Dunbar Cawse; 11 November 1873 – 17 November 1952) was an English music hall and theatre performer, and later radio comedian, who is best known for his unusual comic song "The Laughing Policeman". He was born in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, the son of a master watchmaker and jeweller. He initially followed his father into the jewellery trade, but enjoyed such success with his innovative laughing songs at local concert parties that he was invited to join a theatrical tour at the age of 18. His theatrical career took off, and he appeared in
Aladdin (performer) and often duetting with another singer-violinist, Bob Lido. He was also well received by audiences for his dramatic readings, most of them submitted by Helen Steiner Rice of Cincinnati, Ohio. Aladdin was known to speak several different languages, which included Spanish, French, Russian, Yiddish and Hebrew. He recorded the song "Darktown Strutters Ball" for Welk in Italian on the Coral record label with Bob Lido singing in English. He left the show after suffering a heart attack in the fall of 1967, and died a few years afterward in 1970. Aladdin (performer) Aladdin Abdullah Achmed Anthony Pallante (September 12, 1912