Editing Mervyn LeRoy (section)

=== Chaplin impersonator ===

As a 14-year-old, LeRoy carefully observed emerging screen star [[Charlie Chaplin]] at a number of film sets in the greater San Francisco area. From these studies, LeRoy devised a burlesque of the comedian, and perfected his imitation on the local amateur circuit. In 1915, he won a competition that hosted almost a thousand Chaplin imitators at the [[Orpheum Theatre (San Francisco)|Pantages Theater]]. His outstanding performance earned him a slot as "The Singing Newsboy" in [[Sid Grauman]]'s vaudeville show at the [[Panama–Pacific International Exposition]] titled "Chinatown by Night".<ref>LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 p. 24: LeRoy: "I began looking for [Chaplin], and would watch him at work...I acquired the props – the pants, the cane, the derby hat..." And p. 29: "...close to a thousand" competitors at the Pantages.</ref>

In 1916, his father died, leaving the 15-year-old LeRoy responsible for providing his own financial support.<ref>LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 p. 25: On the death of Harry LeRoy when his son LeRoy was 15. .</ref><ref>Whiteley, 2020: "His father died in 1916, leaving Mervyn to fend for himself" LeRoy 15, going on 16 years-of-age.<br />Flint, 1987: "his father lost his spirit and had trouble supporting his family; he died in 1916...The youth had to sell newspapers at the age of 12 and then, at 14, sold papers by day and acted evenings in a stock company, where he perfected a Charlie Chaplin imitation. "<br />Whiteley, 2020: "He discovered an aptitude and liking for musical theater and in his early teens, he began to enter, and win, talent shows as a singer and Charlie Chaplin impersonator. And: LeRoy's success as a Chaplin impersonator "led to an early career in vaudeville and he toured for nine years around the national circuit first as a solo entertainer called ''The Singing Newsboy,'' and then for three years with a pianist, Clyde Cooper, as 'LeRoy and Cooper'."</ref><ref>Flint, 1987: "The youth had to sell newspapers at the age of 12 and then, at 14, sold papers by day and acted evenings in a stock company, where he perfected a Charlie Chaplin imitation.</ref>