JUST WHEN HE WAS GOING UNDER, FATE LENT A HELPING HAND

Your great-grandparents once sang about a dandy named Champagne Charlie. A popular tune said:

Champagne Charlie is my name 
Champagne Charlie is my name
There’s no drink as good as fizz, fizz, fizz
I’ll drink every drop there is, is, is.
All round town it is the same
By Pop! Pop! Pop! I rose to fame
I’m the idol of the barmaids
Champagne Charlie is my name. 

Champagne Charlie actually existed. He brought champagne to America and his story is wilder than any tale Hollywood could concoct. Continue reading →