A comedic genius who left an indelible mark on the movie industry, Charlie Chaplin is a true icon of Hollywood. But, perhaps his most enduring legacy has been his iconic mustache.
Throughout history, this unique facial hairstyle has been revered and reviled. But, it’s the mustache’s association with Chaplin that has made it a subject of fascination for fans and critics alike.
Although most of us recognize Charlie Chaplin immediately, many do not know that his mustache has an actual name. Because it is similar to the bristles of a toothbrush, it is often referred to as a toothbrush mustache.
Perhaps as famous as the man himself, his distinctive mouth hair was just part of his amusing on-screen antics.
Chaplin himself stated that he believed the mustache was comical in itself, so decided to wear it as part of his outfit. We say he wore it because Charlie Chaplin’s mustache was not really his. IT WAS A FAKE MUSTACHE! (cue the dramatic music!)
Whilst Chaplin may have made the toothbrush mustache style famous, he was not the creator of it. To find that out, and more, we need to delve into the history of this style of mustache.
That is why we compiled this guide on Charlie Chaplin and his toothbrush mustache. We have all you need to know about this famous mouth hair below, including its origins and some other famous figures who have sported the mustache over the years.
What Is The Toothbrush Style Mustache?
The toothbrush-style of mustache sits just above the upper lip. It is trimmed with a straight line across and was first popularized during the early part of the twentieth century. At that time, many regarded it as a symbol of modernity and progress.
This mustache style really took off in popularity in the 1910s, when silent movie star Charlie Chaplin first wore it when portraying the part of a Tramp.
This was after his first movie, Making a Living, where he wore a droopy mustache. 1914 heralded the start of Chaplin’s prop toothbrush mustache, and the rest is history.
In 1933, Chaplin stated in an interview that wearing the mustache was one of the best decisions he ever made for his career. The King of Comedy felt that the style would make the audience laugh, and he was very right!
Moreover, the bristles were so small that they did not conceal his facial expressions which were key to his silent movie roles.
Simple, yet charming, this mustache was revered by many and became a stylish accessory worn by men of the time.
However, its association with Chaplin took on a different meaning in the wake of World War II, when the mustache became associated with the atrocities committed by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime.
Despite this dark chapter in its history, the toothbrush style remains an enduring symbol of Chaplin’s comedy, wit, and charm, and its impact on popular culture can still be felt today.
History Of The Toothbrush Mustache
The toothbrush mustache first gained popularity in the U.S. at the end of the nineteenth century. It was considered a tidy, neat, and consistent facial hair style that was also easy to maintain.
This was in stark contrast to many of the bushy handlebar or horseshoe mustaches of the time, which dropped over the lips of men and could be quite unhygienic.
Because this style of mustache was simple to care for, and its appearance was quite plain, it became popular with industrial workers who wanted to take some pride in their appearance but did not have the time to sculpt more intricate facial hair designs.
Around the same time, the toothbrush mustache was also becoming popular in Germany and other European regions.
During the early twentieth century, The New York Times even ran a piece reporting on a group of German men sporting this trimmed-down look.
Before this, the Kaiser bristle was the most popular style of facial hair in Germany. This was characterized by long, thick, and straight hair that was combed downwards towards the upper lip.
The Fall In Popularity Of The Toothbrush Mustache
What was once considered a smart facial hairstyle that could be worn by industrial workers and the aristocracy alike, soon became a style synonymous with evil rather than comedy. This was because of one man, Adolf Hitler.
Hitler was a fan of Charlie Chaplin, and some historians argue that Hitler was inspired by the look. However, there is no evidence to back up this theory.
Because of the association of the toothbrush mustache with the dictator of Germany, the style soon fell out of fashion.
However, Charlie Chaplin did not stop wearing it himself, taking advantage of the noted similarity between his screen appearance and Hitler.
In 1940, Chaplin appeared on-screen, mustache in tow, for the movie “The Great Dictator.” That being said, his facial hair for this role was a little more traditional, reaching the width of his nose, rather than being in the center like before.
There are numerous tales of why Adolf Hitler started to sport a toothbrush mustache. Some believe it was trimmed to facilitate the wearing of gas masks, whilst others believe it came about from arguments he had with his sister-in-law, Bridget Hitler, who hated his unruly Kaiser mustache.
All we know is that one man has ruined a mustache style forever.
Famous Figures With A Toothbrush Mustache
There have been many famous men who have grown toothbrush mustaches (Also check out Best Famous Men With Mustaches). Another comedy legend, Oliver Hardy, was known for sporting one.
He had this style of mustache as early as 1921 in the movie The Lucky Dog and continued to wear one-off and on-screen for years.
English author George Orwell also sported a toothbrush mustache during the early 1930s, and Spanish dictator Francisco Franco grew one during the 1930s.
After World War II, the toothbrush mustache style was understandably less popular, but some famous figures continued to wear one.
Fred Trump, the father of former U.S. President Donald Trump, sported one during the 1940s up to around 1950 and Julius Raab, the German chancellor during the 1950s, was known to grow one (Also check out Presidents With A Mustache: Our 5 Favorite Picks).
His look even caught the attention of John Lennon, who reportedly rang up Ringo Starr to reference Mael’s similarity to Hitler after seeing him on Top of The Pops.
Robert Mugabe, the former Zimbabwean President also sported this mustache style from 1976 to 2016. Sporting legend Michael Jordan also boasted a hybrid of the toothbrush and pencil style, which was mocked and ridiculed by many of his friends and fans.
It’s hard to find many men brave enough to sport the toothbrush style these days, but when they do, you can be assured it will come with some form of controversy.
In Summary
The toothbrush-style mustache has had a tumultuous history, from being associated with the King of Comedy to pure evil.
Although making appearances on some famous faces since World War II, we’re pretty sure it won’t be back in fashion any time soon.
