Cabot was born in Wellington to a family of bakers in Hopper Street, and worked as a baker in his teens and then again in his early twenties when he baked bread for the military camp at Trentham during the First World War. However, by then he had already been captivated by the world of entertainment.
At the age of 21 he worked for a year or so for the Empire Picture Company (1911-1912), and in 1912 he and his new wife traveled around New Zealand by horse and cart with touring circus groups. Cabot doubled as a horn-player in the McMahon Circus orchestra.
This 1923 newsclipping shows a full-length profile caricature of Charles Cabot in suit and brimmed felt hat, after he had spent some years in the publicity business, and become quite well-known. It is likely to be from the Sydney variety and show world periodical Everyone’s, 13 June 1923.