Charles T. Barton was born on May 25, 1902, in Oakland, California, to a family that managed a candy store. His father soon relocated the family to Los Angeles, where Charles, nicknamed "Charlie", began working at the age of 15 as an extra in silent movies. He eventually transitioned behind the camera, serving as an assistant director, and went on to win an Academy Award in 1934.
That same year, Barton made his directorial debut with the feature film Wagon Wheels (1934) for Paramount Pictures. He continued to work at Paramount, producing four to five films annually, primarily "B" musicals and westerns. However, his experience as an assistant to director Cecil B. DeMille on Union Pacific (1939) led him to leave Paramount for Columbia Pictures.
At Columbia, Barton directed seven to eight films yearly, mostly "B" musicals and westerns. In 1945, he moved to Universal Pictures, where he established himself as a first-rate comedy director, particularly with the top comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. He directed what many consider their best film, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948),as well as their worst, Dance with Me, Henry (1956).
Unlike many of the team's directors, Barton developed a strong rapport with them, especially Costello, to whom he bore a striking resemblance. The team specifically requested him for "A&C Meet Frankenstein", which revitalized their career after a string of failed films.
