Chaplin's New Comedy Breaks Many Records -- May 21, 2018

Moving Picture World, 18-May-1918

Charlie Chaplin and Brownie (or Mutt or Mut, playing Scraps) were the stars of Chaplin's first movie for First National release, "A Dog's Life."

Moving Picture World, 04-May-1918

"At the Strand in New York, 16,141 people, on the opening day of the run, paid $5,619 to see Charlie and his trusty hound."

Moving Picture World, 04-May-1918

This item has some promotional suggestions:

Program and Advertising Phrases:

The Greatest Comedy Ever Shown on Either Stage or Screen.
Charlie Chaplin Makes a New Beginning Under Own Management.
Three Reels of Riotous Laughter.
Fun-Fest Supreme with, the World's Greatest Comedian.
Large Company of Trained Dogs Lead Comedy Life.
Chaplin Starts Million-Dollar Contract with a Hit.
The Funniest Thing this Funniest of Men Ever Presented.
Three Reels of Solid Laughter and Riotous Fun.
Three Reels of Innocent Fun and Frolic.
Simple Fun Free from Vulgarity.
Nothing but Dogs, Chaplin and Laughter.
Humor. Excitement and Pathos with Laughs Supreme.
The World Will Rock with Laughter.
The World's Greatest Comedian in His Greatest Comedy.

Moving Picture World, 11-May-1918

BF Keith's Palace was the most famous theater in vaudeville.  "A Dog's Life" did good business there.

Moving Picture World, 11-May-1918

"Charlie Chaplin came to Atlanta April 16, smashed all attendance records, including grand opera and political powers, by drawing eight thousand people to the auditorium; set a Liberty Bond sales record, locally by coaxing $502,350 out of Atlantans' pockets and found time to hobnob with both the upper and lower crusts of Atlanta's social stratum." 

Moving Picture World, 18-May-1918

Chaplin finished his Liberty Bond tour of the South and sold more bonds in New York City.

Moving Picture World, 25-May-1918

First National touted three big attractions, "A Dog's Life," Tarzan of the Apes, and My Four Years in Germany, the story of American ambassador James W Gerard.

Moving Picture World, 25-May-1918

Mutt died after a long illness, which this story blamed on Chaplin's absence on the bond tour of the South.

Moving Picture World, 04-May-1918

Meanwhile, WH Productions was rereleasing many of Chaplin's Keystone comedies.

Moving Picture World, 25-May-1918

WH Productions renamed many of the Chaplin Keystones.

Moving Picture World, 25-May-1918

I suppose "The Hula Hula Dance" was "His Prehistoric Past," Chaplin's last Keystone.

Moving Picture World, 04-May-1918

Essanay continued to exploit its collection of Chaplin films.  I like "Next great comedy" for a film that was going on three years old.

Moving Picture World, 04-May-1918

Besides reissuing individual movies, Essanay was also pushing Chase Me Charlie, a feature compiled in Britain from several of Chaplin's Essanay shorts. They referred to it as "A Chaplin Jingle."

Moving Picture World, 04-May-1918

"A Night Out" teamed Chaplin and Ben Turpin.  "In its new form this subject is presented in even a snappier style than when it was first released."  Essanay reedited some of the movies.

Moving Picture World, 11-May-1918

"Daddy!  Take Me to See CHARLIE CHAPLIN."  This ad promotes reissues of the Chaplin movies and the Snakeville comedies, which don't hold up as well.

Moving Picture World, 18-May-1918

"The feet that move the world to laughter."  I like the photos of feet and shoes.

Moving Picture World, 25-May-1918

"New Prints -- New Paper."

Moving Picture World, 04-May-1918

Mutual, which Chaplin had just left, was also reissuing his comedies.

Moving Picture World, 11-May-1918

A new booking plan increased demand for the Mutuals.