Four Star Chaplins! -- March 21, 2019

Moving Picture World, 08-March-1919

100 years ago this month, in March, 1919, Essanay was trying to squeeze money out of its Chaplin films. Note that this ad touts new prints, which makes me think that the old prints were already worn out.

Moving Picture World, 01-March-1919

The new prints were doing well.

Moving Picture World, 08-March-1919

Moving Picture World, 22-March-1919

The reissued films were showing in first run theaters.

Moving Picture World, 15-March-1919

When President Woodrow Wilson sailed back from the Peace Conference in Paris, one of the movies shown was Chaplin's Mutual, "The Adventurer."

Moving Picture World, 01-March-1919

Chaplin cancelled a planned trip to Europe, hoping to quickly finish his films for First National release so he could start making movies for United Artists.

Moving Picture World, 01-March-1919

 A huge crowd of soldiers wanting to see "Shoulder Arms" blocked the path of the manager and ticket seller to the box office of an Iowa movie theater.  An officer saved the day by ordering the men to attention and putting them in two lines.  The manager said there were 740 soldiers in the lines.

Moving Picture World, 08-March-1919

Chaplin posed with his good friend Douglas Fairbanks in some sort of cycle car.

Moving Picture World, 08-March-1919

Chaplin's wife Mildred Harris left for New York.  "Chaplin, who intends to finish the comedies yet to be made for First National Exhibitors in record time, did not accompany his wife, but may join her later and return to Los Angeles with her."

Moving Picture World, 08-March-1919

The Post Theater at Camp Greenleaf near Chickamauga Park, Georgia, showed Shoulder Arms all day.  The theater was packed the whole time.

Moving Picture World, 15-March-1919

World Films offered to book "Shoulder Arms" and The Better 'Ole, a British production based on Bruce Bairnsfather's stories about trench life which featured Old Bill. This production was made in Britain and starred Charles Rock as Old Bill. In 1926, Chaplin's half brother Sydney played Old Bill in an American production.

Moving Picture World, 15-March-1919

Chaplin's favorite villain Eric Campbell died in an auto accident in late 1917 (http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2017/12/eric-campbell-killed-in-accident.html) .  Chaplin engaged a new heavy for "Sunnyside," Thomas A Wood.  Wood had played small roles in some of Chaplin's Mutuals, and went on to play more small parts in Chaplin's later shorts for First National, and in The Gold Rush.

Moving Picture World, 15-March-1919

The life of Chaplin's leading lady, Edna Purviance, was threatened by a faulty heater.

Moving Picture World, 15-March-1919

"Miss Harris has come to New York for the purpose of combining a brief rest with a shopping tour."

Eric Campbell Killed in Accident -- December 20, 2017

Moving Picture World, 05-January-1918

100 years ago today, on 20-December-1917, Charlie Chaplin's favorite heavy, Eric Campbell, died in a drunk driving accident.  Campbell had lived through a hellish year where his wife died suddenly of a heart attack, his daughter suffered major injuries when she was hit by an auto, and Campbell married a much younger woman after knowing her for five days, and she filed for divorce within two months.

Campbell had appeared in most of Chaplin's Mutual comedies, some of the best two-reelers ever made, and, had he lived, would have moved to First National with Chaplin.

Moving Picture World, 12-January-1918

Chaplin -- And How He Does It -- Septermber 15, 2017

Photoplay, September, 1917

100 years ago this month, in the September, 1917 Photoplay, Terry Ramsaye (spelled Ramsay here) published an article about Chaplin.  He was a journalist who worked with Chaplin at Mutual  Ramsaye went on to write two early books about the movies, A Million and One Nights and A History of the Motion Picture (Through 1925).

In September, 1917,. Chaplin had already signed his contract to produce for First National and was finishing his last productions for Mutual.   Essanay was still trying to make a buck from his movies.

Moving Picture World, 01-September-1917

Chaplin is reported to have rescued a child from the sea at Santa Monica.  Two items down, Eric Campbell, whose wife had just died, remarried.

Moving Picture World, 01-September-1917

Some people asked why Chaplin had not enlisted in the British Army or the US Army, but many agreed that his films were an important contribution to morale.

Moving Picture World, 01-September-1917

This article talks about some famous movie fights.  It mentions Eric Campbell and Charlie Chaplin on the escalator in "The Floorwalker."

Moving Picture World, 08-September-1917

"The Adventurer" was Chaplin's last film for Mutual.

Moving Picture World, 15-September-1917

The release date for "The Adventurer" was yet to be determined, probably because it was Mutual's last Chaplin film.

Moving Picture World, 29-September-1917

"The Adventurer" was nearly complete...

Moving Picture World, 29-September-1917

...but was held up by Edna Purviance's illness. 

Moving Picture World, 15-September-1917

Essanay "bows to public demand" and issues new prints of the Essanay-Chaplin films.

Moving Picture World, 22-September-1917

Essanay would reissue one film a month.

Moving Picture World, 29-September-1917

The first reissue would be "The Champion." 

Moving Picture World, 15-September-1917

 A boxing match between Charlie Chaplin and Eric Campbell, refereed by Mary Pickford?  To benefit the French Emergency Hospital Fund?  I'd buy a ticket. 

A Pictureview With Charles Chaplin -- August 17, 2017

Photoplay, March, 1917

This item is not from 100 years ago this month, but it is fun. 

Moving Picture World, 04-August-1917

Big Eric Campbell was Chaplin's villain most of his Essanay and Mutual comedies.  I had not heard this story about his wife and daughter.  Eric Campbell died in an auto accident in September. 

Moving Picture World, 04-August-1917

Chaplin had just signed a million dollar contract with First National.  They expected the first picture in December. 

Moving Picture World, 11-August-1917

Chaplin was still working on his last Mutual film, "The Adventurer."