No Longer Charlie But Mr Chaplin -- May 17, 2024

Photoplay, May, 1924

The pensive image about and the less pensive image below come from the May, 1924 issue of Photoplay.

Photoplay, May, 1924

In Colorado Springs, probably in 1913, Chaplin poses with other members of the Fred Karno unit which was touring North America. 

Including Three of the Funniest Charlie Chaplins -- January 21, 2018

Moving Picture World, 05-January-1918

Two years after Chaplin left, Essanay continued to re-release a Chaplin film every month.

Moving Picture World, 19-January-1918

Moving Picture World, 26-January-1918

This was the last movie where Chaplin played in drag.

Moving Picture World, 26-January-1918

Toronto patrons did not realize that a whole program of shorts including "historic Biographs" and Chaplin in an early Essanay, were all rereleases.

Moving Picture World, 05-January-1918

WH Productions, which had been rereleasing William S Hart (WH) and Douglas Fairbanks Triangle productions also rereleased Keystone comedies, including a selection of Charlie Chaplin films.

Moving Picture World, 19-January-1918

Chaplin was setting up his organization to produce new movies and release them through First National.  Alf Reeves, who had know Chaplin when they were both part of the Fred Karno organization, became Chaplin's production manager.

Moving Picture World, 26-January-1918

"How the Soldiers Came to Ask for Pictures" tells the story of how front line soldiers came to enjoy Chaplin's work while he was at Essanay.

Moving Picture World, 26-January-1918

We recently saw that Chaplin's favorite heavy, Eric Campbell was killed in an auto accident.  This article makes a correction.  Articles about the accident:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2017/12/eric-campbell-killed-in-accident.html

Merry Christmas from Billie Reeves, The Original Drunk -- December 24, 2016

Variety, 22-December-1916

Billie Reeves was a British comic who claimed to have been the first to play the role of the Drunk in Fred Karno's pantomime production "Mumming Birds," which was known in the US as "A Night in an English Music Hall."  This was important to some people because Charlie Chaplin first became famous paying the part and because Billie Ritchie, another comic, also claimed to be the first to play the part. 

Moving Picture World, 29-May-1915

Billie's brother Alf, who had managed the Karno company which toured the US with Charlie Chaplin, worked on the production of Chaplin's movies for many years.