Charlie Chaplain
Charlie ChaplainCharlie Chaplin was born on April 15, 1889, in London, England to Charles Chaplin, Sr., and Hannah Hill. He was taught to sing before he could talk and danced just as soon as he could walk. At a very young age Chaplin was told that he would be the most famous person in the world. When Charlie was five years old he sang for his mother on stage. Everyone in the audience loved him and threw their money onto the stage. When Chaplin was eight, he appeared in a clog dancing act called “Eight Lancashire Lads” Once again he was loved by the audience and he was excited with the attention he received. Charlie’s half-brother , Sidney, became his agent and when Charlie was ten years old, Sidney got Chaplin many small parts in productions all across England . Within a few years Charlie was one of the most popular child actors in England.
Charlie was twelve when his father died on May 9th, 1901, he died of alcoholism at the age of thirty-seven. After the death of her husband, Charlie’s mother, had a nervous breakdown and was in and out of mental institutions. Charlie and Sidney, were placed in foster homes after their mother’s mental health dropped.
Chaplin attended 2 years of school at Hern Boy’s College. This was the only formal education that he ever recieved. Charlie was at school when his mother suffered another mental breakdown and was permanently placed in an institution. Completely alone, Charlie lived on the streets at the age of 14.
During this time, Charlie’s worked in many places including a barbershop a stationery store, a doctor’s office, a glass factory, Chandler’s shop, and a printing plant many of the experiences he gained working at these places appeared in his later films
1906 at about the age of 20 twenty, Chaplin came to the United States to become a top comedian. There he started his career as the most famous person that ever lived.
In 1907, Chaplin joined the Karno Pantomime Troupe. He made his first tour of the United States and Canada in 1910 with the Karno Troupe. He stayed with the Karno Troupe until 1913. In May of 1913, Charlie signed a contract with Adam Kessel, who had an interest in the Keystone Film Company, for $125 per week. On December 29, 1913, Chaplin signed with Keystone Films for $150 a week. In January of 1914, Chaplin made his first feature film, “Making A Living”. Charlie remained with Keystone Films all through 1914 until November when he signed a contract with Essanay Films for $1,250 a week to make 14 films during the year of 1915 (Pringle, Glen). In the spring of 1915, Chaplin made his first appearance as the “tramp” character in “The Tramp”. The film was a bittersweet comedy with a signature ending in which - plucky and resilient after losing in love - this homeless comic hero waddles down life’s highway,...
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