Motion Picture Magazine printed a short introduction of Chaplin in its column, “Brief
Chapter 3 Chaplin and the American Audience
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Chapter 3 Chaplin and the American Audience
Trade papers provided information for readers, including the latest film release schedule, news or stories about actors. Through the examination of trade papers, we can understand what kind of knowledge that audiences learned when they acquired information about Chaplin. Unlike trade papers which just provided information, fan magazines could provide a space where
audiences published their opinions. Through fan magazines, it can understand how audiences discuss Chaplin; what kind of subjects that audiences wanted to know from Chaplin. Combine Trade papers and fan magazines can understand how audiences regard of Chaplin when they received information from film media.
1. The New English Comedian
In this section, I use several trade papers to examine how these trade papers introduced Chaplin when he joined Keystone. Their reviews of the film regularly give several pieces of information: plot, leading actor’s name, and a short comment on the film.
On March 7, 1914, Motion Picture News published a film’s review of Between Showers (1914). This review did not mention Chaplin’s name, just said that: “the new English comedian of the Keystone Company.”1 Motion Picture News on March 28, 1914, published a review of His
Favorite Pastime (1914). The article mentioned the Chaplin’s name, “Charles Chaplin,” and
included a short introduction about him:Mr. Chaplin has introduced a number of funny actions that are original to the American stage. His adventures in a saloon are unique, to say the least.2
1 Motion Picture News, Mar. 7, 1914, p40.
2 Motion Picture News, Mar. 28, 1914, p50.
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In this review, it said that Chaplin introduced some new funny action to American. The review of
His Musical Career, it also thought Chaplin “introduce” new things:
Again Charles Chaplin appears, this time as a piano mover. It need not be said the film is an excellent comedy. Chaplin introduces some new stunts, which are most humorous.3
In October 1914, the review of Dough and Dynamite (1914), it said that: “When Charles Chaplin, the inimitable English comedian, appear in the title role of a Keystone comedy.”4 From these reviews of Motion Picture News, it can find that Chaplin was regarded as a novel new film comedian when authors of Motion Picture News introduced Chaplin to American audiences.
Chaplin impressed American audiences with his unique performing style.
In addition to reviews, sometimes trade papers would introduce Chaplin through short news or article. On March 21, 1914, Motion Picture News printed a brief report about Chaplin:
One pantomimist who is making his mark on the screen is Charles Chaplin, the hero of four Keystone comedies, and on his way to be a comedian of the films of country-wide popularity.
Chaplin’s work in Fred Karno’s “Night in an English Music Hall” gave him a following before he took to motion pictures. But his stage career dates from his eighth year when he played in “From Rags to Riches.” This he followed later with three years of minor parts in Frohman companies and William Gillette.
His first appearance on the screen was in “Making a Living.” released February 2d under the Keystone brand. This has been succeeded by three other.5
At the beginning of the article, it described Chaplin as a pantomimist and a comedian who was one of four important key actors of Keystone and gradually become popular. It mentioned that Chaplin worked in Fred Karno’s “Night Music Hall” in England before he entered the film industry, and Making a Living (1914) is Chaplin’s first film.
3 Motion Picture News, Nov. 14, 1914, p48.
4 Peter Milne, “Dough and Dynamite”, Motion Picture News, Oct. 24, 1914, p41.
5 Motion Picture News, Mar. 21, 1914, p37.
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A short report in Variety, on March 13, 1914, mentioned the relation between Chaplin and Karno’s Music Hall:
Charlie Chaplin, who came to this country with Fred Karno’s “English Music Hall.” has been engaged for comedy work with the Keystone.6
Moreover, New York Clipper on March 14, 1914, it said that:
Charles Chaplin, the wonderful English pantomimist, who is well known in this country for his wonderful work in Fred Karno’s “Night in an English Music Hall,” has up to the present time appeared in four Keystone comedies, and by the way he has been received by both exhibition and public, he bids fair to be the greatest and most popular comedian in comedian today.7
In this report, it described Chaplin as a “wonderful English pantomimist,” and said Chaplin become famous because of his work on Knrno’s Music Hall. According to this article, Chaplin had just acted four films at Keystone when the author wrote this report, but this author already praised Chaplin as a great and popular comedian.
From these three reports from Motion Picture News, Variety and New York Clipper, it can find that Chaplin’s stage career in Fred Karno’s Music Hall, was important information when people talk about Chaplin in early 1914.
In addition to trade papers and fan magazines, I also search other American newspaper, found some news about Chaplin. InPokeepsie’s newspaper, The Evening Enterprise, on May 14, 1914, it printed a short introduction of Chaplin:
Charles Chaplin, the English pantomimist. Who is well known in this country for his work in Fred Kamo’s “Night in an English Music Hall,” in vaudeville, has up to the present time appeared in four movie comedies, and by the way he has been received by both exhibitors and public he bids fair to be one of the greatest and most popular comedians of today.8
If we compare this article with the previous report in the New York Clipper; we can find that, they are the same article except several words are different. New York Clipper’s article published
6 Variety, Mar. 13, 1914, p24.
7 New York Clipper, Mar. 14, 1914, p16.
8 The Evening Enterprise, Pokeepsie, N.Y., May 14, 1914, p11.
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in March, this The Evening Enterprise’s article released in May, it can be reasonably presumed that the latter may be just quoted the report from former. Alternatively, another possibility is, both articles came from the same provider. No matter which reason, it can sure that the author who wrote this article, wanted to praise or promote Chaplin as a popular and excellent comedian.