The first film in which Chaplin appears as the Little Tramp onscreen was filmed January 10th, 1914 at a Venice "Kid Auto Race."* What exactly is a Kid Auto Race? Film historian John Bengston wrote a wonderful piece which answers this question. There are also some great "then and now" location photos as well.
http://silentlocations.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/chaplins-kid-autos-they-were-what/
 |
| source: silentlocations.wordpress.com |
*Chaplin may have filmed Mabel's Strange Predicament in his Tramp costume first but it was released after Kid Auto Races At Venice.
The Niles Theater is showing this on Saturday, and I am bummed, because I am at the Castro for the Chaplin festival there, and they are not showing that short. I would have liked to have seen this film as well!
ReplyDelete