THE RINK, released December 4th, 1916

The Rink was Chaplin's 8th film for Mutual & the first to display his rollerskating prowess, skills he had doubtlessly developed in the c.1909 Fred Karno sketch, Skating, which was co-written by Syd Chaplin (both brothers performed the sketch for different Karno touring companies). He employed another skating routine twenty years later in Modern Times, which revives some of the restaurant gags in The Rink as well.

Not surprisingly, others in the cast, who may not have been as comfortable on skates as Chaplin, were black and blue during rehearsals:

Charles Spencer Chaplin and Mutual players have begun the filming of a rollerskating rink story. The script provides that each one of the troop shall become proficient in the art of retaining their equilibrium, and the stage at the studio has been the scene of many tumbles that will not appear on the screen. Eric Campbell, the six-foot-two heavyweight, is reported to have ruined one section of the flooring, and other members are nursing bruises which in some instances require meals served from the mantelpiece. General Manager H. P. Caulfield is putting in all his time preventing the artists from completely destroying the plant. (Motion Picture News, December 9th, 1916)

To give an idea of The Rink's popularity with audiences, here is a clipping from a 1917 issue of Motography. It's hard to tell if the owner of the theater was being serious:

A few favorite scenes:

This was Henry Bergman's first appearance in drag in a Chaplin film.