Autographed photo, 1915

The photo is inscribed:

"To my friend Guy Price,
Sincerely yours, Charlie Chaplin
Aug 9th, 1915"

Price was a film critic for the Los Angeles Herald

(Photo by Albert Witzel, 1914)

Source: www.20thstudio.com

Portrait by Pach Bros., NYC, 1921

In connection with my Anna Pavlova post from last week, this photo was presented to ballerina Joan Van Wart, who toured with Pavlova's company, during their visit to the Chaplin Studio in January 1922.

The inscription says: "Let me see! Charlie Chaplin, Jan. 31st, 1922

Signed photo of Chaplin and boxer Ted Lewis, 1918

Charlie is on a ladder in the tree handing an orange to Lewis. The photo is inscribed to boxing promoter Bert Burrows.

www.liveauctioneers.com

Autographed photo with sketch, 1944

The photo shows Chaplin after he was acquitted of the Mann Act charge.

Random Excerpt

Boston Globe journalist, Mayme Ober Peak, describes a visit with Chaplin at his home:

"I'm sorry to have kept a lady waiting," the comedian smiled on me with the bluest eyes I ever saw in a man's head--eyes that took my measure as they twinkled at me. While retaining a hold on one coat sleeve, I measure back. 

What I saw at this close range was a beautifully gray-crowned head above a sensitive face of high color and nervous features; a figure fine-strung, resilient, lithe, with well-defined curves tightly buttoned in a double-breasted, well-cut suit of gray. His tie was black with Roman stripes, and as usual he wore gray cloth, button-top, patent-leather shoes. 

In appearance, my immaculate host was the opposite of the figure he cuts on the screen. Unmasked, the cinema's clown has nothing in common with its creator. Not a graceful gesture or unconscious pose of the man connects with the world-famous waddling comedy king. I think he is sick to death of that film fool who "throws custard pies in the world's face as a gesture of protest." Soon he expects to do Napoleon Bonaparte, with some of the authentic backgrounds screened in France. Will this mean the turning point, and perhaps loss of the film's comic-pathetic character who comes from nowhere and never gets anywhere, who cloaks himself in mystery even in his pictures? His next production will have the working title "Nowhere."

Autographed photo of Chaplin inscribed to Ms. Peak.
"To Mayme Ober Peake [sic], with best wishes, Charlie Chaplin,
Hollywood 1930."
 (Photo by Homer Peyton)

Once you hear his exquisite speaking voice with its charming English accent; watch the birdlike fluttering of his classical hands, and the elfin movements of his body, you find yourself wishing this glamorous personality would go on the stage and make us believe in fairies again.  

As one of his biographers has aptly put it, your first impression of Charlie Chaplin is of "something very warm and bright and vivid." There is an endearing charm about him that you impulsively respond to. He has that rare gift of concentrating with flattering grace--and apparently keen enjoyment, all his charm and highly intelligent interest upon you and you only. 

Undoubtedly, the bitterness of those sordid years of struggle, during which Charlie's mother lost her reason, corroded Charlie's soul and haunts him still. There can't but be a tinge of sadness to his success. But he does not let you feel this when you meet him in his home, which reflects none of the ostentation his vast income would permit. 

His setting is one of perfect taste and refinement. Although a bachelor's home run by man servants, I immediately sensed its well-ordered harmony and repose. Hereafter, I shall smile when I hear people say, "I feel so sorry for Charlie living all alone in that big house on top of the hill." For he revels in solitude. His nervous make-up positively requires it. "My idea of luxury," the movie millionaire said to me, "is to be absolutely alone until 5 o'clock in the afternoon." ... 

Even when given the rare opportunity, it is impossible to interview Charles Spencer Chaplin, as impossible to pin him to paper. He is too fascinating a conversationalist, too clever a raconteur, too amazing a mimic. You can neither keep him, nor yourself on a question track. Before you know it, he has raced off--you with him, in the direction of some new idea or suggestion. ...

"You baffle me," I told him when I said goodbye. As I went down the hill in the big limousine lined in gray the color of Charlie's shoetops and driven by one of his inscrutable Japanese, I opened the book he had loaned me, "The London Spy," by Thomas Burke, suggesting that I might  find the answer to his personality in a brief paragraph he had marked. This is what I read: 

"Even were he obscure, a mere nobody, without the imposed coloring of "Charlie," and world popularity, he would be a notable subject, for he has that wonderful, impalpable gift of attraction which is the greater part of Mr. Lloyd George's power. You feel his presence in a room and are conscious of something wanting when he departs. He has a rich-hued quality of Alvan in "The Tragic Comedians." You feel he is capable of anything. And when you connect him with 'Charlie' the puzzle grows and you give it up. The ambition that served and guided him for 10 years is satisfied, but it is still unsatisfied. The world has discovered him, but he has not yet found himself. He is the shadow friend of millions throughout the world, and he is lonely--an exile, seeking for something the world cannot give him." 

--Mayme Ober Peak, "Finds Charlie Aged and Frightened: Screen's Foremost Artist Entertains Globe Writer at Beverly Hills Home...," Boston Globe, April 22, 1928

Autographed portrait, 1922

Photo by Strauss-Peyton, 1921.

This particular pose is new to me. A similar photo was included in Chaplin's autobiography but his hands are outside of his pockets.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Hand-Signed...

Autographed photos of Charlie and Paulette in Singapore, 1936

Charlie's photo is signed: Best Wishes, Charlie Chaplin. Paulette's says: Sincerely Paulette Goddard.

World Tour Revisited: The Chaplin brothers in Japan, May-June 1932

Charlie crammed as much as possible into his three-week stay in Japan. In addition to attending kabuki shows, sumo matches, and tea ceremonies, he played tennis, gorged on tempura (his favorite Japanese meal), and even visited a prison--something he liked to do on his travels.

As much as he enjoyed his visit (he would return in 1936 and 1961) he was disappointed by the westernization of the country:

Should you ask me offhand my opinion of Japan, I should say it is a nation of inconsistancies. A simple illustration is a man attired in a kimono wearing a derby hat, also the adoption of western dress at the cost of their own silk industry. ¹

Little is known about what Syd thought of the place. Months later, in a letter to his friend R.J. Minney, he wrote: "I enjoyed the trip immensely. I always wanted to visit the Orient, so I am glad I got it out of my system. Of course, I haven't seen the half of it, dearie, I shall still look forward to seeing India, the interior of China, Indochina, etc., but the Orient should be taken in small doses and one should hold the nose while taking it." He claimed, though, that he was glad to get home, having developed gout on the trip from too much rich food. ²

Below are a few photos from the brothers' visit:

Chaplin visits Prime Minister Makoto Saito at his residence. Saito was the successor to Tsuyoshi Inukai who was assassinated on Chaplin's second day in Japan while he was at a sumo match with his son, Ken:



A tea party, possibly at the home of Mrs. Horikoshi which Chaplin describes in "A Comedian Sees The World": "this charming lady has a school which she supports herself for the daughters of her friends where she teaches the gentle art of the tea ceremony." Syd is standing at right in the second photo.

Tennis at the Fujiya Hotel in Hakone:

Charlie tries on a Samurai Warrior's headgear. Syd is on the right.

Chaplin's autographed sketch of Mt. Fuji, May 29th, 1932:

Lastly, at the Hanacho restaurant. Ken Inukai, son of the assassinated prime minister, is seated between Charlie and Kono in the first photo and is posing between Charlie and Syd in the other photos. The last photo is signed by Sydney.

Coming up on June 2nd: the brothers go their separate ways. Syd returns to Nice and Charlie to Los Angeles.

_________________________________________________________________________________

¹Charles Chaplin, "A Comedian Sees The World, Part 5," Jan. 1934
²Lisa K. Stein, Syd Chaplin: A Biography, McFarland, 2011

Autographed photo of Chaplin with composer Arnold Schoenberg, c.1935

Photo by Max Munn Autrey.

Click here to read David Raksin's description of the meeting between Chaplin and Schoenberg which was evidently a bit awkward.

Signed photo with sketch

Chaplin inscribed the photo in French:

"A Monsieur Pierre, avec Plaisir et, Merci, Charlie Chaplin"

 which roughly translates to:

 "To Pierre, with pleasure and, thank you"

Autographed photo, 1927

Autographed photo, 1942

Photo by Alexander Paal, c. 1940

Autographed photo, dated 1917

This photo, currently up for auction on ebay, is inscribed "To my dear friend, Dr. Kahn" and dated "1917".  The photo itself was taken at the White Studio in New York City, c.1910.

Autographed photo of Charlie with visitors to the studio, December 1927

Autographed photo, 1917

The inscription reads:
"Feby, 22nd 1917,  To my little friend, Palmer Dawes, Chas Chaplin.''

Photo by Hartsook, c. 1915.