1.
Charles Spencer
Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin) was born on
2. 1901-At age 10, his father died of alcoholism. Because of Charlie’s mom’s illnesses, Charlie and his brother, Sydney, had to fend themselves.
3. 1903-At age 12, he started acting in a stage show as “Billy” the paper boy, in Sherlock Holmes.
4. 1908-Meets and falls in love with dancer Hetty Kelly, but she didn't love him back.
5. 1910-He started a career as a comedian in vaudeville, which eventually took him to USA as a featured player with the Fred Karno Reperitoire Company and starts a partnership with Alf Reeves.
6. 1912-Returns to America for a 2nd tour with Fred Karno. Shared a room with Arthur Stanley Jefferson, who later became famous with the stage name “Stan Laurel.”
7. 1913-Signs a 1-year contract ($150/week) with Adam Kessel in May. In December, Mack Sennett signs Charlie for his studio, the keystone film company.
8. 1914-He made his 1st movie, “Making a Living”, but Sennett wasn’t impressed and he wanted to drop him but he was convinced to give him another chance by Mabel Normand. Charlie made 34 shorts in his first year. He created a character called the Tramp and it makes its 1st appearance in “the kid auto races” in Venice. Sennett lets Charlie direct his own films, and he signs a contract with Essanay for $1250/week and a $10,000 signing bonus.
9. 1915-Charlie was criticized for not signing up to be in the army to fight in the Great War, even though he did, but got rejected because he was too small and underweight.
10. 1916-Signs another contract with Mutual Film Corporation which gets him $670, 000 for twelve two-reel comedies over 18-months. Starts a relationship with Edna Purviance.
11. 1917-Enters an agreement with First National for $1.25 million and gets complete creative control over his films. Meets 17-year old actress, Mildred Harris.
12. 1918-Marries Mildred Harries. Charlie becomes a spokesman for Liberty Bonds, along with 2 others. First national became uninterested in renegotiating his contract after Charlie’s 1st 2 films ran over budget.
13. 1919-A detective that Charlie hired, founds out that Paramount and First National wanted to merge. He had his first kid with Mildred named Norman Spencer. Sadly, he died 3 days later. Then Charlie and Mildred separate.
14. 1920-They divorce for real.
15. 1924-Marries Lita Grey.
16. 1925- Charles Spencer Chaplin is born.
17. 1927-Charlie divorces Lita Grey, then suffers from a nervous breakdown and all his hair turned white.
18. 1928-His mother, Hannah hill, died in Hollywood.
19. 1931-Sydney Earle Chaplin is born. Ends his relationship with May Reeves after he found out that she was cheating on him with his brother, Sydney.
20. 1932-Starts a long term relationship with Paulette Goddard.
21. 1933-12 films for Mutual Films Corporation were released again, but with sound effects.
22. 1936-Marries Paulette.
23. 1940-The Great Dictator is realized and made $5 million worldwide. It was his most successful film. Charlie and Paulette’s relationship has come to an end.
24. 1943-Marries Oona O’Neil (18), when he was 54.
25. 1944-1962-Geraldine
Leigh, Michael john, Josephine Hannah,
26. 1972-Charlie received an honorary academy award and a 4 minute standing ovation.
27. 1974-His pictorial autobiography, “My Life in Pictures”, was published
28. 1977-Dies in his sleep in Switzerland, at the age of 88, on Christmas day (December 25th)
29. 1978-Charlie’s body was stolen from his grave, then later found and buried again, under 2 meters of concrete.
