The Washington times., 1915-05-13
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
Charlie Chaplin Was
Once a Member Of
the FrOhnldn
Forces

During the visit of William Gil
lette to this city recently with
Diplomacy at the National
Theater. it became known that
Charlie Chaplin, whose personality Is
75 per cent of the real motion pic
.ture comedy. no matter how we
might quarrel with his methods, first
made his appearance in a grown-up
Part with Mr.. Gillette in Sherlock
Holiness"
1t is rather difficult to imagine
Chaplin in the character of the
bright office boy Billy, in Gillette's
great drama. but It is fact never
theless. Chaplin was living in Lon
don, then, his native city. He was
practically born on the stage, both
his father and mother having been
in the profession. AS child he was
apprenticed to company of aero
bats and tumblers, and learned all
there is to know of acrobatics.
He was placed in school when he
was twelve years old, and after leaV-
ing school as youth he became con-
nected with one Of the late Charles
was while in Mr.. Frohman's employ
that Chaplin was drafted to play the
part of Billy in the London produc-
tion of Sherlock Holmes with Gill
lette. He played the part through
out the English run, of the piece.
Before that-as q boy-he appeared
in the leading part in a melodrama
called From Rags to Riches
which was written in this country
to suit the peculiar personality OF
Joseph Santley as boy and was
Anglicised to At the abilities OF
Chaplin.
After these engagements Chaplin
and his brother Sidney, became
members of Fred Karno's Company
playing a sketch called "A Night In
an English Music Hail." in which
company Billy Reeves and Billie
actors. We're also members. 1t was
In this sketch that the curious char
acter Chaplin has made known to
thp motion picture audiences, was
Charlie Chaplin is twenty-five
that, is extremely curly and "bushy."
as is shown in the pictures, and
very dark eyes.
He plans his plays as he makes
them and no one in his company can
ever tell what he will do next-either
before the, camera, or when the
camera is not working. He Is
practical Joker. it Is stated. and no
person with whom he is thrown in
oontact-no matter how exalted his
position-can feel safe while Chap
lin Is in his vicinity.
At the same time there Is no per-
son more surprised at the success
whom he first appeared on the
: screen.
THE first time I looked at my
sclf on the screen, however, I was
ready to resign" the Motion Pic
ture Magazine quotes him as say
. ing. THAT can't be I, thought.
: Then when I realized 1t was. I
said Goodnight Strange enough,
was told that the picture was a
scream. I had always been am
bilious to work in drama, and 1t
certainly was the surprise Of my
comedy stuff.
Comedy really is serious
study" he said. "although it must
not be taken seriously. That
sounds like a paradox. but 1t Is
not. 1t Is a serious study to learn
characters. it is a hard study. But
to make comedy q success there
must be an ease, spontainety in
the acting that cannot be asso-
ciated with seriousness.
II lay out my plot and study my
character thoroughly. I even fol-
low the character l am to repre-
sent for miles or sit and watch
him at his work before I attempt
to portray him.
with the plot in my mind. go
before the camera without the
slightest notion of what am
going to do. l try to lose myself
I am the character am rep
resenting. and try to act just
as I have previously thought the
character would act under the
same circumstances"