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The birth of Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin born in london -
The genius rises
First music hall performance, as unplanned substitute for his mother. Chaplin reports his first time on stage. His mother’s voice failed during a performance and the young Charlie sang ‘E Dunno Where E Are’ in her place at The Canteen Theatre -
Lambeth Workhouse & Hanwell School
Young Charles and brother Sydney, with their mother, enter Lambeth Workhouse (for the poor). Within a few weeks the boys will be sent to Hanwell School for Orphans and Destitute Children. -
Breakdown
Hannah, his mother, has a mental breakdown. Charles and Sydney live for a time with Charles Sr. and his mistress. Young Charles first appears with the Lancashire Lads. -
"The Cinderella of Hippodrome"
Young Charles is controversially comic as a cat in a production of Cinderella at the London Hippodrome. -
Parents
Charles Sr. dies. Soon after Hannah enters Cane Hill Asylum. -
Charlie as Billy
Chaplin appears for the first time as Billy in Sherlock Holmes. He will play the part in various productions into 1906. -
Casey's Court Circus
Chaplin stars in the variety show Casey's Court Circus. -
Charlie and Sydney
Chaplin begins performing for the Karno Troupe, joining his brother Sydney, who is largely responsible for Charles's placement. -
The tour
Chaplin leaves with a Karno Troupe for a tour of the United States and Canada. -
The New York City
He opens in the Karno production The Wow Wows at the Colonial Theatre in New York City. -
Going home
Chaplin returns to England with the Karno Troupe. -
Chaplin returns
Chaplin leaves with the Karno Troupe for a second tour of the U.S. and Canada. -
Comedy company
He accepts an offer from the New York office of Kessel and Bauman, the parent organization for Mack Sennett's Keystone Comedy Company. But his Karno commitment will hold him until November -
A Woman of Paris
Chaplin's first United Artists production -- A Woman of Paris -- opens. Chaplin writes and directs but does not star in this critically acclaimed excursion into drama. -
The second
His second film, Kid's Auto Race, opens. It marks the first appearance of a semblance of the tramp character. -
Tillie's Punctured Romance
He stars in Tillie's Punctured Romance, generally considered to be the first feature-length comedy. He signs a contract with Essanay Films, where he will make fourteen films in the next year. -
The tramp
The Tramp, the first Charlie film with real pathos, appears. -
Now, the Mutual Films
Chaplin signs contract with Mutual Films, where he will make twelve celebrated short subjects in 1916 and part of 1917. After Chaplin leaves Essanay, it puts together The Essanay-Chaplin Revue, one of the first Chaplin film anthologies. Innumerable Chaplin cavalcades have since appeared. -
Easy Street
: Easy Street, generally considered his best Mutual film, appears. -
Shoulder Arms
Shoulder Arms is a critical and commercial success, though its World War I theme is controversial. -
Wedding
Chaplin marries Mildred Harris. -
United Artists
With Douglas Fairbanks, D. W. Griffith, and Mary Pickford founds United Artists. But Chaplin will not be free of his First National contract until 1923. -
Son: the born
Norman Spencer Chaplin, son of Charlie and Mildred is born -
Son: the death
On July 10, Norman dies. -
Breaking loving bonds
Divorced by Mildred Harris. -
Like a director
The Kid is the first feature he directs. -
Things
Chaplin provides his mother with a California home. Triumphantly returns to Europe The Idle Class, the movie. -
A journey into a book
Chaplin's account of his 1921 trip appears as a book, My Trip Abroad. -
A Woman of Paris
Chaplin's first United Artists production -- A Woman of Paris -- opens. Chaplin writes and directs but does not star in this critically acclaimed excursion into drama. -
Lita Grey
Chaplin marries Lita Grey -
The baby
Born Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr., son of Charlie and Lita Grey in Los Angeles. -
The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush quickly becomes his most acclaimed film. -
The new baby
Born Sydney Chaplin, son of Charlie and Lita Grey. -
Divorce
Divorced by Lita Grey. Seemingly every stage of the proceedings has been played out in the newspapers since Grey's original filing for divorce in January. -
The Circus
The Circus is a great, though often neglected, Chaplin feature. -
A great loss
Hannah Chaplin dies. -
The Oscar
At the first Academy Award ceremony, Chaplin is honored with a special Oscar "for versatility and genius in writing, acting, directing and producing The Circus." -
A romantic comedy, City Lights
City Lights finds Chaplin defying the sound era with this critical and commercial success. There is a second triumphant return to England, which eventually takes him around the world. -
Anonymity
Chaplin secretly marries Paulette Goddard, though mystery still surrounds the event. -
Modern Times
Modern Times is released: Chaplin successfully defies sound once again. -
Honor
The Screenwriters and Actors Guild awards Chaplin outstanding actor honors. -
Far East
Chaplin and Goddard visit the Far East. -
The Great Ditactor
The Great Dictator sees Chaplin enter the sound era with a controversial parody of Hitler. It grosses more than any previous film by the comedian. -
The best of the year
The New York Film Critics vote Chaplin the best actor of the year award. Chaplin declines the honor. -
The Gold Rush: souding
The Gold Rush is reissued with soundtrack and some very short deletions. Chaplin's spoken narration replaces titles. -
Chaplin speech
May 1942: Chaplin, as a last-minute substitute for former ambassador to the Soviet Union, Joseph E. Davies, gives a Second Front speech at an American Committee for Russian War Relief rally in San Francisco. -
Madison Square Garden
Gives Second Front speech, via telephone, to a Madison Square Garden rally sponsored by the CIO. -
Goodbye, Paulette Goddard
Divorced by Paulette Goddard in Mexico. -
Oona O'Neill
Chaplin Marries Oona O'Neill, daughter of a playwright. -
The first wife
Die the actress Mildred Harris, first wife of Charlie. -
Monsieur Verdoux
The controversial Monsieur Verdoux opens. -
Victim of a witch-hunting
Chaplin is the victim of a witch-hunting press conference, save for support of James Agee. -
Josephine Hannah Chaplin
Born Josephine Hannah Chaplin, daughter of Charlie and Oona -
Victoria Chaplin
Born Victoria Chaplin, daughter of Charlie and Oona. -
Last home
Chaplin purchases an estate, the Manoir de Ban, in the village of Corsair in Switzerland. This will be his last home. -
From New York to Europe
Chaplin and family leave New York by ship, bound for Europe. Chaplin will show his young family the English haunts of his youth. While at sea, Chaplin, still a British subject, has his U.S. reentry permit cancelled. If the comedian decides to return, he will have to face more witch-hunting questions on politics and morality before any possible reentry. -
The last great film
Limelight will be Chaplin's last great film. Several conservative groups all but negate its American movie theater engagements. Limelight makes the New York Times annual "Ten Best" list. -
Eugene Anthony Chaplin
Born Eugene Anthony Chaplin, son of Charlie and Oona. -
Jane Cecil Chaplin
Born Jane Cecil Chaplin daughter of Charlie and Oona -
A King in New York
A King in New York provides Chaplin's last starring role. -
Annette Emily Chaplin
Born Annette Emily Chaplin, daughter of Charlie and Oona -
Christopher James Chaplin
Born Christopher James Chaplin, son of Charlie and Oona. -
"My autobiography"
My Autobiography is published. -
Doctor Zhivago
Chaplin's oldest child by Oona, Geraldine, becomes a film star in her own right with the release of Doctor Zhivago. -
Brother
Sydney Chaplin dies. -
The last film
A Countess from Hong Kong is Chaplin's final film. -
Dies Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr
Dies Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr., son of Charlie and Lita Grey in Hollywood -
The honorary Oscar
Chaplin is awarded a special honorary Oscar "for the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century." -
Golden Lion statuette
The Venice Film Festival awards Chaplin its Golden Lion statuette. -
The Best Original Dramatic Score
Chaplin wins an Oscar (with Raymond Rasch and Larry Russell) for Best Original Dramatic Score for 1972, from Limelight. The 1952 film was eligible for belated consideration because a Los Angeles theater had never previously shown the film -- an Academy rule. -
His final book
My Life in Pictures, Chaplin's final book, comes out. -
The Queen and the Knight
Chaplin is knighted by Elizabeth 11, Queen of England. -
The death of a genius
Chaplin dies at his estate in Switzerland.