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LIVERPOOL ’ S LINKS WITH CHARLIE CHAPLIN REVEALED
Liverpool ’ s links with legendary performer Charlie Chaplin are to be explored at an upcoming arts festival .
Chaplin was a London-born actor , filmmaker , and composer , known for his comedic silent movies .
He ’ s also someone who had such a massive effect on the film industry he received a 12-minute standing ovation at the Oscars in 1972 after receiving an honorary award for ‘ the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century ’.
But what many people don ’ t realise is that Chaplin , who died in 1977 aged 88 , actually lived in Liverpool as a young boy .
A special 100 year anniversary screening of Chaplin ’ s 1921 movie The Kid will be shown at this month ’ s Angel Field Festival , an annual arts event organised by Liverpool Hope University .
And now author and historian Ken Pye has revealed just what brought Chaplin to Merseyside – and how the great entertainer never felt ‘ more welcomed , or cared for ’ than when in his Liverpool school .
Ken , a respected public speaker and history consultant , explains how Chaplin was born to married London-based touring Vaudeville entertainers – Charles Chaplin Senior and his wife Hannah .
Chaplin Junior ’ s life was thrown into disarray when his alcoholic father abandoned the family , including elder step-brother Sydney , forcing them to spend time in a workhouse . Mum Hannah also suffered recurring bouts of mental illness that necessitated stays in mental asylums .
Describing how Chaplin emerged from those bleak early days , Ken adds : “ In 1900 , at the age of eleven , young Charlie joined ‘ Eight Lancashire Lads ’ – a popular clog dancing troupe – and he toured British theatres and Music Halls . Charlie ’ s father , who had virtually no contact with his children , died the following year . The troupe often appeared in theatres across the north west , including the Argyle Theatre in Birkenhead , and at Hengler ’ s Music Hall in Everton , Liverpool , which later became The Hippodrome Theatre . Indeed , it was in 1900 , whilst appearing for a long engagement at Hengler ’ s , Charlie stayed in digs in the nearby district of Everton , at No 9 Salisbury Street . As he was of school age , the young boy was required to register and attend the nearest school to where he was staying . This was the Jesuit-run , Roman Catholic School of Saint Francis Xavier , also in Salisbury Street .”
The school buildings still stand today but now form part of Liverpool Hope University ’ s ‘ Creative Campus ’ in Everton . Indeed , the Capstone Theatre where the film screening will be shown as part of the Angel Field Festival sits on the very same site that Chaplin attended school .
And Chaplin ’ s time in Liverpool left a deep impression on him .
Ken says : “ In his later life , the entertainer would say that of all the schools he attended during his complex and demanding early life , he never felt more welcomed , or cared for , than he did during the few weeks he spent in Liverpool , at SFX . This is to the credit of his fellow pupils , and the priests and staff at the school , and to the people of Liverpool ; particularly because the boy was Jewish .”
Chaplin rose to prominence as a gifted dancer , acrobat , and clown , and soon became a stage actor and comedian .
Ken describes how in 1910 , aged 17 , Chaplin joined Fred Karno ’ s Circus – a famous , touring , music hall and comedy troupe , where he was a great success .
Ken adds : “ The troupe then went on tour in America , where , in 1912 , and at the age of 23 , he was talent-spotted by Mack Sennett , the renowned film producer , director , and comic actor . In 1913 , Charlie signed his first film contract with the Sennett studios to appear in the silent films ‘ The Keystone Comedies ’. In only a few years his salary rose from $ 500 to $ 10,000 a week , with a $ 150,000 annual bonus based on sales , which were phenomenal and global . Between 1912 and 1919 , he made 60 short , silent films , and had invented his unique comedy character and persona , which he named ‘ The Little Tramp ’. Chaplin and this character quickly became world famous .”
It was in 1919 , that Chaplin formed a partnership with three other famous and successful Hollywood personalities ; Mary Pickford ; D W Griffith ; and Douglas Fairbanks . Together , they created the United Artists film production and distribution company , in an effort to gain greater control of how their films were made and shown .
And Chaplin also never lost sight of his roots .
Ken says : “ In 1921 , Charlie was now wealthy and influential enough to relocate his mother to California . Here , she was cared for in a house in the San Fernando Valley until her death , in August 1928 . Known , loved , and respected around the world , Charlie was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1975 , but then died , in 1977 , at the age of 88 . And so , the young boy who had spent happy times at school in Liverpool – however briefly , had gone on to become , arguably , the greatest , most worldrenowned and popular comedy entertainer of the first half of the 20th century . He has left behind him a great legacy and , who knows , perhaps the people and City of Liverpool , and St . Francis Xavier School , played a small part in this .”
** The screening of Charlie Chaplin ’ s The Kid takes place Saturday 26th June , 11am , at Liverpool ’ s Capstone Theatre .
Admission is FREE .
To reserve tickets , click : https :// www . ticketquarter . co . uk / Online / thekid-21
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