Enjoy!

My museum topic is Charlie Chaplin & Movies During The 1900’s. The main person focused on is Charlie Chaplin, of course.

Charlie Chaplin was a great actor who starred and produced more than thirty-five films. He’s divorced three times, each time with a different woman. He has also had eleven children, although a few passed away very young. Chaplin took many risks by producing films that other people might have found offensive. He is considered a great legend.

Movies during the 1900’s were silent movies. People liked to call them, “Mellow Dramas”. A normal silent film was black and white, and there was no sound. When the movie was played at a cinema, there would be a pianist playing along live. Because the movies were silent, the actors wouldn’t be heard if they talked in the movie. Dialogue was usually written in words on the screen.

CHAPLIN’S BODY FOUND

Charlie Chaplin, an actor loved by all, died in his sleep on Christmas day in Vevey, Switzerland. He died in 1877.His cause of death was natural. A few months later, Charlie’s coffin (containing him) was stolen. A few days later, the Chaplin family started receiving ransoms for the return of his body. The family refused. The gang was a mix of Polish and Bulgarian. His body was found near Lake Geneva eleven weeks after the robbers were caught.

When Oona Chaplin received these ransoms, she refused to pay, but she did work with the police to catch the robbers. When demand dropped from $600,000 to $250,000, the police figured out that the calls were coming from a local pay phone. Police set traps to catch the body-snatchers. More than 100 policemen were surrounding the pay phones to catch the robbers.

The robbers were caught, and Chaplin’s body was recovered. They found Chaplin’s body near Lake Geneva. The body was found eleven weeks after the robbers were caught and the body was re-buried under two meters of concrete to stop any other attempts of grave robbery.

The Chaplin family, shaken by events, now had some peace. His widow, Oona, was glad she didn’t consider ransom. So far, there have been no more further attempts.


Image found at: news.bbc.co.uk

DIARY OF EDNA PURVIANCE (1895 – 1958)

Dear Diary,

I’m so incredibly tired! I wonder how Charlie is. I remember when I first met him at St. Francis Hotel. Mr. Chaplin asked me if I would like to act in pictures with him. I laughed at the idea, but agreed to try it. I guess he took me because I had nothing to unlearn and he could teach me in his own way. I want to tell you that I suffered untold agonies. Eyes seemed to be everywhere. I was simply frightened to death. But he had unlimited patience in directing me and teaching me. I also remember him saying that he liked my serious and sad look. Apparently, he had no idea I was still recovering from a bad romance.

I remember when I went along with one of his jokes and bet he couldn’t hypnotize me. It was hilarious! I pretended to be hypnotized, and he was very impressed. It’s amazing, looking back then and looking now. Now that I realize it, I’ve been Charlie’s leading lady for more than thirty-five films! I remember my last film with him. Was it “A Woman Of Paris”? Oh yes, that was it. That was my first leading role, hopefully helping me find a new career as a more serious actress. Sadly, that didn’t work.

Now I’m sitting here in my rocking chair, writing in my dairy. I wish my John was here. I wish he didn’t die. I visit his tombstone everyday. Always staring at the letters, “JOHN (JACK) SQUIRE BELOVED HUSBAND.” He was such a brave pilot, flying those planes, and risking so much. My years with John were the happiest years of my life. I loved going across the U.S. with him. He was the love of my life. Why did he die? Now I’m a widow, I only fear I’m nearing my end too. The doctor told me that I have cancer. I’m frightened to death. My life seems to have been one extraordinary adventure.

Always,
Edna.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0701012/bio
http://www.silentera.com/
www.stummfilmmusiktage.de

This Weeks Feedback

The stock market simulation game really did help to learn more about stocks. We started off with $80. In the beginning of the game, all of the shares cost $10. After each year, depending on what has happened to the company, the cost either dropped or jumped. I didn't do so well, because I had the fourth lowest amount of money in the whole class of 16 people. One strategy I used was that I bought low and sold high. I didn't spend ALL of my money at once, I left some in case. When it came to picking a share of a stock, I just followed my instincts and pick which ever one I thought would do well. In the end I made a profit of $79.

image found at: www.icanefile.org

Goals!

So far this year, I've been doing well at accomplishing my two goals which were to have my homework done and to work hard. I don't think I've missed a homework yet in this class and I certainly have been working very hard. I think other goals I could have are; doing well on my Industrial Revolution project and keeping up-to-date with this blog.

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin

He was born on April 16th, 1889, in London, England. His parents were both in show business. His father was a vocalist, and his mother an actress and singer. When he was ten, his father died and his mother was getting ill. Charlie and his brother, Sydney, were on their own. Charlie quickly won popular favor as an outstanding tap dancer. As time went on he became as famous as Hitler. Later, Charlie Chaplin was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974, and became Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin.

How and at what age did your acting career really start?
Once when I was five, I had to fill in for my mum when she was ill. I was fourteen, when I appeared as “Billy” the page boy in “Sherlock Holmes.” I started my career as a comedian in Vaudville. In 1910, I was offered to be a featured player in the Fred Karno Repertoire Company. I took the offer. My chums and I were a big hit with American audiences in the Fred Karno troupe. When my troupe returned to America to do a repeat tour, I was offered a motion picture contract.
What about your wives?
When I was twenty-nine, I wed Mildred Harris who was sixteen at the time. Mildred and I had Norman, who was born deformed and live for only three days. We divorced afterwards. When I was thirty-five I wed Lita Grey when she was sixteen. We had two children; Charles Chaplin Jr. and Sydney. Later, we had a very nasty divorce. I couldn’t write about it in one of my books. When I was forty-seven I married Paulette Goddard when she was twenty-five. Our marriage didn’t work out so we got divorced. The love of my life, Oona O’Niell and I wed after that. She was the perfect wife. We had eight children; Geraldine, Eugene, Victoria, Annette, Josephine, Michael, Jane and Christopher. I’ve had eleven children. Sadly, two of them have died.
When did you become an individual producer?
Well, in 1917, I decided to become an individual producer, because I desired more freedom and having more fun in making my own movies. In early 1918, I entered an agreement with First National Exhibitors’ Circuit. The First National Exibitors’ Circuit was basically an organization that exploited my pictures. My first film under the new deal was “A Dog’s Life”.
Why was “A Woman of Paris” (1923) a hard and courageous step for you?
After seventy films in which I’ve appeared in every scene, I had to direct this picture where I had to merely walk on as an unrecognizable extra. It was also hard, because Edna Purviance my partner for more than 35 films was getting more mature and needed to be a dramatic actress for a career. I let Edna be the star of this romantic drama to help her launch her new career.
What is your favorite type of motion picture?
A good old comedy, of course! “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
You’ve written four books at least, have you not?
Yes, indeed I have. I’ve written My Trip Abroad, A Comedian Sees The World, My Autobiography, and My Life In Pictures. I’ve published some of my scripts too.
Thank you for taking some of your time to answer some questions.
Your welcome. Remember, “We think too much and feel too little.”

Sources:
http://www.charliechaplin.com/
http://www.brainyquote.com/
http://www.ednapurviance.org/chaplininfo/chaplinwives.html

The net effect of the Industrial Revolution

Many people say the Industrial Revolution was for the best. But do you really think so? Some good things about the Industrial Revolution are; more people had jobs, farmers didn't have to work as hard on their farms, things were safer, people didn't have to put all of their effort making things, there was more entertainment, cities started forming, Capitalism was formed, idfferent industries were formed, and there were more efficient ways for people to get around. Some bad things were; children were sent to work at factories which endangered their lives, people started relying too much on machines, people had hard times survivng with their new lives, the smoke from burning coal endangered the environment, farmers had harder times selling things fresh, artesans didn't sell many things, and people owning factories were getting too rich and bought land off farmers. Overall, I think the Industrial Revolution was good in the beginning, but the results are now endangering the environment.

image found at: commons.wikimedia.org