London-born Charlie Chaplin was knighted #OTD 1975. Early in his career he appeared at Leeds City Varieties in 1897, aged eight, as the youngest member of the Eight Lancashire Lads, a clog-dancing troupe. 1/2
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For me, Chaplin was often too much 'Look at me being funny!', while Keaton was just the opposite. Small guy just wanting to get on with life, repeatedly mugged by absurd reality.
Chaplin lived and studied in Manchester for a while and talked of his fondness for the city in his memoir. He went to Armitage Street Board School, Manchester, in 1899 while performing in the north of England. (Pic is teenage Chaplin in the play Sherlock Holmes). 2/2
Indeed, the US in the late 40's was anything but liberal in its attitude, it removed the passport from the singer/actor Paul Robson which effectively meant he was in internal exile in the USA. However, he was extremely popular in Wales and whilst he couldn't travel did broadcast down a telephone.
My great granny’s father was a stage manager at the emporium theatre in Middlesbrough and when she was little was allowed to watch him backstage when he performed there :-)
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Settled in Switzerland.
I think his best films are Modern Times which hits hard at mass production, particularly Ford and The Great Dictator a sweep at Hitler.