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| Photoplay, June 1929 |
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Happy Leap Day
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Day By Day: 1936
Sunday, March 1st:
On this day eighty years ago, Charlie and Paulette were sailing the Pacific en route to Yokohama, Japan (from Honolulu).
Meanwhile, back at home, a charming interview with Chaplin appeared in the Chicago Tribune. In it, he reminisces about the fun he had making his early films and how they "whacked out" two films and week, protests the critics calling him "highbrow" ("they'll ruin me if they keep that up,") and jokes about making his sound debut as a singer. "I can't sing at all," he says.
From the Chicago Tribune, March 1st, 1936:
Coming up in Day By Day: 1936: Charlie and Paulette arrive at Yokohoma on March 6th.
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Chaplin witnesses water rescue
I've had this photo in my collection for a few years and never knew the story behind it. I think I finally found it.
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| Los Angeles Times, April 22nd, 1933 |
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Nice, 1931
Photo with sketch by "CC". It can be yours for the low, low price of $3000 (ahem).
Below is an uncropped version of the photo, also signed by Chaplin.
Both photos by the Mosesco studio in Nice.
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Al Jolson visits the set of A Day’s Pleasure, 1919
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Happy Rollie Day!
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| Rollie marks a scene on the set of The Floorwalker, Chaplin's first Mutual. |
Today marks the centennial anniversary of the day Roland H. Totheroh came to work for Charlie Chaplin as his cameraman. But March 6th would come to have significance in his later years as well. I'll let Rollie himself explain.
The following is from an interview with Totheroh from December 1964 conducted by his brother, Dan, and his grandson, Steve. Many thanks to Rollie's other grandson, David Totheroh, for sharing this story with me.
“Lloyd Ingraham wanted me, pretty near hijacked me to get on the train with him, to come down when he went with D.W. Griffith. But I didn’t want to leave [Niles and Essanay] - Los Angeles, that seemed out of the world to me, Los Angeles - and I felt nearer home where I was, so I didn’t go, I didn’t accept it. So then when the company [Essanay] closed down and that, I decided I’ll go to Los Angeles. They all bid goodbye to me in Niles, and I left my wife and little Jackie my son, and down I went, like going to the other end of the world… I got to Los Angeles, and I didn’t know how to get to any studios, so I got on a bus. It was takin’ tourists around Universal City. I think it was a dollar to go sightseeing, waited until they got the bus filled up and finally out to Studio City they went, Universal City. Soon as they pulled through the gates I jumped off. I jumped off and ran around to find out where Roy Clements was. So they told me where his office was and I saw him and he said, “Well Rollie, so glad to see you. If you had been here a week earlier I’d’a had you as my cameraman, but I’m all set on my cameraman.” I said, “That’s OK. I’m going to see Chaplin anyhow.” [Roy said] “He’s gone.” And he was. He was in New York at the time on business. That’s when he was signing up to make the Mutual Comedies.
“He had a fellow by the name of Leo White, and Charlie at that time had a little music shop, he was writing music and everything, he had a little music store, not a store, but a little office. And this Leo White was taking care of it. And I knew where, I found out where it was. And I went down to see him. And I was kinda disappointed. At first he said, “Oh sure Rollie, Charlie always asks about you.” And I said, “Well I came down, I hear he’s gonna get started… He said, “Yeah, he’s signin’ his contract, and he’s due back and he’s gonna get started about uh, two weeks after he gets back.” So next time I went down to see him, Charlie hadn’t arrived back yet and he [Leo] said, “I don’t know. I heard they’re gonna have a cameraman from Universal City.” And I said, “Oh Jeezus!” And he said, “I don’t know but I think they’re gonna use two cameras.” So I didn’t know then what, whether I’d follow through with pictures or go back home, or what…. Finally Charlie arrived in town and I went to see him. And Charlie said, “Oh, great Roll. We’ll get started next week.” And I said, “Well, will I be with you?” “Sure, sure.”
Moving Picture World, August 1918.
Note Charlie's bowler & hat hanging on the chair.
"So, a couple’a days passed and that, and the fellow that did, they had for a manager was a man that used to be a manager or one of the heads at Universal City. He was a manager and it seemed that he had all set up, a cameraman by the name of Bill Foster, Bill Foster, head cameraman, Universal. So this Bill Foster had always been shooting dramas and things like that. Well, anyhow we started together, Bill and I, camera one and two. So Bill finished up the first and that, and when it came to selecting scenes and that, pretty near all of my scenes were selected…. Well, at that time Dustin Farnum was gonna make a picture for Fox, and Bill heard about it, and right away he said, “I don’t want to make comedy. I’m gonna go over to Fox and get this job, which, he wants me. I’ll go over to Farnum, over at Fox.” And he left. And I was on my own.
“I photographed all the Mutuals, all the First Nationals, and all of his features, which was in the space of time of thirty-eight years. And a funny thing, when I left San Anselmo to join the Essanay Company, it was March 6th, 1912 [actually Aug. 8,1912] and I joined Mr. Chaplin March 6, 1916. And I got a call after he retired from Hollywood and went to Europe, to Switzerland, I got a cable from him [about getting the films together and setting up a film archive in England]. On the way over, of course I flew over, and I took over Charlie’s derby, his cane, his trousers, in fact his, all his little get up, bought a special bag for it, and when I got to Bill Smith, head of United Artists over there, he met me at the airport. They didn’t know who I was at first, and as soon as this bag I had, they started to go through, naturally they checked, you know, your belongings when you go through Customs. So I said, “Be careful of that bag!” And they thought, they were suspicious. And well, they opened it first and there was Charlie’s clothes. Jesus, it got around. Charlie Chaplin’s outfit - Charlie Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin!
“Well, I finished out, like I say, after going to London and everything, I came back here. And I finished up here March 6th, 1954, closed up with Mr. Chaplin.
“Then I had my accident, fell off my roof and everything... And then I went over to the Motion Picture Hospital in Woodland Hills, and on March 6th lo and behold, I heard from somebody that Broncho Billy was there. And I said, “Well that’s the man that started me in pictures, the old Essanay Company, Broncho Billy.” So, by golly I went to see him, March 6th, see. And he said, “Rollie! My great third baseman."
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| Rollie with Charlie's Tramp outfit, 1954 |
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Day By Day: 1936
Friday, March 6th: The Chaplin party arrives in Yokohama, Japan.
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Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, her mother, Alta, and Chaplin's valet Frank Yonemori, arrived from Honolulu aboard the SS President Coolidge. The group immediately took a train to Tokyo where they are shown engaging in three of Chaplin's favorite activities from his previous trip to Japan (with brother Sydney) in 1932: eating tempura (deep fried prawns),* attending a kabuki theater performance, and watching the sumo wrestling matches.
The Chaplin party will return to Japan once more at the end of May before heading home to California.
Above: The group eating tempura in a Tokyo restaurant (the date on the video is wrong).
Below: At the Kabuki theater & wrestling matches. These are pages from a photo album in the Chaplin Archives. I believe the handwriting is Paulette's (see enlarged versions here and here):
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The Chaplin entourage will sail for Shanghai the next day, arriving on the 9th. More on that coming up in "Day By Day: 1936".
*During his 1932 visit, it was rumored that Chaplin ate 30-50 prawns in one sitting. Read more about Chaplin's previous visit to Japan from my "World Tour Revisited" series here and here.
Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, her mother, Alta, and Chaplin's valet Frank Yonemori, arrived from Honolulu aboard the SS President Coolidge. The group immediately took a train to Tokyo where they are shown engaging in three of Chaplin's favorite activities from his previous trip to Japan (with brother Sydney) in 1932: eating tempura (deep fried prawns),* attending a kabuki theater performance, and watching the sumo wrestling matches.
The Chaplin party will return to Japan once more at the end of May before heading home to California.
Above: The group eating tempura in a Tokyo restaurant (the date on the video is wrong).
Below: At the Kabuki theater & wrestling matches. These are pages from a photo album in the Chaplin Archives. I believe the handwriting is Paulette's (see enlarged versions here and here):
The Chaplin entourage will sail for Shanghai the next day, arriving on the 9th. More on that coming up in "Day By Day: 1936".
*During his 1932 visit, it was rumored that Chaplin ate 30-50 prawns in one sitting. Read more about Chaplin's previous visit to Japan from my "World Tour Revisited" series here and here.
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Charlie with Eugenia Gilbert, winner of the Venice Bathing Girl Parade, 1921
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| Santa Fe Magazine, Dec. 1921 |
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Day By Day: 1936
Monday, March 9th: Shanghai.
When the SS President Coolidge pulled into the dock (from Japan) at 1:00 pm, a large group of reporters were lined up along the riverfront waiting to get on board.
At a little after 2:00, the press was allowed to embark and immediately requested a passenger list. Chaplin's name was absent, but Paulette's name was at the top, with no cabin number. After searching the ship, the Chaplin party was found leaning against the railing taking in the Shanghai skyline. Some reporters were surprised to find Charlie without his Tramp attire, but instead wearing "gray tweed casual pants, a silk shirt, gray brocade tie, a beige herringbone jacket and brown shoes. His hair was gray, obviously making no attempt to disguise his age. was described as being in "blooming youth, with full, tender lips," wearing "a brown coat and brown hat, carrying a spray of flowers. Standing beside Chaplin, she seemed like an innocent child, smiling brightly." In addition to the couple were Miss Goddard's mother, and the United Artists studio's Shanghai representative, a Mr. Kress. Another reporter wrote that Chaplin looked "as I expected, a man of 40-some years, with the white hair of a middle-aged gentleman," and "a small body with short ears," but he moved normally, "not at all in the quick, short steps of his little tramp character." This reporter described "Mrs. Chaplin" (i.e. Goddard) as a "vivacious, 20-something woman, very fashionably dressed."
Chaplin became overwhelmed by the reporters' questions and Mr. Kress intervened and announced that there would be a press conference at the Cathay Hotel (where Chaplin was staying) that evening at 6:30.
The Chaplin party then proceeded to take a yacht to shore. They went to the Cathay Hotel first, the manager of which was British, and had prepared for them a "5th floor, Class A suite, decorated in a purely English style."
The group later took a two hour tour of the city. Then attended a welcoming party at the International Hotel hosted by the popular Chinese actress Hue Die (aka Butterfly Wu), who had met Chaplin in 1930 when she came to America as part of Peking Opera legend, Mei Lanfang's, U.S. tour. When Chaplin met her again on this visit, he said, "I still haven't seen any of your movies, but my next time in Shanghai that will be the first thing I do."
But of all the people at the reception, it was Mei Lanfang who captured Chaplin's attention. He approached Mei, put his arm around him, and said jokingly, "I remember when we met six years ago in Los Angeles, we both had dark hair. As you see, my hair is half white now, but I don't see any gray in yours, is this fair?" Mei returned the joke, saying, "That's because you work harder than I do: you write, direct and act in all your movies, and that turns one gray. I wish you'd take better care of yourself."
After a short exchange of pleasantries, Chaplin's hosts escorted him to tea reception at an international art exhibit going on at the hotel at that time. Chaplin had little time to appreciate the exhibit and spent most of the time signing autographs. He also posed for pictures and volunteered to "have some pictures taken of me with some of these beautiful young ladies." He repeatedly praised the beauty of the women in attendance, saying "Chinese girls are very cute, I like China."
As promised, there was a press conference at 6:30. The major topic among the journalists was Chaplin's marital status. Were he and Paulette married? Were they getting married? Were they on their honeymoon? etc. Chaplin cleverly dodged the questions and took advantage of Paulette's absence at the gathering by saying,"Interesting question, but you'd have to ask her about that."
He was pressed by reporters to offer his opinion on Chinese films. Chaplin hesitated for a bit, and finally replied "I saw a Chinese silent film that was very tragic, but that was long ago. As for Chinese movies today, I couldn't make an adequate comment."
Mei Lanfang asked Chaplin what he wanted to do in Shanghai and the guest of honor said he wanted to see the Peking Opera. Mei was not performing that night but he escorted the Chaplin party to see another star, Ma Lianliang, performing "Famen Temple" at the New Everbright Theater. Chaplin was seated next to Qu Guanliang, an employee of a travel agency who interpreted opera for visitors, and who noted, “Chaplin's appreciation for the Peking Opera was not like that of a layman, but more that of a knowledgeable fan.”
Chaplin's schedule originally had him staying at the theater for only 15 minutes but he became so engrossed in the performance (and Paulette in the costumes) that they stayed for the entire performance. Afterward they went backstage and met with the cast.
After about a half hour backstage, the Chaplin party was now ready to go. When Qu, their guide and interpreter, asked where they wanted to go next, Paulette at first hesitated, saying "I don't know," but then added as an afterthought that when she was preparing to come to the Far East she remembered Douglas Fairbanks had visited here and asked him what was fun to do in Shanghai. He told her the city was great for dancing, so they went directly to the Paramount Dance Hall, and danced the rest of the night away, before returning to the SS Coolidge for their 9:00am departure for Hong Kong.
Stay tuned for more tomorrow in Day By Day: 1936.
Source: Charlie Chaplin: One Night in Shanghai
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| Arriving in Shanghai |
When the SS President Coolidge pulled into the dock (from Japan) at 1:00 pm, a large group of reporters were lined up along the riverfront waiting to get on board.
At a little after 2:00, the press was allowed to embark and immediately requested a passenger list. Chaplin's name was absent, but Paulette's name was at the top, with no cabin number. After searching the ship, the Chaplin party was found leaning against the railing taking in the Shanghai skyline. Some reporters were surprised to find Charlie without his Tramp attire, but instead wearing "gray tweed casual pants, a silk shirt, gray brocade tie, a beige herringbone jacket and brown shoes. His hair was gray, obviously making no attempt to disguise his age. was described as being in "blooming youth, with full, tender lips," wearing "a brown coat and brown hat, carrying a spray of flowers. Standing beside Chaplin, she seemed like an innocent child, smiling brightly." In addition to the couple were Miss Goddard's mother, and the United Artists studio's Shanghai representative, a Mr. Kress. Another reporter wrote that Chaplin looked "as I expected, a man of 40-some years, with the white hair of a middle-aged gentleman," and "a small body with short ears," but he moved normally, "not at all in the quick, short steps of his little tramp character." This reporter described "Mrs. Chaplin" (i.e. Goddard) as a "vivacious, 20-something woman, very fashionably dressed."
Chaplin became overwhelmed by the reporters' questions and Mr. Kress intervened and announced that there would be a press conference at the Cathay Hotel (where Chaplin was staying) that evening at 6:30.
The Chaplin party then proceeded to take a yacht to shore. They went to the Cathay Hotel first, the manager of which was British, and had prepared for them a "5th floor, Class A suite, decorated in a purely English style."
The group later took a two hour tour of the city. Then attended a welcoming party at the International Hotel hosted by the popular Chinese actress Hue Die (aka Butterfly Wu), who had met Chaplin in 1930 when she came to America as part of Peking Opera legend, Mei Lanfang's, U.S. tour. When Chaplin met her again on this visit, he said, "I still haven't seen any of your movies, but my next time in Shanghai that will be the first thing I do."
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| Charlie and Paulette with Butterfly Wu. |
But of all the people at the reception, it was Mei Lanfang who captured Chaplin's attention. He approached Mei, put his arm around him, and said jokingly, "I remember when we met six years ago in Los Angeles, we both had dark hair. As you see, my hair is half white now, but I don't see any gray in yours, is this fair?" Mei returned the joke, saying, "That's because you work harder than I do: you write, direct and act in all your movies, and that turns one gray. I wish you'd take better care of yourself."
After a short exchange of pleasantries, Chaplin's hosts escorted him to tea reception at an international art exhibit going on at the hotel at that time. Chaplin had little time to appreciate the exhibit and spent most of the time signing autographs. He also posed for pictures and volunteered to "have some pictures taken of me with some of these beautiful young ladies." He repeatedly praised the beauty of the women in attendance, saying "Chinese girls are very cute, I like China."
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| Album photos of Chaplin with Mei Lanfang (top) and at tea reception. See enlargements here. |
As promised, there was a press conference at 6:30. The major topic among the journalists was Chaplin's marital status. Were he and Paulette married? Were they getting married? Were they on their honeymoon? etc. Chaplin cleverly dodged the questions and took advantage of Paulette's absence at the gathering by saying,"Interesting question, but you'd have to ask her about that."
He was pressed by reporters to offer his opinion on Chinese films. Chaplin hesitated for a bit, and finally replied "I saw a Chinese silent film that was very tragic, but that was long ago. As for Chinese movies today, I couldn't make an adequate comment."
Mei Lanfang asked Chaplin what he wanted to do in Shanghai and the guest of honor said he wanted to see the Peking Opera. Mei was not performing that night but he escorted the Chaplin party to see another star, Ma Lianliang, performing "Famen Temple" at the New Everbright Theater. Chaplin was seated next to Qu Guanliang, an employee of a travel agency who interpreted opera for visitors, and who noted, “Chaplin's appreciation for the Peking Opera was not like that of a layman, but more that of a knowledgeable fan.”
Chaplin's schedule originally had him staying at the theater for only 15 minutes but he became so engrossed in the performance (and Paulette in the costumes) that they stayed for the entire performance. Afterward they went backstage and met with the cast.
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| CC congratulates Ma Lianliang. |
After about a half hour backstage, the Chaplin party was now ready to go. When Qu, their guide and interpreter, asked where they wanted to go next, Paulette at first hesitated, saying "I don't know," but then added as an afterthought that when she was preparing to come to the Far East she remembered Douglas Fairbanks had visited here and asked him what was fun to do in Shanghai. He told her the city was great for dancing, so they went directly to the Paramount Dance Hall, and danced the rest of the night away, before returning to the SS Coolidge for their 9:00am departure for Hong Kong.
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| Dancing with Paulette at the Paramount. |
Stay tuned for more tomorrow in Day By Day: 1936.
Source: Charlie Chaplin: One Night in Shanghai
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Charlie is attacked by monkeys on the tightrope (The Circus,1928)
He also tells stories about his own films. The monkeys in Circus scratched him badly and for six weeks he had to be in a doctor's care. Even now he has two clearly visible wounds.
Then there was the bellowing of the monkey's owners. The monkeys, you see, belonged to four different extras, each of whom regarded his own as the main attraction. "Turn the camera downward," one of them yells to the cameraman. "Can't you see that Johnny's on the ground?" Another: "Now, now! Mungo's face is turning this way." Charlie plays the scene: four monkeys, four tamers, himself, and the cameraman. (Egon Erwin Kisch, The Raging Reporter: A Bio-Anthology, Purdue, 1997)
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| Chaplin with the monkeys and their trainers. |
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Day By Day: 1936
Thursday, March 12th: Arrival in Hong Kong
The SS President Coolidge, sailing from Shanghai, was detained for 11 hours at Waglan Island due to thick fog before finally docking at Kowloon.
Paulette never formally announced an engagement, but she would sometimes encourage the confusion about it. I'll share some examples of this in the coming days. I'm sure it was not lost on both Chaplin and Paulette that these rumors were good publicity for Modern Times. In fact, the whole thing reminds one of the Chaplin/Pola Negri engagement rumors from 1923, which coincided with the release of A Woman Of Paris.
Although no documents exist of an actual marriage between Chaplin and Paulette, it seems to me that something marital may have taken place during this trip--not a real wedding but perhaps some sort of ceremony. Stay tuned and you will see what I mean. I'll also point out that Charlie and Paulette do not visit Canton during this trip to China. Chaplin claimed he and Paulette were married there in My Autobiography (1964). However they will make a short, one day side trip to Canton when they return to Hong Kong, on their way back to the U.S., a couple of months later.
As for their current visit, it seems Charlie and Paulette didn't do much. Chaplin had initially planned to "cram as much sightseeing as possible" into his stay but instead remained in his suite. "I never thought it would be as cold as this in Hong Kong," he told reporters.
Coming up on the 14th: Charlie and Co. depart for Singapore.
Read more in my Day By Day: 1936 series here.
*Chaplin might be referring to the travel agency Thomas Cook & Sons.
Sources:
China Mail, March 13th, 1936
South China Morning Post, March 13th, 1936
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| South China Morning Post, March 11, 1936 |
The SS President Coolidge, sailing from Shanghai, was detained for 11 hours at Waglan Island due to thick fog before finally docking at Kowloon.
When the Dollar liner berthed at the wharf there were nearly 100 children, both European and Chinese, ready to board the ship, and while press representatives spoke to Mr. Chaplin in his cabin the children pressed round for a "close up" view. Later Mr. Chaplin with a good-humoured smile consented to sign a number of autograph books. At first the request for autographs was denied but showing great good humour and patience Mr. Chaplin soon weakened and was signing busily--thoroughly fulfilling the younger welcomers' conception of his character.
Also at the ship to meet Mr. Chaplin were Mr. Lewis E. Pepperman, Manager of United Artists in Hong Kong, and Mr. C. Golden, Manager of the Star Theater.
Mr. Chaplin and his party went to the Peninsula Hotel after leaving the ship and they will stay there until they leave the Colony. The date of their departure is not yet decided but they will leave for Singapore within a day or two. "I'm letting Mr. Cook arrange the whole trip!" laughed Mr. Chaplin.*Chaplin was also asked about his recent film Modern Times. He explained how the idea for the film came to him following his last trip around the world in 1931:
"When I came back to the United States after my trip around the world five years ago; I was shocked at the utter bewilderment of people here over what was happening to them. I felt the same bewilderment myself. Much that we had once believed in had proved to be unworkable and no one had much idea what to do about it. People were in mental chaos.
It seemed to me that there was material for treatment in pictures. But the only way to handle it was to poke fun at our whole crazy situation, to satirize modern times. Here we had gone to great lengths to attain what is called efficiency, to enable us to produce more and more, and now we could not dispose of what we produced. Our very ability to make in vast quantity everything we needed was creating poverty.
Such a situation may be tragic, but it is also absurd and ridiculous and, as I say, it seemed natural to treat it with humor. So the whole idea of the picture is to show the helplessness of an ordinary, simple-minded person in a preposterous situation he cannot understand. He doesn't ask much of life . All he is trying to do is just to get along. Then he meets a little girl who wants nothing more than just a decent little home to live in. The story is about what crazy things can happen to plain little folk who mean no harm. To symbolize modern times, I have in certain scenes a great mass of machinery to get myself tangled up in."Chaplin was less forthcoming when asked about his personal affairs. "That's a little part of my life I like to keep to myself," he said. In recent days, rumors of a Chaplin-Goddard engagement had spread like wildfire. According to the press, the rumor was started in Shanghai by Paulette herself:
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| Los Angeles Times, March 10, 1936 |
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| New York Times, March 10, 1936 |
Paulette never formally announced an engagement, but she would sometimes encourage the confusion about it. I'll share some examples of this in the coming days. I'm sure it was not lost on both Chaplin and Paulette that these rumors were good publicity for Modern Times. In fact, the whole thing reminds one of the Chaplin/Pola Negri engagement rumors from 1923, which coincided with the release of A Woman Of Paris.
Although no documents exist of an actual marriage between Chaplin and Paulette, it seems to me that something marital may have taken place during this trip--not a real wedding but perhaps some sort of ceremony. Stay tuned and you will see what I mean. I'll also point out that Charlie and Paulette do not visit Canton during this trip to China. Chaplin claimed he and Paulette were married there in My Autobiography (1964). However they will make a short, one day side trip to Canton when they return to Hong Kong, on their way back to the U.S., a couple of months later.
As for their current visit, it seems Charlie and Paulette didn't do much. Chaplin had initially planned to "cram as much sightseeing as possible" into his stay but instead remained in his suite. "I never thought it would be as cold as this in Hong Kong," he told reporters.
Coming up on the 14th: Charlie and Co. depart for Singapore.
Read more in my Day By Day: 1936 series here.
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*Chaplin might be referring to the travel agency Thomas Cook & Sons.
Sources:
China Mail, March 13th, 1936
South China Morning Post, March 13th, 1936
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With Sydney in Chicago, March 1916
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Day By Day: 1936
Saturday, March 14th: Leaving for Singapore
After a couple of cold, foggy days in Hong Kong (including Friday the 13th) the Chaplin party embarked for Singapore aboard the Japanese ship, Suwa Maru.* They'll arrive at their destination on the 18th.
*This was Chaplin's second voyage on the Suwa Maru. He sailed on the ship from Naples to Japan (via the Suez canal) in 1932.
Stay tuned for more in "Day By Day: 1936." Catch up on previous posts here.
After a couple of cold, foggy days in Hong Kong (including Friday the 13th) the Chaplin party embarked for Singapore aboard the Japanese ship, Suwa Maru.* They'll arrive at their destination on the 18th.
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| Charlie, Paulette, and her mother, Alta, on the Suwa Maru. |
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| Posing with crew members |
*This was Chaplin's second voyage on the Suwa Maru. He sailed on the ship from Naples to Japan (via the Suez canal) in 1932.
Stay tuned for more in "Day By Day: 1936." Catch up on previous posts here.
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Portrait by George Hoyningen-Huene, January 1932
Probably taken when both men were in St. Moritz, Switzerland that winter. H-H also took some candid shots of Chaplin that appeared in the March 1932 issue of Vogue (don't miss CC in the background of the photo on the left): http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6538231z/f35.item
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Charlie and Syd, 1917
"He wishes nearly every other day you were here. Unless he pulls up within next couple of days am afraid he will miss release on this picture [The Count]. Think it very important for his future success for you to drop everything in New York and come here immediately spending at least three or four weeks. Charlie hasn't been sick but whenever he gets into difficult situation, which doesn't work out satisfactorily, he always wishes Syd were here. Don't let Charlie know I wired this as it might make him feel badly, but it is my honest opinion he needs you and that you should take next train for coast." --Telegram from Charlie's butler, Tom Harrington, to Syd Chaplin, August 2nd, 1916 (Syd Chaplin: A Biography, Lisa Stein Haven, McFarland 2011)Happy birthday, Syd
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Fishing in Ireland, 1962
Source: Getty Images (this link has a larger, clearer picture)
Watch footage of Charlie and Oona arriving in Ireland here.
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Day By Day: 1936
Wednesday, March 18th: Arrival at Singapore
The Chaplin party left Hong Kong on March 14th aboard the Suwa Maru. They arrived in Singapore amid a swirl of gossip about their possible nuptials.
The Singapore Free Press (March 19, 1936) described their arrival:
Chaplin replied politely but definitely: "That question has already been asked and answered."
Prior to their arrival it had been reported that Chaplin had radioed his agent while en route to Singapore to "do your utmost to arrange for our marriage." It was also announced that they faced difficulty getting a license under local laws due to Chaplin's two previous divorces in the U.S. Encouraging the marriage rumors even further was the fact that when Paulette appeared in Singapore she was wearing a large sapphire ring on her left ring finger.1
Asked about their schedule, Chaplin said that they planned to visit all the places of interest. "We will look at Malaya through ordinary tourists eyes. I don't know much about your tin and rubber and I'm not interested in big game hunting. I should be petrified if I was called on to shoot wild animals. However I hope to see some of your famous Malayan fauna. I am keen on fishing and I have heard there are lots of fish in these waters. I should like to catch tuna, swordfish, and sharks. As I will be here for four days I might get a chance to do a little fishing....We intend to play around in this part of the world for three months and make our plans as we go. We are touring in a perfectly aimless way."
Paulette was also asked about their itinerary: "We are making our plans as we go along and we find each day far too short. There is so much to see. We had no idea we should come as far as this, but we are enjoying ourselves so much that we have just come on. We shall probably go back the same way we came after seeing Java and Bali, but, as I said before, our plans are indefinite."
Even Alta, who was described by the Free Press article as the "head of the party" who "looked after everything" chimed in: "Mr. Chaplin is so fond of these parts. He loves Bali, the island, the people, and their customs."
After they disembarked, the Chaplin party went to the Swimming Club and then out to dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Julius Fisher. Fisher was co-owner of the Amalgamated Theaters in Singapore.
Two suites were prepared for the travelers at the Adelphi Hotel. Onlookers noticed their suitcases, some of them with the initials C.S.C., being brought in and taken upstairs. Charlie and Paulette registered separately. The Free Press noted that "Miss Goddard and her mother are occupying the same room."
That evening, the group went dancing at the New World amusement park, a place Chaplin remembered from his previous visit to Singapore in 1932.2 They returned to the hotel shortly before midnight.
More from Singapore in tomorrow's edition of Day By Day: 1936
1Los Angeles Times, March 18-19, 1936
2Chaplin's first visit to Singapore was almost exactly 4 years before on March, 27th, 1932. He arrived here with his brother, Syd, stayed at the Adelphi for a couple of days, then the two traveled on to Bali. Three weeks later he returned to Singapore sick with Dengue fever& spent a week in the hospital. Chaplin recalled this with a laugh during his current visit.
The Chaplin party left Hong Kong on March 14th aboard the Suwa Maru. They arrived in Singapore amid a swirl of gossip about their possible nuptials.
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| The Suwa Maru docking in Singapore |
The Singapore Free Press (March 19, 1936) described their arrival:
Although the Suwa Maru arrived earlier than was expected, there was a large crowd at the wharf to see Mr. Chaplin. Miss Goddard, who has a trim figure and vivacious personality to go with her pretty face, and Mr. Chaplin, who was dressed in his usual faultless style, were at the rails when the ship berthed.
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| Alta, Charlie, and Paulette at the rails of the ship |
Mr. Chaplin was given a rousing reception. A Malay police corporal, who had been limiting the numbers of sightseers wanting to go aboard, saluted Mr. Chaplin as he stepped from the gangway.
Mr. Chaplin held out his hand to the Malay corporal, who shook it heartily. The corporal was so pleased at Mr. Chaplin's friendly gesture that he gripped Mr. Chaplin's hand in both his own hands.Of course, Chaplin was asked by a Free Press reporter about his marriage plans and replied that they were his personal affair. There was a silence that was soon broken by a Chinese reporter who had not heard the Free Press question and asked: "Mr. Chaplin, is it true what they say--that you will be married here in Singapore?"
Chaplin replied politely but definitely: "That question has already been asked and answered."
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| Autographed photos of Charlie and Paulette at their arrival in Singapore |
Prior to their arrival it had been reported that Chaplin had radioed his agent while en route to Singapore to "do your utmost to arrange for our marriage." It was also announced that they faced difficulty getting a license under local laws due to Chaplin's two previous divorces in the U.S. Encouraging the marriage rumors even further was the fact that when Paulette appeared in Singapore she was wearing a large sapphire ring on her left ring finger.1
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| Paulette (showing the famous ring), Julius Fisher, and Alta |
Asked about their schedule, Chaplin said that they planned to visit all the places of interest. "We will look at Malaya through ordinary tourists eyes. I don't know much about your tin and rubber and I'm not interested in big game hunting. I should be petrified if I was called on to shoot wild animals. However I hope to see some of your famous Malayan fauna. I am keen on fishing and I have heard there are lots of fish in these waters. I should like to catch tuna, swordfish, and sharks. As I will be here for four days I might get a chance to do a little fishing....We intend to play around in this part of the world for three months and make our plans as we go. We are touring in a perfectly aimless way."
Paulette was also asked about their itinerary: "We are making our plans as we go along and we find each day far too short. There is so much to see. We had no idea we should come as far as this, but we are enjoying ourselves so much that we have just come on. We shall probably go back the same way we came after seeing Java and Bali, but, as I said before, our plans are indefinite."
Even Alta, who was described by the Free Press article as the "head of the party" who "looked after everything" chimed in: "Mr. Chaplin is so fond of these parts. He loves Bali, the island, the people, and their customs."
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| Front page of the Singapore Free Press, March 19th, 1936 |
After they disembarked, the Chaplin party went to the Swimming Club and then out to dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Julius Fisher. Fisher was co-owner of the Amalgamated Theaters in Singapore.
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| Paulette at the Swimming Club |
Two suites were prepared for the travelers at the Adelphi Hotel. Onlookers noticed their suitcases, some of them with the initials C.S.C., being brought in and taken upstairs. Charlie and Paulette registered separately. The Free Press noted that "Miss Goddard and her mother are occupying the same room."
That evening, the group went dancing at the New World amusement park, a place Chaplin remembered from his previous visit to Singapore in 1932.2 They returned to the hotel shortly before midnight.
More from Singapore in tomorrow's edition of Day By Day: 1936
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2Chaplin's first visit to Singapore was almost exactly 4 years before on March, 27th, 1932. He arrived here with his brother, Syd, stayed at the Adelphi for a couple of days, then the two traveled on to Bali. Three weeks later he returned to Singapore sick with Dengue fever& spent a week in the hospital. Chaplin recalled this with a laugh during his current visit.
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Day By Day: 1936
Thursday, March 19th: Paulette's first rickshaw ride
Accompanied by Charlie, her mother, Alta, and Chaplin's valet/secretary, Frank Yonemori, Paulette took her first rickshaw (or ricksha) ride through the Chinatown section of Singapore.
The following description of the ride from the Singapore Free Press is filled with the usual speculation about the Chaplin/Goddard marriage:
Earlier in the day, Paulette was asked in an interview with the Straits Times, if she had been wearing a wedding ring on her arrival in Singapore the previous day. She replied: "Oh, yes, I might have been."
That afternoon Charlie and Paulette attended a luncheon party, along with Singapore showmen, Joe and Julius Fisher, in the Tiffin Room of the Raffles Hotel.
Tomorrow on Day By Day:1936: Charlie visits the Singapore Reformatory.
1Singapore Free Press, March 20th, 1936
2Straits Times, March 19th, 1936
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| Paulette & Charlie on the rickshaws |
Accompanied by Charlie, her mother, Alta, and Chaplin's valet/secretary, Frank Yonemori, Paulette took her first rickshaw (or ricksha) ride through the Chinatown section of Singapore.
The following description of the ride from the Singapore Free Press is filled with the usual speculation about the Chaplin/Goddard marriage:
Paulette was fascinated with the rickshas. As her puller carried her a few paces, she cried out excitedly to Charlie, who laughed back a reply.
The party went down North Bridge Road and many who saw it wondered--was it making its way to the Office of the Registrar of Marriages, not a quarter of a mile away?
The curious followed them.
They were disappointed. But the rickshas turned down Upper Nankin Street which runs by the Registrar's office.
The pullers' trot developed into a slow walk---but it was only because Paulette Goddard was anxious to have a closer look at the Chinese houses.
As usual, Charlie removes his glasses before being photographed.
As the rickshas turned into New Bridge Road, Paulette reached out a hand to Charlie, whose vehicle was alongside. She was trying to shake hands, but the vehicles were too far apart.
Was there any significance in this action? The rickshas had already passed the Registrar's office.1
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| Charlie (2nd from right), Alta, Paulette, and Frank on the rickshas |
Earlier in the day, Paulette was asked in an interview with the Straits Times, if she had been wearing a wedding ring on her arrival in Singapore the previous day. She replied: "Oh, yes, I might have been."
"Does that mean you are married to Mr. Chaplin?" she was asked.
"I cannot say. I never discuss my private affairs...I have my career to think of."The article noted that Paulette was wearing "on her engagement finger" a large turquoise platinum ring.2
That afternoon Charlie and Paulette attended a luncheon party, along with Singapore showmen, Joe and Julius Fisher, in the Tiffin Room of the Raffles Hotel.
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| Raffles luncheon. L-R: Mrs. Julius Fisher, CC, Paulette, Joe Fisher, Alta, Julius Fisher. |
Tomorrow on Day By Day:1936: Charlie visits the Singapore Reformatory.
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1Singapore Free Press, March 20th, 1936
2Straits Times, March 19th, 1936
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Day By day: 1936
Friday, March 20th:
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That night Charlie, Paulette, and her mother attended the fights at the New World arena.
Charlie and Co. have two full days left in Singapore. I'll have more tomorrow.
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| The Straits Times, March 20th, 1936 |
That night Charlie, Paulette, and her mother attended the fights at the New World arena.
Charlie and Co. have two full days left in Singapore. I'll have more tomorrow.
I'm chronicling one full year of Chaplin's life. Catch up here: Day By Day: 1936
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Day By Day: 1936
Saturday, March 21st: Chaplin attempts to charter "Honeymoon Yacht"
80-years-ago today, Chaplin caused a stir in Singapore when he inquired about chartering a yacht called the Sea Belle II for his upcoming tour of Bali. That morning he planned to inspect the yacht and make the proper arrangements so that he could embark on Monday morning. He had originally planned to fly, but due to his being constantly hounded by the press, he had hoped that the yacht would give him and Paulette more privacy.
The Sea Belle belonged to Sir Shenton Thomas, Governor of the Straits Settlements. It had recently been nicknamed the "Honeymoon yacht" because the only other time it had been chartered for private use was when heiress Doris Duke and her husband J.H.R. Cromwell hired it for their honeymoon cruise of the East Indies the previous year. Not surprisingly, the notion that Chaplin might lease a "Honeymoon yacht" made headlines worldwide.
As a result, Chaplin decided to scrap these plans and leave by plane for Bali, as he had originally intended.
Tomorrow: Charlie and Paulette are entertained by royalty.
Day By Day: 1936
80-years-ago today, Chaplin caused a stir in Singapore when he inquired about chartering a yacht called the Sea Belle II for his upcoming tour of Bali. That morning he planned to inspect the yacht and make the proper arrangements so that he could embark on Monday morning. He had originally planned to fly, but due to his being constantly hounded by the press, he had hoped that the yacht would give him and Paulette more privacy.
The Sea Belle belonged to Sir Shenton Thomas, Governor of the Straits Settlements. It had recently been nicknamed the "Honeymoon yacht" because the only other time it had been chartered for private use was when heiress Doris Duke and her husband J.H.R. Cromwell hired it for their honeymoon cruise of the East Indies the previous year. Not surprisingly, the notion that Chaplin might lease a "Honeymoon yacht" made headlines worldwide.
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| Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 22nd, 1936 |
As a result, Chaplin decided to scrap these plans and leave by plane for Bali, as he had originally intended.
Tomorrow: Charlie and Paulette are entertained by royalty.
Day By Day: 1936
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