Chaplin literally skidded into Chicago when he tripped and fell as he stepped off the train at Dearborn Station. He arrived from California en route to New York for the premiere of The Gold Rush. During his overnight stay at the Blackstone he was interviewed by a local reporter who asked about his wife (Lita Grey) and newborn son, Charlie, Jr., whom the interviewer referred to as "Spencer" (his middle name). Charlie was asked if he would like to make an actor of "Spencer":
"Oh no, I will not handicap the lad like that. We'll wait until he grows up and let him choose his own career."
"Mrs. Chaplin and the boy are fine," he continued. "But they weren't up to the trip to New York yet, so I left them at home."The reporter also remarked on Charlie's gray hair:
The beloved actor was found in his room, rather sad faced, his countenance deeply lined, and his eyes somewhat sunken. And he is getting distinctly gray, he admitted it ruefully, the while stroking the curls once so black and now streaked so abundantly as to make them iron-gray.
But the Chaplin smile was still with him, and when he registered it, he looked like the old time Charlie again."(Chicago Tribune, Aug. 2nd. 1925)
