User:Jacobb8217/sandbox

Hello this is my first wikipedia entry. I'm not entirely sure what I should write about so here is one of my research papers from the past on Charlie Chaplin.

'''Charlie Chaplin

INTRODUCTION Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in London, England on April 16th 1889. His father was a talented vocalist as well as an actor; while his mother, known on stage as Lily Harley, was an actress and singer. Charlie, as he was more often referred to, grew up in an acting household and inherited some of his parents talents. His most well known character of his entire silent film career is the “Little Tramp” character. According to biographer Amy Smith, Chaplin is “considered one of the greatest film makers in the history of American cinema.” (IMDb.com, Inc.)

EARLY CAREER At the age of only ten, Charlie and his brother Sydney had lost their father, and their mother became very ill. Therefore, they had to learn to fend for themselves. They took to the stage as their best opportunity for a career. Charlie then made his debut as a member of a juvenile gang called “The Eight Lancashire Lads” and soon after won regard as an exceptional tap dancer. Next, at the age of twelve, Charlie played a part in “Sherlock Holmes” as a page boy. He soon joined the Fred Karno Repertoire Company. In 1910 the company came to the United Sates to do a tour. In 1912, on a return tour, Charlie was offered a motion picture contract from Mack Sennett and the Keystone Film Company. In November 1913, at the expiration of his vaudville commitments, Chaplin was able to sign with the Keystone Film Company. His salary was $150 a week, but his instant success on the big screen caused other producers and film companies to seek him out. He signed to Essanay Company in 1915, after his previous contract expired. He now was earning $1,250 a week. Then after his contract with Essanay expired he moved on to Mutual Film Corporation (1916). At Mutual, he made $10,000 a week plus a $150,000 bonus. Finally, when his agreement with Mutual ended, he began working for First National Studios in 1917, being paid $150,000 per film. (Roy Export and/or Bubbles Inc.)

EARLY FILMS Charlie Chaplin’s early film making achievements included many films with Keystone Film Company, where he created and starred as the “Little Tramp” character in 35 films. While working for Mutual, Chaplin's contract required he make twelve two- reel comedies. These included “The Floorwalker”, “The Fireman”, “One A.M.”, “The Count”, “The Vagabond” , “Easy Street”, as well as others. With First National, Chaplin starred in “A Dogs Life” and did a national tour for the war effort, followed by a film that the United States government used to promote the Liberty Loan drive, called “The Bond”. Around this time Chaplin decides to open his own film company, and become an independent producer. He then produces films such as “Shoulder Arms” (1918), “Sunnyside”, and “A Days Pleasure” (1919). Also, in 1919, Chaplin joins with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and D.W. Griffith to found the United Artists Corporation. (NYPL Book of Popular Americana) He creates 8 films with United Artists. These included: “The Kid” (1921), “A Woman of Paris” (1923), “The Gold Rush” (1925), “The Circus” (1928), “City Lights” (1931), “Modern Times” (1936), “The Great Dictator” (1940) – his first “talkie”, and “Limelight” (1952). (Roy Export and/or Bubbles Inc.) PERSONAL AND POLITICAL STRUGGLES Charlie Chaplin experienced many struggles both personally and politically during his career. His personal problems mostly consisted of failed marriages. All of his four wives were much younger than he was. He was 54 years old when he married his fourth wife Oona O'Neill; she was only 17. Chaplin had a total of 11 children, eight of which were born to he and Oona. (IMDb.com, Inc.) During America's Cold War paranoia in the late 1940's, Chaplin becomes a target of a political witch-hunt. His films and stories often reflected his liberal political beliefs. Although he lived and worked in the United States many years, he never had become an American citizen. The House Un- American Activities Council (HUAC), subpoenaed Chaplin to appear before it in 1947. The HUAC

believed he had Communist ties. Chaplin sent them a telegram stating “ 'I am not a Communist, neither have I ever joined any political party or organization in my life' ”. (IMDb.com, Inc.) The HUAC decided that it was no longer necessary for him to appear. However, in 1952, while returning from a trip abroad, Chaplin and his family are denied re-entry into the United States. They decide to settle in Switzerland where Chaplin remained the rest of his life. (Roy Export and/or Bubbles Inc.) LATER YEARS While living in Switzerland, Chaplin produced several films. “A King in New York” is about the American Cold War era of the 1940's and 50's. In 1966, he produced his last film “ A Countess from Hong Knog” starring Sophia Loren and Marlon Brando. In 1972, he returned to the United States to receive an special honorary Acadamy Award “ 'for the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century' ”. Chaplin received a 12 minute standing ovation, the longest in the history of this award. He also received the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in 1975. (IMDb.com, Inc.) Chaplin was a multi-talented man, he was an actor, director, author, and composer. His trademark character “The Little Tramp” appeared in around 70 films during a 26 year period between 1914 and 1940. (IMDb.com, Inc.) Besides running his own production company as well as starring and directing many of his own films, he wrote four books: “My Trip Abroad”, “A Comedian Sees the World”, “My Autobiography”, “My Life in Pictures”. He also wrote all of his own scripts. He was a self-taught musician and composer. He wrote and published many songs, such as: “Sing a Song”, “Smile”, “With You Dear in Bombay”, “You are My Song”, “This is My Song”, and “There's Always One You Can't Forget”. He also composed soundtracks for many of his films. (Roy Export and/or Bubbles Inc.) He often re-released his silent films with soundtrack that he had composed. (IMDb.com, Inc.)

CONCLUSION Charlie Chaplin died on Christmas day, 1977 at his home in Switzerland. His health had begun to deteriorate about ten years earlier. He was 88 years old at the time of his death. After his death and burial, Chaplin's body was stolen from the grave site in Switzerland, and was missing for three months before police found it. He was reburied in a vault surrounded by cement. (IMDb.com, Inc.) Chaplin was, according to biographer Amy Smith “an icon of the silent film era”, and “one of the most pivotal stars of the early days of Hollywood” (IMDb.com, Inc.) His character, films, and songs are still popular throughout the world today.

Works Cited "Biography for Charles Chaplin." IMDb.com. IMDb.com, Inc., 1990-2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000122/bio “Chaplin, Charlie.” The New York Public Library Book of Popular Americana. 1st ed. 1994. elibrary. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/biography/articles/21-Overview-of-His-Life "Charlie Chaplin – Overview of His life" Charlie Chaplin: Official Site. Roy Export and/or Bubbles Inc., 2013, Web. 28 Oct. 2013. http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/biography/articles/21-Overview-of-His-Life