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Saturday, December 28, 1918
Could Chaplin Make Qiao You Laugh for n* I U ■
Here's the way they played up Charlie Chaplin at Poli's theater, Meriden, Cohn.
The management of the theater offered a reward of $10 to anyone who could view Chaplin's "Shoulder Arms" and not laugh.
They found someone who won the prize.
Her picture is presented herewith.
When the prize was won, to make sure that the $10 went to the proper individual, the theater management secured the following affidavit:
State of Connecticut,
SS. Meriden, December 3, 1918. New Haven, County,
Personally appeared: Mrs. Mary ^eillette, wife of Fred. Veillette of 60 Frary avenue, of the Town of Meriden, County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, deposes and says: That on said date, I attended the performance of moving pictures at Poli's Theater in said Meriden and have seen the picture "Shoulder Arms" — Charlie Chaplin — and during all of the time, I did not laugh.
I further state that while people in the same row and along both sides of me were convulsed with laughter, yet I was solemn and did not even crack a smile.
MARY VIELLETTE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 3rd day of December, 19 18.
I. HENRY MAG,
Notary Public. |
The ten dollars the theater hopes to get back from the First National.
The stunt proved so unusual that the Meriden Daily Journal played it up on the first page of their issue of Dec. 4 with the following headline: "She Didn't Laugh at Chas. Chaplin." The story took up the greater part of a column and two-thirds — all on the first page.
When Mrs. Viellette went to the box office to secure the prize she was informed that it was unbelievable that anyone could see the picture
without laughing and that she should produce witnesses to prove that she was entitled to the reward.
The story goes on to say that so a fair test could be obtained, she agreed to see the picture a second time accompanied by the Photoplay Editor of the Meriden Daily Journal.
The report of her second visit says that she showed no emotion at any time. When she produced her affidavit, Manager Griffith, of the theater, is quoted as saying, "You didn't laugh !" Woman, you sure earned the money and I'll see that you get it."
Mrs. Viellette is quoted as saying, "I ought to get $20. I saw the picture twice and I didn't laugh at it at all. Not once did I laugh. There is nothinsr to laueh at."
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SHOWING NEAREST APPROACH TO
LAUGHTER of MRS. VIELLETTE
WHILE WATCHING THE ANTICS
OF CHAPLIN.
The report further says that Mrs. Viellette proved that she can laugh. She also is quoted as saying that she never laughs at the pictures.
If you are planning to play "Shoulder Arms" it would be a good bet for you to get a copy of the Meriden Daily Journal of Dec. 4 to see what can be done with unusual, unpaid for publicity.