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By 1930-1931 talkies had entirely superseded the silent film and people had almost forgotten what the screen was like before it talked. Realizing that there had to be at least a musical accompaniment to the film, Chaplin spent the next three months composing a score for it. The synchronization of the "City Lights" music required weeks of work and cost forty thousand dollars.
"City Lights" had an exciting gala premiere in Los Angeles, Chaplin attending with Albert and Mrs. Einstein. The public, however, did not flock to it after the big opening. It was feared that Chaplin, too, had been forgotten in the eventful three years since "the birth of sound." Popular Broadway comedians appeared to have taken Hollywood over. The big names now were Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Wheeler and Woolsey, and the Marx Brothers, who had brought a new musical-comedy humor to the screen. Gone was the "pure" screen comedy originated by Mack Sennett.
Chaplin decided to enhance the New York and London opening with an in-person appearance; in fact, to travel around the world with the film and "re-sell" himself. Kono and Robinson were to accompany him on the tour. When he left Hollywood, Georgia Hale was at the train to see him off.
In New York, Chaplin was conducted in stately fashion to the Ambassador Hotel by A. C. Blumenthal, a close friend of Mayor Jimmy Walker; but almost at once, fresh difficulties arose. There was a conflict between Chaplin and United Artists about the distribution rights. Chaplin demanded what they considered far too high a rental — fifty percent of the gross, an unheard-of figure at the time. He finally decided to exhibit the picture independently and rented the old George M. Cohan Theatre for the premiere. United Artists were to regret their action. Chaplin netted over $400,000 from the Cohan run alone.
The "City Lights" premiere, on February 6, 1931, was