Reel Life (1916-1917)

THE FAME OF CHARLES CHAPLIN A few words about “The Rink ” from the Nation's Biggest Papers Charles Chaplin’s “Mutual-Chaplin Specials,” the pictures produced under his famous $670,000 contract, are unique in the unanimity of their success and box office earning power. Interesting evidence in support of this assertion is offered by a browsing review of the press clippings: LOS ANGELES — Guy Price in the “Herald” says — “ ‘The Rink’ keeps you laughing — you sit in your seat and shake all over. That’s the way he affected the Sunday matinee crowd at the Garrick, and that audience is usually a hardboiled lot.” NEW YORK — Heywood Broun in “The Trib¬ une,” reviewing “The Rink” at the Rialto says: — “The new Chaplin is a superman, and though the hordes of fat villains may rage against him with pie and soup and siphons they shall not prevail.” CHICAGO — Mae Tinee in “The Tribune,” says of “The Rink” — “The effect is to make you forget the high cost of living, are we prepared, and the maid question.” CHICAGO, ILL.— W. K. Hollander in the “Daily News” says of “The Rink” — “It is Chaplin from beginning to end — one solid mass of mirth. There is genuine humor throughout and it actu¬ ally forces one to laugh.” CLEVELAND, O.— John DeKoven in “The Leader” — “ ‘The Rink,’ which opened for a week at the Reel, is, we should say, the best in both time worn comedy and original stunts that he has contributed in some time.” NORFOLK, VA. — “The Pilot” says: — “ ‘The Rink’ is the eighth of the big Mutual Chaplin productions, and it is endorsed by Norfolk theater¬ goers as the funniest he has ever made. It was presented at the Wells today and moves to the American tomorrow. Maybe it hasn’t attracted some crowds!” INDIANAPOLIS, IND.— “The Star”— “Charlie Chaplin has established a box office record thus far in his picture, ‘The Rink,’ now showing at the Alhambra.’ TRENTON, N. J. — "The Times” — “Records for attendance were broken at Taylor Opera House yesterday afternoon and evening through the draw¬ ing power of Charlie Chaplin’s newest comedy, “The Rink’.” COLUMBUS, O. — “The Dispatch” — “Charlie Chaplin in ‘The Rink’ continues to bring screams of laughter from the Pastime audience.” SCRANTON, PA.— “The Times”— “ ‘The Rink’ is one long, loud enjoyable laugh. Get to see it at the Manhattan if you have only a few minutes to spare.” SEATTLE, WASH. — Melvin G. Winstock in “The Spectator” — “If you think Chaplin has ex¬ hausted his power, just drop in somewhere and see his antics in ‘The Rink.’ I saw a lot of fel¬ lows there who sit up and say ‘I dare you to make me laugh,’ and they came out with a smile that lasted two weeks.” LOS ANGELES, CAL.— “The Record”— “Charlie Chaplin again, likewise a long line of people waiting at the box office is the situation at the Garrick this week. In ‘The Rink’ the inim¬ itable Chaplin has an opportunity to prove his worth. The story gives the finest situations for his pantomimic art.” WORCESTER, MASS.— “The Post”— “When Chaplin comes to town, all the picture fans sit up and take notice. Chaplin is here today at the Plaza Theater, the one and only Chaplin of the films, the funniest man on the screen. The latest two-reel wheeze of the premier comedian is called ‘The Rink’.” BALTIMORE, MD. — “Sun’.’ — “Charlie Chaplin as a champion roller skater on two legs or one leg or no leg at all was the chief laugh-getter at the Hippodrome yesterday afternoon in his new¬ est film play, ‘The Rink.’ The theater was packed. He is easily the feature of the bill.” PHILADELPHIA, PA. — Kenneth Macgowan in the “Evening Ledger” — “In ‘The Rink,’ which the Arcadia, Palace, Victoria and Regent showed yes¬ terday, was unreeled one of the funniest bits which have come from Lone Star studios.” PHILADELPHIA, PA.— “North American”— “Charlie Chaplin, of course, held the floor in the comedy department during the week. Nearly every large theater in town showed ‘The Rink’ as one of its features. Chaplin’s comics are grow¬ ing more and more generally popular.” SHREVEPORT, LA.— “Times”— “ ‘The Rink,’ now showing for the sixth day at Fichtenberg’s Dreamworld Theater, has thus far been the big¬ gest success in which Charlie Chaplin has ap¬ peared, from a box office point of view as well as the general satisfaction it has distributed among those who have witnessed it.” JOHNSTOWN, PA.— “Democrat”— “In ‘The Rink,’ Chaplin is undoubtedly at his very best, not by the opinion of one person, but the opinion of hundreds who saw him in it yesterday at the Park.” SEATTLE, WASH.— ‘“Times”— “Yesterday The Strand gave its patrons the greatest program yet offered, — Charlie Chaplin in ‘The Rink,’ which is no doubt his masterpiece.” BROOKLYN, N. Y. — “Times” — “The show at the Amphion opened last night to a full house and an appreciative one. Charlie Chaplin in “The Rink” proved too much for the fifth ribs of some, and they made the old playhouse re-echo with their laughter.” HACKENSACK, N. J.— “Evening Record”— “In ‘The Rink’ Chaplin has outdone himself as a come¬ dian.” TRENTON, N. J. — “The Gazette” — “Charlie Chaplin proved a scream in ‘The Rink’ before three of the largest audiences of the season at the Taylor Opera House yesterday. At the end it was voted the best Chaplin picture.” COLUMBUS, OHIO— “The Citizen”— “Folks who have seen Chaplin in ‘The Rink’ say Chaplin never had a funnier film.” SPRINGFIELD, ILL.— “The Journal” — “If you have not enjoyed a good laugh in some time we suggest that you pay the Lyric a visit today and see Little Charlie in his latest, ‘The Rink’.” NORFOLK, VA. — “The Dispatch” — “Did you go to the Wells yesterday? Couldn’t get in? Well, that’s what happened to hundreds of others. Bet¬ ter go early today and make sure. The reason? It’s because in his very latest, sizzling, bubbling fun geyser, ‘The Rink’ was shown. The crowds broke all previous big records.” CHICAGO, ILL. — “Bob Reel” in “The Ameri¬ can” — “Charlie Chaplin is at the Boston in a pic¬ ture so funny that it makes the callous camera operator laugh. You can’t beat the combination of those feet and roller skates.” ATLANTA, GA. — “The Constitution” — “Charlie Chaplin in ‘The Rink’ proved a magnet for thou¬ sands yesterday who were unable to gain admit¬ tance. On account of the great attendance at the Strand yesterday the film will be repeated today.” HARTFORD, CONN.— “The Post” — “Chaplin is the best bet in the show business. ‘The Rink’ at the Palace is' a ‘shriek’ from start to finish.” CHICAGO, ILL. — Louella Parsons in “The Herald” — “You have to laugh at him.” While Chaplin’s latest Mutual comedy is absorbing most of the limelight just at present, all the six of Chaplin previous releases, since the signing of his $670,000 contract, — “The Floor Walker,”' “The Fireman,” “The Vagabond,” “One A. M.,” “The Count,” and “Behind the Screen” — are doing record breaking business and exciting unlimited comment and enthusi¬ asm wherever they are being shown for the first time, or at repeat exhibitions. Some comments, taken at random from the press, show the reception which has greeted other Chaplin releases. UTICA, N. Y.— “The Observer” — on “The Pawn Shop” — “Capacity houses have laughed all the week at the antics of Chaplin in “The Pawn Shop’.” SPOKANE, WASH.— “The Chronicle” — “Be¬ hind the Screen” — “Crowds were on hand to greet Charlie Chaplin at the Class A yesterday when he appeared in ‘Behind the Screen’. It is one of the most elaborate so far produced by the Mutual Company.” SEATTLE, WASH.— “The Times”— on “The Pawnshop”— “One continuous roar from start to finish.” LOS ANGELES, CAL. — “The Express” — on “Behind the Screen” — “Critics have agreed that the little laugh maker is funnier than ever in this burlesque of Movieland.” LOS ANGELES, CAL. — “The Examiner” — on “Behind the Screen” — at the Garrick — “The heavy attendance indicates that it could run at the Gar¬ rick indefinitely to near capacity houses.” ATLANTA, GA.— “Morning Journal” — on “Be¬ hind the Screen” — “Monday was a red letter day for hundreds of motion picture fans who visited the Georgian Theater in ‘Behind the Screen’. It is one of the best things he has ever done.” NEW ORLEANS, LA.— “The Item”— on “Be¬ hind the Screen” — “It gives Chaplin the chance of his lifetime, and if you really want comedy, that sort which simply forces you to laugh, don’t miss this.” PHILADELPHIA, PA. — “The Evening Ledger” — on “Behind the Screen” — “The world can now breathe comfortably, for the election seems to be settled and the new Chaplin film has been re¬ leased.” DALLAS, TEXAS— “The Herald”— on “The Pawnshop” — “A riot.” NEWARK, OHIO — -“The American Tribune” — on “The Count” — “Proclaimed by every one who has seen it, ‘The Best One Yet.’ ‘The Count’ is setting the whole world laughing.” WASHINGTON, D. C.— “The Star”— on “The Count” — “This Chaplin picture makes a pronounced hit. Chaplin has an army of admirers all his own.” WALLA WALLA, WASH.— “The Union”— on “The Count” — “No doubt there have been funnier things in the history of the world than Charlie Chaplin in ‘The Count’. But they have never come to Walla Walla.” TORRINGTON, CONN.— “The Register”— on “The Vagabond” — “Under the Mutual environ¬ ment Charlie has steadily gained in popularity, and today he is the best known and loved movie star in the world. See him in ‘The Vagabond’ tonight and you will agree with a hundred million people that he is beyond all comparison, the great¬ est laugh-maker that ever lived.” REEL LIFE — Page Seven I