Charlies childhood
Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in London, England, on April 16th 1889. His father was a versatile vocalist and actor; and his mother, known under the stage name of Lily Harley, was an actress and singer, who gained a reputation for her work in opera.
Chaplin's childhood in London was defined by poverty and hardship. His father was absent and his mother struggled financially, he was sent to a workhouse twice before the age of nine. When he was 14, his mother was committed to a mental asylum. The early death of his father and the illness of his mother made it necessary for Charlie and his brother, Sydney, to fend for themselves at a very young age. Having inherited natural talents from their parents, the youngsters took to the stage as this would have been their best oppurtunity as a career. He recalled making his first amateur appearance at five years. Charlie made his professional debut as a member of a young group called "The Eight Lancashire Lads" and began to be known for his outstanding tap dancing. In the years Chaplin was touring with the Eight Lancashire Lads, but by age 13 he had abandoned education. |
http://tinyurl.com/ntsq82o
http://tinyurl.com/mq3u2ru
|
He supported himself with a range of jobs, while keeping his ambition to become an actor. At 14, he registered with a theatrical agency in London's West End.
The manager sensed potential in Chaplin, who wassoon given his first role as a newsboy in H. A. Saintsbury's Jim, a Romance of Cockayne. It opened in July 1903, but the show was unsuccessful and closed after two weeks. Chaplin's comic performance, however, was singled out for praise in many of the reviews. Saintsbury secured a role for Chaplin in Charles Frohman's production of Sherlock Holmes, which proved to be very succesful leading Charlie to act along side the original Sherlock Holmes. When Chaplin turned eighteen, he was awarded the lead in a comedy play for Fred Karno and the Karno Troupe. On opening night Chaplin was struck with stage fright. He had no voice and feared what had happened to his mother would happen to him. Since the actors were taught all the character roles in order to stand in for one another, Sydney suggested that his brother play a lesser role, the part of a pantomime drunk. Karno agreed. Chaplin played it with gusto, creating continuous laughter night after night in the successful sketch, A Night in an English Music Hall.In his spare time, Chaplin became an avid reader and practiced playing the violin, discovering a passion for self-education. He grew introspective with a horror of alcohol, but had no problem womanizing. |