Friday, July 1, 2011

Look-alike contest


In 1921, Bellingham Washington photographer J.W. Sandison snapped a shot of about eighty locals dressed up for a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest in front of the Liberty Theater. It's become a famous image of Chaplin nostalgia, appearing in just about every Chaplin book or documentary out there. Sadly, the theater is now a parking garage.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Faux Charlot submission by Shelley Finke!

Special thanks to Shelley of Louisville, Kentucky, for submitting these excellent Charlie photos. What a great costume. You tell those naysayers in Louisville that women usually make the best Chaplins... and we have the proof right here!



Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Stan (Jefferson) Laurel...

Before he was Stan Laurel of Laurel & Hardy fame, Stanley Jefferson was touring with Chaplin during their time with Karno's Speechless Comedians. For a short time after Chaplin's success in film, Stan toured in vaudeville as a Chaplin impersonator with 'The Keystone Trio'. The photos below are from an online auction.

Click images to view detail

Monday, June 27, 2011

Benito Perojo, aka Peladilla


Peladilla, the Spanish Chaplin. You can read my previous blog, and see a short clip of him, here.