By the Sea Clippings 27/43
Photo-play Review, New York, May 29, 1915.
By the Sea Scenes
„I want to stay where I have succeeded“
Editorial content. „$25,000 Given Charlie Chaplin to Remain in City.
Other Notes Along the Pacific Coast
Star of Movies Plans to Get Married Soon. Purchases
Government Bonds.
Los Angeles, May 20th (Special to the Review).
Charlie Chaplin, he of the educated feet, the open-face smile
and the trousers which seem, like the sword of Damocles,
to hang by a single thread, is not going back to New York to obtain
the $25,000 offered him for two weeks‘ work there.
No, he is not!
Why should he, when he can get the same money right
here and save carefare?
In fact, he already has been paid that sum in advance
and cold cash – or in check, rather, but it‘s just as good – and he
will remain in our midst, continue to create humor and turn
his back and kick up his heels in his characteristic way at little
old New York.
Several days ago Chaplin received a telegram from New York
offering him $12,500 per week to appear fifteen minutes
each afternoon and night at Madison Square Garden for two
weeks. Chaplin read the telegram several times: smiled
one of his characteristic smiles, and thought someone was trying
to put a ,laugh over on him.‘ Then he thought seriously of the
offer and telephoned to his lawyer. Telegraphic communication
was started and in diplomatic language the Eastern syndicate
was asked to confirm the figure. It was thought that a mistake had
been made.
The replies confirmed the original offer and Chaplin
looked around to find a loophole in his contract whereby he could
take a two-weeks‘ lay-off and continue to fill his agreement
here. He found the loophole all right, but his employers, the Essanay
Company, determined that their star performer should not
leave Los Angeles. Argument, persuasive and convincing, was
brought to bear upon Chaplin, but the $25,000 was still
ringing in his ears. Then G. M. Anderson, secretary of the Essanay
Company, drew a $25,000 check on the Fort Dearborn
National Bank of Chicago, Ill., and presented it.
,Will you stay with us?‘ said Anderson, offering the check.
,Yes, I will remain,‘ said Chaplin, taking the check. Ten minutes
later Chaplin was doing the ,funny man‘ stunt in a moving
picture. He had forgotten the offer from New York.
,I am going to invest this money in Government bonds,‘
Chaplin said last night, ,and now I plan to marry. I want to marry,
I have the money to do it. I will find the girl and I am
looking for her right now. This check has given me assurance.
I want a home and vines and flowers and children.
I do not take credit to myself for this offer and this money.
The people have made it possible. If I have become popular
I am glad. I have tried to portray life and its humor and I have tried
to make the public like me.‘
When Chaplin was given the $25,000 check by
Mr. Anderson he was also given a supplementary contract to sign.
Mr. Chaplin was under contract before with the Essanay
Company. The new contract provides that he must work exclusively
for them until the expiration of his original contract.
This expiration falls in December of this year. It is provided
in the contract that Mr. Chaplin must pay $50,000 to his
employers in the event that he fails to keep his pledge in the
new contract.
,I will not break the contract,‘ Chaplin said last night.
,I want to remain here. This has been the scene of my success
and I want to stay where I have succeeded. I am going
to marry here and I am going to have that house with vines
and that wife.‘“
Madison Square Garden, 5th Avenue & 23rd Street, New York.
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