Sunday, December 31, 2017

Charlie's 1936 Packard Twelve For Sale


I just learned that this fabulous Packard, which was owned for awhile by Charlie Chaplin, is for sale. It's at a vintage collector's dealer here in St. Louis. It's yours for only $139,900. If I had that kind of money, I'd buy it...plus some extra for the insurance.
I plan to go to the dealer's as soon as we get past the holidays freezing weather and take an in-person look at it.
Here's a link.
https://www.schmitt.com/inventory/charlie-chaplins-1936-packard-twelve-all-weather-cabriolet-by-lebaron/

One thing for sure: Charlie had good taste in automobiles. 

Monday, December 25, 2017

40 Years Ago on Christmas Day

On Christmas Day of 1977, I was sitting on the floor of our home at #6 Westwood Forest, playing with my two kids, Holly and Gregg. We had just finished opening all the presents, the living room floor was strewn with shreds of colorful wrapping paper, ribbons, to/from cards, empty boxes. The phone rang. Mary Lee answered it, then came in and told me, "It's your mom." That was how I learned that Charlie had died. Mom knew of my love of Chaplin, frequently bought me Chaplin things: a painting, a book, a magazine.

Yes, Charlie Chaplin had died in Vevey, Switzerland, at his home at Manoir de Ban. You probably know the story as well as I do. This is simply a fond remembrance of his life, films and legacy on this day.