More from Red Letter Days

Post #2 In a series:
This book has a series of articles in it from a British magazine called Red Letter. In 1916 it began a series of 37 articles about Charlie Chaplin.

This is an excerpt from an article that ran on May 6, 1916.
Thanks to Dan Kamin for bringing this book to my attention, and for putting it together. The articles were written by Fred Goodwins.




From Red Letter Days

It wasn't long before the necessity of getting started in returned to Charlie in full force, for he came flying back to Los Angeles within three days of his departure to the mountains.
     I happened to be on the stage when he walked into the studio, and I began forthwith to "kid" him strenuously upon his broken vows.
     "Did you take some good scenes up there, Charlie?" I asked.
    He looked at me vacantly. "Scenes?" he repeated."Scenes?" Then he got me. "Listen!" he grinned. "Are you trying to kid me, or just show me a good time?"
     "Neither," I answered. "But I like the way you 'start in right away,' Charlie."
     He immediately felt he was losing his dignity, and tried to pull a solemn face. "Really, Goody," he said. "I went up to the mountains in the sacred cause."
     "Of charity?"
     "Sure," he replied. "Harry" (his chauffeur) "was down with influenza, and I thought the trip would do him good."
     A volley of incredulous jeers greeted his diaphanous statement, whereat Charlie proceeded to look very much hurt. "You chaps don't believe I'm capable of doing a Christian act," he grumbled. But he couldn't keep it up any longer. That irresistible, twinkly smile came over his face, and he darted into his dressing-room.
     During the afternoon he unlocked his trunk, with its multitude of labels proclaiming the fact that he had but a short while ago travelled over the "Western Vaudeville Circuit" with the "Karno Company." Other labels betrayed him as having stopped at the So-and-So Hotel - - one dollar a night and up, with private bath one dollar 50 cents, in most of the big cities of the U.S.A. between here and New York City.     

These articles have given me insight into the Charlie Chaplin of the day, what his schedule and attitudes and thoughts were, plus observations by an accomplished journalist. I hope you enjoy these samplings.


If you would like to read a well-received  novel about Charlie, and what he was like in the 1920's...and what might happen if he were in Hollywood today...I suggest you purchase a copy of "Shadow and Substance: My Time with Charlie Chaplin." Email me (spidermandel@charter.net), or reply to this post, and I will get one in the mail to you, for $20 plus shipping, signed if you like. Thank you.

                                          
     

A Few Words from and about Charlie

This book has a series of articles in it from a British magazine called Red Letter. In 1916 it began a series of 37 articles about Charlie Chaplin.

This is an excerpt from an article that ran on April 29, 1916.
Thanks to Dan Kamin for bringing this book to my attention, and for putting it together. The articles were written by Fred Goodwins.

From Red Letter Days:

I had scarcely returned from mailing my last article, and settled myself to a perusal of the English papers when the telephone bell rang. It was Leo White.
"Come down to the office right away," he stammered excitedly. "Charlie gets in on the 4:30 train. There's a car waiting here to take us to the station!" And he rang off.

Charlie coming back! It sounded too good to be true, but I knew White too well to suppose he was "kidding," so I hastened to the comedian's office on Broadway. Outside was Charlie's big, seven-passenger touring car, containing eight actors and a chauffeur. They sandwiched me in somehow, and the way we cut by those cross-town streets was a caution.

Our waste was scarcely necessay, however, for when we arrived at the track and hurried into the station we were met by Harry Caulfield, the manager of the new Chaplin Mutual Company, who had arrived from New York the previous day.

"What's your hurry, boys?" he questioned round the corner of a fat cigar, which was tucked, American fashion," into his face. "She not on time; you've got ten minutes to spare."
..........
"Here he is!" yelled one.
"No, he's in the Pullman at the rear end."
"Nonsense! That's a day-coach down there."
Right in the middle of it, a small figure, all alone, alighted from the steps of the end coach, 'way down the line, and strolled up towards us at the station. There was no mistaking that quiet, thoughtful stroll or the neat hang of that nifty little New York suit upon his dapper frame. It was Charlie at last.
It was fully ten seconds before he realized that we had come down to meet him, but when he finally "came to earth" and saw us - say, didn't he let out a whoop!
"Hi!" he shouted, his high-strung temperament overcoming for the moment his habitual calm. "Hello, boys! Home again!" Then, as we started to run towards him, he greeted us all in rapid succession.

The article runs on for another 2 pages in the book and is worth the read. I'll post excerpts from other articles in the book in the weeks ahead.

Special for Charlie's Birthday - April 16 - My Novel

Now you can buy "Shadow and Substance"

 for only $20, free shipping.

I wrote a novel about Chaplin, about Hollywood in the 20's and today, about time travel and the amazing story of Chaplin. It's called "Shadow and Substance: My Time with Charlie Chaplin." Yes, it's a novel, which means it's fiction...but also built on fact...except for some imagination and the time travel part.

                                                                 

Got some really good reviews, including this gem from Kevin Brownlow:

“I was impressed by your book. I enjoyed it so much I made it last as long as possible. It was fascinating to read a fictitious version of an event one has been through oneself. You are a very good writer and your imagination caught me to such an extent that I began to feel as though I had just encountered Chaplin myself!”

Kevin Brownlow, Chaplin expert, author, documentarian, and         winner of a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award in 2010

The special price for my novel - $20 - is good until the end of April, 2020.The reason, again, is to celebrate Charlie Chaplin's birthday, April 16.He was born in 1889 and changed the history of movies, and was at one time the most famous man in the world. Not bad accomplishments for someone who grew up in poverty in the slums of London.

You can pay by PayPal (spidermandel@charter.net) or mail a check for $20 to

Gerry Mandel, 503 Taylor Young Drive, St. Louis MO 63122. Let me know if you'd like for me to sign the book. Thanks.

Free shipping only in U.S. Other countries, USPS rates apply.

Available number of copies is limited.