Silent Movie Capital
Essanay’s Gilbert M. Anderson had stolen Charlie Chaplin away from Keystone with an offer of $1,250 ($29,000 in 2015) a week-a princely sum-and promises of a $10,000 ($236,000) signing bonus.
Chaplin’s dismissive treatment of the comedies he created for Essanay is unfortunate. Apart from their revelation of the fascinating and subtle evolution of Chaplin’s comedy, these films demand a prominent place in the history of film for another, simpler reason—they made Chaplin an icon. Adorned with his instantly recognizable makeup, Chaplin became the most famous man in the world when worked for Essanay in 1915. An article in the July 1915 issue of Motion Picture Magazine stated,
The world has Chaplinitis…Any form of expressing Chaplin is what the public wants…Once in every century or so a man is born who is able to color and influence the world…a little Englishman, quiet, unassuming, but surcharged with dynamite is flinching the world right now.
In January 1916, as Charlie Chaplin’s Essanay contract came up for renewal, Anderson told his partner that their comic star wanted $10,000 ($236,000) a week. Spoor refused to meet his demand, and Chaplin jumped ship for the Mutual Film studio-where he got his weekly salary as well as a $150,000 ($3,500,000) bonus.
Moving Pictures World handled the two signings quite differently as Chaplain’s popularity gained.
Three of the early stars in Chicago (from left): Francis X. Bushman, Charlie Chaplin, and G. M. Anderson.
The Moving Picture World December 28, 1914 page 1822
Essanay Signs Charles Chaplin
George K. Spoor Authorizes the Announcement That G. M. Anderson Has Signature of Famous Comedian.
THE announcement was made in New York on Monday evening, Dec. 14. by George K. Spoor, president of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, that Charles Chaplin, famous screen comedian, had signed with his company. The information was contained in a telegram from G. M. Anderson from Niles, Cal. Mr. Chaplin in a remarkably short time has created for himself a unique position in the film world. He is a man who seldom gives one an opportunity to laugh with him: at the same time he gives occasion aplenty to laugh at him. The name of the director under whom he will work has not been announced, but it is assumed that he will be under the general direction of Mr. Anderson at the Niles studio, situated near San Francisco.
Essanay’s announcement of Chaplin
Moving Picture World January 2, 1915
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The Essanay Films
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No.
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Release Date
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Title
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1
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1 February 1915
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His New Job
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2
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15 February 1915
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A Night Out
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3
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11 March 1915
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The Champion
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4
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18 March 1915
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In the Park
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5
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1 April 1915
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A Jitney Elopement
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6
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11 April 1915
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The Tramp
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7
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29 April 1915
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By The Sea
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8
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21 June 1915
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Work
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9
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12 July 1915
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A Woman
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10
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9 August 1915
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The Bank
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11
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4 October 1915
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Shanghaied
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12
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20 November 1915
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A Night in the Show
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13
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18 December 1915
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Burlesque on "Carmen"
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14
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27 May 1916
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Police
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15
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11 August 1918
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Triple Trouble*
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*Triple Trouble is a two-reel silent comedy film that was released in 1918. This film was not an official Chaplin film, even though it has many Chaplin directed scenes; it was edited together out of outtakes and newly shot footage by the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, with Leo White as director for the new scenes. Since Chaplin did not have legal control over the films made during his time with Essanay, he could not prevent its release.
His New Job
Moving Picture World
20 February 1915
The Moving Picture World March 11, 1916 page 1622
Chaplin Signs with Mutual
President John R. Freuler Contracts to Pay the Comedian a Total of $670,000 for One Year’s Work.
CHARLES CHAPLIN, not yet twenty-seven years old, on Saturday, Feb. 26, signed an agreement to play for one year in pictures to be released on the Mutual program. He will direct his own subjects and will make two reels each month. A company has been formed to take charge of the Chaplin productions. This company will pay Chaplin a salary of $10,000 a week. For signing the contract the comedian was given a bonus of $150,000. Which means, of course, $520,000 plus $150,000—$670,000. It would seem that never in the history of the stage and its related arts has there been a salary of tjiis magnitude. What makes the story doubly interesting is the fact that in the figures named there is every reason to believe the usual rather than unusual multiplication of the actu.ility has been omitted. Chaplin will have no financial interest in the output of his company. He can devote his whole attention to the making of pictures, draw his salary every Saturday and pass on the business stuff to the other fellow.
Signing the Chaplin Contract.
J. R. Freuler, Sid Chaplin and Charles Chaplin
President John R. Freuler, when seen on Monday following the signing of the twenty-thousand-word contract, did not seem to fear any occasion for worry on the Chaplin end during the coming year. In fact, he was in high good humor and neglected a pile of work on his desk to tell the World man how it all happened.
“The negotiations for the employment of Mr. Chaplin really began last July,” said President Freuler. “You may remember that at that time there was prevalent an impression that the comedian was working under a_ six months’ contract. I asked Mr. Hutchinson, the president of the American, who was near Los Angeles, if he would look into the matter. Mr. Hutchinson reported that the contract with the Essanay company ran until Jan. 1 and we dropped everything. Personally I am opposed to disturbing players under contract.
“When Sid Chaplin came east several weeks ago we had interviews with him. Then when Charles Chaplin arrived we went into the whole question seriously. I kept posted on what was going on. Everything was legitimate and above board. You may be sure when I read the rumors and saw Mutual not mentioned I was amused, because we were closer to the proposition than any of the others. Charles Chaplin was ambitious to have his own company. We did not care whether he had his own company or played in one of our existing concerns, so there was no argument on that score.
“During the negotiations I had figured out the financial side and saw in a Chaplin engagement a handsome profit for the Mutual and especially for the producing company that is going to take care of the Chaplin pictures. No, the comedian will have no percentage interest in his own subjects. We are willing to have it the way it is. Sid Chaplin carried on most of the negotiations for the Chaplin side. Yes, he is a good business man.
“As I told you we have figured this matter conservatively. We have discounted the number of Chaplin prints^ that have been sold in the past. We estimate that in the United States and Canada we will take in in the course of the year $2,200,000 on the Chaplin productions. And we think we can do that amount of business on possibly a lower and certainly not a higher rental than has been charged on these pictures in the immediate past. We are not going to boost prices on Chaplin films. We will hold them at a level that will develop their full drawing power and give all exhibitors a show at them.”
Mutual display advertisement
11 March 1916
Asked as to the location of the studio in Los Angeles at which Chaplin would work, Mr. Freuler said two sites were now under consideration. He said his new star would be in New York perhaps a week longer winding up a few remaining formalities, among which would be the signing of documents having to do with life insurance. Mr. Freuler is taking out a policy on his new comedian aggregating a quarter of a million dollars.
The manager of the new company will be H. P. Caulfield, one time general manager of Universal City. Mr. Caulfield has had much experience in the film business. He has been active in the negotiations leading up to the signing of the contracts, Mr. Freuler said, and from this time on would handle all business connected with the Chaplin company. “And,” Mr. Freuler added, “I am going back to work for the Mutual again. These last few days I have not had much chance to take care of my regular routine.”
The Mutual’s president said that up to that time Sid Chaplin had no connection with the Mutual—that so far as he knew the business future of the little comedian’s brother had not been definitely settled.
“It means that I am left free to be just as funny as I dare, to do the best work that is in me and to spend my energies on the thing that the people want,” said Mr. Chaplin shortly after becoming a Mutual player. “I have felt for a long time that this would be my big year and this contract gives me my opportunity. There is inspiration in it. I am like an author with a big publisher to give him circulation.
Mutual display advertisement
11 March 1916
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The Mutual Films
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No.
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Release Date
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Title
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1
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15 May 1916
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The Floorwalker
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2
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12 June 1916
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The Fireman
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3
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10 July 1916
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The Vagabond
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4
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7 August 1916
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One A.M.
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5
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4 September 1916
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The Count
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6
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2 October 1916
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The Pawnshop
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7
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13 November 1916
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Behind the Screen
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8
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4 December 1916
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The Rink
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9
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22 January 1917
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Easy Street
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10
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16 April 1917
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The Cure
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11
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17 June 1917
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The Immigrant
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12
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22 October 1917
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The Adventurer
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