Charlie Chaplin's 2nd Film Released Feb. 07 1914 Kid Auto Races At Venice is 1914 American-made motion picture starring Charlie Chaplin in which his "Tramp" character makes a first appearance. Made by Keystone Studios and directed by Henry Lehrman, in it Chaplin plays a spectator at a 'baby-cart race' in California. The spectator keeps getting in the way of the camera and interferes with the race, causing great frustration to the public and participants. Chaplin's tramp character would go on to be one of the most beloved film icons in history.

The Switchtower or Saved by their Son was directed by Anthony O'Sullivan in 1913. Arrogant tramps, a railroad man , counterfeiters, detectives and a boy to the rescue. How could you ask for more in about 10 minutes The switchman is played, by the way, by Henry B Walthall who later starred in Birth of an Nation.

The Oath and the Man was directed by D W Griffith in 1910. Griffith is often out of his depth when he goes far back in history. Herein he trivializes the French revolution. Before you criticize him, though, remember he was making two or three of these a week. If you get a few laughs, you will be laughing at it not with it

Henry B. Walthall as Henri Prevost
Florence Barker as Madame Prevost
W. Chrystie Miller as A Priest
Francis J. Grandon as A Nobleman

The Balloonatic with Buster Keaton. 1923. This Keaton filkm is already in the Archive but this is a better print and I have added a music track.

Charlie Chaplin's 7th Film Released March 16 1914. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0004091/

Charlie Chaplin's 21st Film Released Aug. 01 1914 Charolot Gargon De Theater is the French version of The Property Man. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0004499/

Charlie Chaplin's 20th Film Released July 09 1914 As Laughing Gas http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0004210/

Charlie Chaplins 52nd Film Released June 12 1916 The Fireman was the second film Charlie Chaplin created for Mutual Films in 1916. Released in June 1916, it starred Charlie as the fireman and Edna Purviance as the daughter to Leo White. Leo White played a character trying to arrange with Eric Campbell (the fire chief) to have his house burn down so he could collection the insurance money. Shows some early day street scenes in the surrounding Los Angeles area. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0006684/

Charlie Chaplin's 8th Film released March 26 1914 This early Chaplin film has him playing a character quite different from the Tramp for which he would become famous. He is a rich, upper-class gentleman whose romance is endangered when his girlfriend oversees him being embraced by a maid. Chaplin's romantic interest in this film, Minta Durfee, was the wife of fellow Keystone actor, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle.

Charlie Chaplins 51st Film Released May 15 1916 The Floorwalker was Charlie Chaplin's first Mutual Film Company made in 1916. It starred Chaplin as a customer in a department store who finds out the manager is stealing money from the store. It was noted for the first 'running staircase' used in films. Edna Purviance played a minor role as a secretary to the store manager, played by Eric Campbell.