Charlie Chaplin Days excitedly returns to Niles this May. Filled with entertaining activities that celebrate the beloved actor and filmmaker, both fans and newcomers will find themselves immersed in Chaplin’s universe.
Chaplin Days began in 1979 with the now-defunct Niles Merchants Association. The event was paused in 2001, followed by the film museum and theater opening in 2005, which restarted the event with a focus on screening Chaplin’s films in a place that showed the films originally.
Charlie Chaplin came to Niles in 1915 to work for the Essanay Film Company after getting his start in film at the Keystone company in Los Angeles the year before. He stayed in Niles for three months and produced five films, including his most notable film, The Tramp. Chaplin made a total of 14 films for the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company—one in Chicago, five in Niles and eight more in Los Angeles.
New York Public Library librarian Steve Massa and Chaplin Days special guest explains, “Chaplin intuitively tapped into the tramp clown tradition and used it for his screen persona. Because of his own experiences of poverty and social stigma, he took this stock character and gave it real depth as an outcast who didn’t belong anywhere and continually had to move from place to place.”
This personal insight into Chaplin shows how the creative use of his roots made millions of viewers around the world feel connected to his works, regardless of class or background.
Charlie Chaplin Days will include screenings of his films in the Niles Edison Theater, a Charlie Lookalike Contest, steam train rides through Niles Canyon, a Walking Tour of Niles covering significant landmarks and even programs focusing on subjects such as Chaplin’s character costumes.
Film historian and archivist Marc Wanamaker will be presenting a unique program on Charlie Chaplin’s various costumes and highlighting the famous Tramp outfit. He will also be covering movie memorabilia auctions that sold Chaplin costumes and accessories over the years. Such programs are sure to enrich those attendees on how Chaplin’s characters have played a vital part in creating his trademark and inspiring fellow actors or fans to imitate.
This year’s event theme, “Charlie Chaplin: Imitated but Never Duplicated,” is a direct reflection of Chaplin’s impact on a global scale. Niles Essanay Museum special programs and PR director Rena Kiehn says, “Charlie became this worldwide phenomenon, and people latched onto that. Our program, ‘The Influence of Charlie Chaplin in India,’ is one that I’m personally really excited about.”
The program will cover well-known Chaplin impersonators from India, including Noor Mohammed Charlie, a Bollywood star who changed his last name to Charlie and whose grandchildren still share that last name to this day; Raj Kapoor, an Indian actor known as the Charlie Chaplin of Indian cinema; and Dr. Ashok Aswani, founder of the Charlie Circle fan club and known for giving his patients bootleg Charlie Chaplin DVDs because he believed that laughter was the best medicine.
Other famous imitators to be covered include Charles Aplin, originally Charles Amador, a Chaplin impersonator from Mexico and the only imitator Charlie Chaplin personally sued.
Chaplin’s influence continues to impact the careers of many who appreciate his work. Actor and Chaplin Days special guest Dan Kamin shares, “Seeing my first Chaplin film in college changed the course of my life. I ended up touring the world as a latter-day silent comedian and training Robert Downey, Jr., for his Oscar-nominated performance as Chaplin.”
Kamin will be holding two presentations during Charlie Chaplin Days: “Birth of the Tramp,” featuring two of the Tramp’s first screen appearances, and “The End of the Road,” a panel discussion on Chaplin’s comedic masterpiece, Modern Times. Having screenings and panels like these allows attendees to further absorb how timeless Chaplin remains to this day.
The variety of activities at Charlie Chaplin Days perfectly caters to both new and longtime fans. Kiehn says, “For the curious newcomers, I’d say come for the Saturday afternoon films and Sunday afternoon lookalike contest. For Chaplin aficionados, I think they’ll enjoy our focus on the imitators because it’s a funny, unexpected way to highlight Chaplin.”
All in all, attendees will leave this event appreciating how Chaplin’s influence has cultivated a genuine and thriving community.
Prices to events vary; some are free with donations accepted. Weekend pass guarantees entry. $35 non-members, $29 members.
Charlie Chaplin Days
Fri, May 15 – Sun, May 17
Downtown Niles, Fremont
nilesfilmmuseum.org
Free – $35
