Chaplin stand-up advertisement

Shush wrote:

>I may have seen a photo somewhere of
>an old movie theater, that had an "I am
>Here Today" standee in front of it, but
>now I can't recall where I may have seen
>it. I *must* have seen it somewhere,
>because I think I know exactly what
>you're talking about.

You saw it in a still from James Agee's
ALL THE WAY HOME (A DEATH IN
THE FAMILY).
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

On Mar 14, 4:11 pm, "Shush" <shushfilmseznos....TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Mar 12, 4:14 am, "uk rick" <ler....TakeThisOut@btinternet.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi All,
>
> > I have been looking for an image of the famous life-sized cut-out that
> > was displayed outside movie theatres from the mid teens to advertise
> > Chaplin screenings, depicting Charlie in his tramp costume with the
> > lettering "I am here today". Although it appears to have been one of
> > the most famous and ubiquitous images of Chaplin, and is often
> > referenced, I can't seem to locate it anywhere. The nearest I have
> > found are the reproduction props in a scene from the 1992 Attenborough
> > biopic.
>
> > If any of the knowledgeable members on the group are able to supply an
> > image of the advertisement, or to direct me to a source, in a
> > reference text or online, I would be most grateful.
>
> I may have seen a photo somewhere of an old movie theater, that had
> an "I am Here Today" standee in front of it, but now I can't recall
> where I may have seen it. I *must* have seen it somewhere, because I
> think I know exactly what you're talking about.
>
> There have been reproductions on eBay of generic Chaplin posters
> that served the same purpose as the standee you described, but I don't
> know that the "I am Here Today" thing still survives anywhere.
>
> --Shush--


It seems amazing that there are no surviving examples of what was, by
all accounts, one of the most widely distributed pieces of advertising
material of the 20th century, or that there doesn't seem to be a
reproduction or even a decent photo in any collection, reference book
or website devoted to Chaplin or to cinema history. The stand-up is
often mentioned in articles (this 1998 Time article, for instance:
http://www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/chaplin.html), but
most famously by Gilbert Seldes in his collection of popular culture
articles, The Seven Lively Arts (extract here:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/SELDES/ch03.html).

I just can't help thinking that there must be a picture out there
somewhere....

Best,

Lance, UK
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

On 14 Mar 2007 16:09:55 -0700, "uk rick" <lerick.DeleteThis@btinternet.com> wrote:

>On Mar 14, 4:11 pm, "Shush" <shushfilmseznos....DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On Mar 12, 4:14 am, "uk rick" <ler....DeleteThis@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Hi All,
>>
>> > I have been looking for an image of the famous life-sized cut-out that
>> > was displayed outside movie theatres from the mid teens to advertise
>> > Chaplin screenings, depicting Charlie in his tramp costume with the
>> > lettering "I am here today". Although it appears to have been one of
>> > the most famous and ubiquitous images of Chaplin, and is often
>> > referenced, I can't seem to locate it anywhere. The nearest I have
>> > found are the reproduction props in a scene from the 1992 Attenborough
>> > biopic.
>>
>> > If any of the knowledgeable members on the group are able to supply an
>> > image of the advertisement, or to direct me to a source, in a
>> > reference text or online, I would be most grateful.
>>
>> I may have seen a photo somewhere of an old movie theater, that had
>> an "I am Here Today" standee in front of it, but now I can't recall
>> where I may have seen it. I *must* have seen it somewhere, because I
>> think I know exactly what you're talking about.
>>
>> There have been reproductions on eBay of generic Chaplin posters
>> that served the same purpose as the standee you described, but I don't
>> know that the "I am Here Today" thing still survives anywhere.
>>
>> --Shush--
>
>
>It seems amazing that there are no surviving examples of what was, by
>all accounts, one of the most widely distributed pieces of advertising
>material of the 20th century, or that there doesn't seem to be a
>reproduction or even a decent photo in any collection, reference book
>or website devoted to Chaplin or to cinema history. The stand-up is
>often mentioned in articles (this 1998 Time article, for instance:
>http://www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/chaplin.html), but
>most famously by Gilbert Seldes in his collection of popular culture
>articles, The Seven Lively Arts (extract here:
>http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/SELDES/ch03.html).
>
>I just can't help thinking that there must be a picture out there
>somewhere....
>
>Best,
>
>Lance, UK

Like Shush, I'm sure I've seen a picture of one somewhere. I've looked through
a number of CC books with no success. I'll continue as time permits. The
closest I've come is a still from 'All the Way Home", a 60's movie based on a
James Agee play. The still is in Films of CC in the Chapliniana section. It's
a cutout, but with no text.
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

Maybe this thing never existed as an original, instead only as a
reproduction of something that never existed in the first place. If
I'm reading all the notes right, all the sightings are of
reproductions.
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

On Mar 15, 1:21 pm, "Robert Moulton" <robertjohnmoul... RemoveThis @gmail.com>
wrote:
> Maybe this thing never existed as an original, instead only as a
> reproduction of something that never existed in the first place. If
> I'm reading all the notes right, all the sightings are of
> reproductions.

Hi Rob,

Yes, quite a few of the references I've seen are modern, such as this
in a January 2007 article in USA Today (http://www.encyclopedia.com/
doc/1G1-157655636.html ), and there are dozens of web articles
(including the dreaded Wikipedia and TCM's site - see
http://www.tcmdb.com/participant/bio.jsp?spid=32227&apid=29141&category=bio),
but these seem to be copying or repeating the information from
previous articles. As well as the reproductions in Attenborough's
Chaplin, there is a description of a similar standup in the screenplay
of the 2001 movie Majestic (although I haven't seen the film - see
script at http://sfy.ru/sfy.html?script=majestic_2001), and there's a
report about an October 2006 screening of City Lights (at
http://thelittletramp.net/Site/Blog/D80292FF-479D-4F1A-B149-61FB7C4606D3.html),
which muses "As we rounded the building to the front entrance, I half
expected there to be a life-size cutout of Charlie on the sidewalk and
a sign that read "I'm here today." It was not meant to be, but what a
treat that would have been."

However, the reference by Seldes in The Seven Lively Arts is much
nearer to contemporary (1922), and there seems good academic
confirmation, such as a specific reference to the standee by Brian
Galagher in his series on movie stars in Images #3. He writes:
"Chaplin was the most famous star of the 1910s (Mary Pickford probably
being his only real competition), with movie theaters sometimes simply
displaying a lifesize cutout of him, proclaiming "I Am Here Today,"
rather than listing the title of the specific film being
shown." (available here http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue03/infocus/stars4.htm)

I have also found that the item was mentioned by Phil P on this very
list, back on 3rd November 2006, in a message which goes: "I believe
that's correct. Sennett rarely if ever identified the actors in his
films to the general public, witness the lack of credits in the
original releases. Distributors got publications like Rob cites so
the names would have been more familiar to them. I believe, however,
that the use of those large, cut-out display pictures of the Tramp
with the words "I am here today" outside of the theatres began in the
Keystone year."

I did find a very indistinct, distant shot of what might be the
standee on a web page about the history of a local cinema in the
States, but seem to have lost it again Anyway, I'll keep looking, and
thanks to everyone for their comments.

Best,

Lance, UK.
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

On Mar 16, 7:43 am, "uk rick" <ler....DeleteThis@btinternet.com> wrote:
> On Mar 15, 1:21 pm, "Robert Moulton" <robertjohnmoul....DeleteThis@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Maybe this thing never existed as an original, instead only as a
> > reproduction of something that never existed in the first place. If
> > I'm reading all the notes right, all the sightings are of
> > reproductions.
>
> Hi Rob,
>
> Yes, quite a few of the references I've seen are modern, such as this
> in a January 2007 article in USA Today (http://www.encyclopedia.com/
> doc/1G1-157655636.html ), and there are dozens of web articles
> (including the dreaded Wikipedia and TCM's site - seehttp://www.tcmdb.com/participant/bio.jsp?spid=32227&apid=29141&catego...),
> but these seem to be copying or repeating the information from
> previous articles. As well as the reproductions in Attenborough's
> Chaplin, there is a description of a similar standup in the screenplay
> of the 2001 movie Majestic (although I haven't seen the film - see
> script athttp://sfy.ru/sfy.html?script=majestic_2001), and there's a
> report about an October 2006 screening of City Lights (athttp://thelittletramp.net/Site/Blog/D80292FF-479D-4F1A-B149-61FB7C460...),
> which muses "As we rounded the building to the front entrance, I half
> expected there to be a life-size cutout of Charlie on the sidewalk and
> a sign that read "I'm here today." It was not meant to be, but what a
> treat that would have been."
>
> However, the reference by Seldes in The Seven Lively Arts is much
> nearer to contemporary (1922), and there seems good academic
> confirmation, such as a specific reference to the standee by Brian
> Galagher in his series on movie stars in Images #3. He writes:
> "Chaplin was the most famous star of the 1910s (Mary Pickford probably
> being his only real competition), with movie theaters sometimes simply
> displaying a lifesize cutout of him, proclaiming "I Am Here Today,"
> rather than listing the title of the specific film being
> shown." (available herehttp://www.imagesjournal.com/issue03/infocus/stars4.htm)
>
> I have also found that the item was mentioned by Phil P on this very
> list, back on 3rd November 2006, in a message which goes: "I believe
> that's correct. Sennett rarely if ever identified the actors in his
> films to the general public, witness the lack of credits in the
> original releases. Distributors got publications like Rob cites so
> the names would have been more familiar to them. I believe, however,
> that the use of those large, cut-out display pictures of the Tramp
> with the words "I am here today" outside of the theatres began in the
> Keystone year."
>
> I did find a very indistinct, distant shot of what might be the
> standee on a web page about the history of a local cinema in the
> States, but seem to have lost it again Anyway, I'll keep looking, and
> thanks to everyone for their comments.
>
> Best,
>
> Lance, UK.

I am almost positive that I've seen a contemporaneous photo (ie from
the 1910s) that includes the stand-up cut-out with the words "I Am
Here To-Day" but like the other posters can't find it now. My
recollection is that it might have been in one of the fairly common
photos of a look-alike contest with several ersatz 'Chaplins' outside
a theater. I'll keep looking.
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

Here's something interesting from the BFI Chaplin site:
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/biog/biog_large.php?fid=biog4&...argemen

There are no standees, but posters from D&D and GON which don't mention any of
the players and a large banner with CC's name and image. So by October of 1914
Keystone (or at least theatre owners) were identifying CC by name.


On 16 Mar 2007 12:26:22 -0700, "David Totheroh" <dtotheroh.TakeThisOut@aol.com> wrote:

>On Mar 16, 7:43 am, "uk rick" <ler....TakeThisOut@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> On Mar 15, 1:21 pm, "Robert Moulton" <robertjohnmoul....TakeThisOut@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Maybe this thing never existed as an original, instead only as a
>> > reproduction of something that never existed in the first place. If
>> > I'm reading all the notes right, all the sightings are of
>> > reproductions.
>>
>> Hi Rob,
>>
>> Yes, quite a few of the references I've seen are modern, such as this
>> in a January 2007 article in USA Today (http://www.encyclopedia.com/
>> doc/1G1-157655636.html ), and there are dozens of web articles
>> (including the dreaded Wikipedia and TCM's site - seehttp://www.tcmdb.com/participant/bio.jsp?spid=32227&apid=29141&catego...),
>> but these seem to be copying or repeating the information from
>> previous articles. As well as the reproductions in Attenborough's
>> Chaplin, there is a description of a similar standup in the screenplay
>> of the 2001 movie Majestic (although I haven't seen the film - see
>> script athttp://sfy.ru/sfy.html?script=majestic_2001), and there's a
>> report about an October 2006 screening of City Lights (athttp://thelittletramp.net/Site/Blog/D80292FF-479D-4F1A-B149-61FB7C460...),
>> which muses "As we rounded the building to the front entrance, I half
>> expected there to be a life-size cutout of Charlie on the sidewalk and
>> a sign that read "I'm here today." It was not meant to be, but what a
>> treat that would have been."
>>
>> However, the reference by Seldes in The Seven Lively Arts is much
>> nearer to contemporary (1922), and there seems good academic
>> confirmation, such as a specific reference to the standee by Brian
>> Galagher in his series on movie stars in Images #3. He writes:
>> "Chaplin was the most famous star of the 1910s (Mary Pickford probably
>> being his only real competition), with movie theaters sometimes simply
>> displaying a lifesize cutout of him, proclaiming "I Am Here Today,"
>> rather than listing the title of the specific film being
>> shown." (available herehttp://www.imagesjournal.com/issue03/infocus/stars4.htm)
>>
>> I have also found that the item was mentioned by Phil P on this very
>> list, back on 3rd November 2006, in a message which goes: "I believe
>> that's correct. Sennett rarely if ever identified the actors in his
>> films to the general public, witness the lack of credits in the
>> original releases. Distributors got publications like Rob cites so
>> the names would have been more familiar to them. I believe, however,
>> that the use of those large, cut-out display pictures of the Tramp
>> with the words "I am here today" outside of the theatres began in the
>> Keystone year."
>>
>> I did find a very indistinct, distant shot of what might be the
>> standee on a web page about the history of a local cinema in the
>> States, but seem to have lost it again Anyway, I'll keep looking, and
>> thanks to everyone for their comments.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Lance, UK.
>
>I am almost positive that I've seen a contemporaneous photo (ie from
>the 1910s) that includes the stand-up cut-out with the words "I Am
>Here To-Day" but like the other posters can't find it now. My
>recollection is that it might have been in one of the fairly common
>photos of a look-alike contest with several ersatz 'Chaplins' outside
>a theater. I'll keep looking.
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

On Mar 16, 11:38 pm, Phil P. <p... RemoveThis @nospam.com> wrote:
> Here's something interesting from the BFI Chaplin site:http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/biog/biog_large.php?fid=biog4...
>
> There are no standees, but posters from D&D and GON which don't mention any of
> the players and a large banner with CC's name and image. So by October of 1914
> Keystone (or at least theatre owners) were identifying CC by name.
>


That's a great photo - there's no chance of failing to notice what's
on that week, is there?

The reason I am so interested in the standup is because it seems to
have been generally used without Chaplin's name. As you say, it seems
that by 1914/15 CC was being identified in publicity material, if not
in credits - it seems likely that the exhibitors, who actually dealt
with the audiences, had noticed CC's sudden popularity and were
exploiting it, even before the studio caught on to what they had.
However, the fascinating thing is not that he was famous enough for
people to know his name, but rather that he had immediately become so
famous that an advert didn't even need to name him at all. CC's iconic
image was unambiguous and recognisable enough not to need any further
explanation: it couldn't be anyone else.

Galagher, in the article mentioned above, also suggests a very
practical purpose for the ubiquity of this particular advertisement:
because it didn't name any particular film title, it could be used and
re-used and would be as effective in attracting audiences to re-issues
of older Chaplin shorts as it would be for new CC material. Whatever
the case, it marks a real departure in advertising, probably the first
time that a film character had become so recognisable that it wasn't
necessary to name him, and it didn't even seem to matter what he was
in. This really was the start of modern movie stardom.

Best,

Lance, UK
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

On 16 Mar 2007 16:21:29 -0700, "uk rick" <lerick.TakeThisOut@btinternet.com> wrote:

>On Mar 16, 11:38 pm, Phil P. <p....TakeThisOut@nospam.com> wrote:
>> Here's something interesting from the BFI Chaplin site:http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/biog/biog_large.php?fid=biog4...
>>
>> There are no standees, but posters from D&D and GON which don't mention any of
>> the players and a large banner with CC's name and image. So by October of 1914
>> Keystone (or at least theatre owners) were identifying CC by name.
>>
>
>
>That's a great photo - there's no chance of failing to notice what's
>on that week, is there?
>
>The reason I am so interested in the standup is because it seems to
>have been generally used without Chaplin's name. As you say, it seems
>that by 1914/15 CC was being identified in publicity material, if not
>in credits - it seems likely that the exhibitors, who actually dealt
>with the audiences, had noticed CC's sudden popularity and were
>exploiting it, even before the studio caught on to what they had.
>However, the fascinating thing is not that he was famous enough for
>people to know his name, but rather that he had immediately become so
>famous that an advert didn't even need to name him at all. CC's iconic
>image was unambiguous and recognisable enough not to need any further
>explanation: it couldn't be anyone else.
>
>Galagher, in the article mentioned above, also suggests a very
>practical purpose for the ubiquity of this particular advertisement:
>because it didn't name any particular film title, it could be used and
>re-used and would be as effective in attracting audiences to re-issues
>of older Chaplin shorts as it would be for new CC material. Whatever
>the case, it marks a real departure in advertising, probably the first
>time that a film character had become so recognisable that it wasn't
>necessary to name him, and it didn't even seem to matter what he was
>in. This really was the start of modern movie stardom.
>
>Best,
>
>Lance, UK

In fact, with the Chaplin craze that began at that time (when he started at
Essanay), came the beginning of what we now call 'pop culture". The Tramp image
was marketed and exploited not only by Essanay, but by hundreds of
entrepreneurs.
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

On Mar 16, 4:21 pm, "uk rick" <ler... DeleteThis @btinternet.com> wrote:

> As you say, it seems
> that by 1914/15 CC was being identified in publicity material, if not
> in credits - it seems likely that the exhibitors, who actually dealt
> with the audiences, had noticed CC's sudden popularity and were
> exploiting it, even before the studio caught on to what they had.
> However, the fascinating thing is not that he was famous enough for
> people to know his name, but rather that he had immediately become so
> famous that an advert didn't even need to name him at all.


I've seen 6-8 one-sheets for 1913-1914 Keystone releases, and none
of them announce the name of the star, just the title of the film and
the Keystone and Mutual brand names. But the stars of the films are
always depicted in the poster art. It doesn't make a lot of sense to
us today, but that was very common practice in the nickelodeon era.

The one-sheet for the early Chaplin Keystone CRUEL, CRUEL LOVE has
a tiny caption reading "Sentimental Charlie," and that's the closest
thing to name recognition I've seen him get on his movie posters,
prior to Essanay.

There was at least one series of postcards released that year,
though, showing the leading Keystone stars in photo portraits and
giving their names. Fan magazines were also quick to name the
performers (though most of them paid very little attention to comedies
in those days).


--Shush--
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

On 16 Mar 2007 17:40:04 -0700, "Shush" <shushfilmseznospam DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Mar 16, 4:21 pm, "uk rick" <ler... DeleteThis @btinternet.com> wrote:
>
>> As you say, it seems
>> that by 1914/15 CC was being identified in publicity material, if not
>> in credits - it seems likely that the exhibitors, who actually dealt
>> with the audiences, had noticed CC's sudden popularity and were
>> exploiting it, even before the studio caught on to what they had.
>> However, the fascinating thing is not that he was famous enough for
>> people to know his name, but rather that he had immediately become so
>> famous that an advert didn't even need to name him at all.
>
>
> I've seen 6-8 one-sheets for 1913-1914 Keystone releases, and none
>of them announce the name of the star, just the title of the film and
>the Keystone and Mutual brand names. But the stars of the films are
>always depicted in the poster art. It doesn't make a lot of sense to
>us today, but that was very common practice in the nickelodeon era.
>
> The one-sheet for the early Chaplin Keystone CRUEL, CRUEL LOVE has
>a tiny caption reading "Sentimental Charlie," and that's the closest
>thing to name recognition I've seen him get on his movie posters,
>prior to Essanay.
>
I think that's why Normand and Arbuckle titled their pictures with names like
"Fatty's Day Off" or "Mabel's New Job", so as to keep at least their first names
before the public.

> There was at least one series of postcards released that year,
>though, showing the leading Keystone stars in photo portraits and
>giving their names. Fan magazines were also quick to name the
>performers (though most of them paid very little attention to comedies
>in those days).
>
>
>--Shush--
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

Lance -

Have you had a look at any of the Chaplin docu's, because deep in my brain
somewhere I may be recalling seeing the standee on video.
Have a look at "Funniest Man...", Gentleman and Eternal Tramps, the A&E bio,
etc. It may be on one of those.


On 16 Mar 2007 16:21:29 -0700, "uk rick" <lerick.DeleteThis@btinternet.com> wrote:

>On Mar 16, 11:38 pm, Phil P. <p....DeleteThis@nospam.com> wrote:
>> Here's something interesting from the BFI Chaplin site:http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/biog/biog_large.php?fid=biog4...
>>
>> There are no standees, but posters from D&D and GON which don't mention any of
>> the players and a large banner with CC's name and image. So by October of 1914
>> Keystone (or at least theatre owners) were identifying CC by name.
>>
>
>
>That's a great photo - there's no chance of failing to notice what's
>on that week, is there?
>
>The reason I am so interested in the standup is because it seems to
>have been generally used without Chaplin's name. As you say, it seems
>that by 1914/15 CC was being identified in publicity material, if not
>in credits - it seems likely that the exhibitors, who actually dealt
>with the audiences, had noticed CC's sudden popularity and were
>exploiting it, even before the studio caught on to what they had.
>However, the fascinating thing is not that he was famous enough for
>people to know his name, but rather that he had immediately become so
>famous that an advert didn't even need to name him at all. CC's iconic
>image was unambiguous and recognisable enough not to need any further
>explanation: it couldn't be anyone else.
>
>Galagher, in the article mentioned above, also suggests a very
>practical purpose for the ubiquity of this particular advertisement:
>because it didn't name any particular film title, it could be used and
>re-used and would be as effective in attracting audiences to re-issues
>of older Chaplin shorts as it would be for new CC material. Whatever
>the case, it marks a real departure in advertising, probably the first
>time that a film character had become so recognisable that it wasn't
>necessary to name him, and it didn't even seem to matter what he was
>in. This really was the start of modern movie stardom.
>
>Best,
>
>Lance, UK
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement 

On Mar 17, 5:03 am, Phil P. <p....DeleteThis@nospam.com> wrote:
> Lance -
>
> Have you had a look at any of the Chaplin docu's, because deep in my brain
> somewhere I may be recalling seeing the standee on video.
> Have a look at "Funniest Man...", Gentleman and Eternal Tramps, the A&E bio,
> etc. It may be on one of those.
>
> On 16 Mar 2007 16:21:29 -0700, "uk rick" <ler....DeleteThis@btinternet.com> wrote:
>
>

Phil,

Good suggestion - I will check everything I have available here or at
my university library (most of my dvds and vids are in storage, as I'm
in the limbo of moving house). I don't remember seeing it, but I
probably wasn't looking for it at the time, and it's just the kind of
thing to be flashed as a newsreel snippet

Best,

Lance, UK
 >> Stay informed about: Chaplin stand-up advertisement