November 30, 1933

I straightened up the house today. Helen, Kate and Laten came over for Thanksgiving dinner. Had our goose Ruby sent, gravy, Irish potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, string beans, cake Jell-O, etc. Exchanged magazines with Helen. I stayed with Mrs. Raifert.

Charlie Chaplin
April 16, 1889 - December 25, 1977
Born as: Charles Spencer Chaplin

Charlie was born in London, the son of poverty-stricken music-hall entertainers.
At five he took his first turn on the stage; at age 17 he joined a music hall troupe
with whom he honed his pantomimic skills.

On tour in New York (1913), he caught the eye of Mack Sennett, who signed him
 to a film contract. His first movie, Making a Living (1914), premiered in February. He
made 35 films that year meanwhile developing his character of The Little Tramp,
baggy pants, derby hat, oversized shoes, and cane. The final touches were applied in
 The Tramp (1915) which made him an instant star.

In 1919 Chaplin teamed up with Douglas Fairbanks , Mary Pickford and D.W.
 Griffith to form United Artists, for production of their own films. In the following years
Charles produced, directed, and starred in such classics as The Gold Rush (1925),
City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936) and The Great Dictator (1940).

Over the years he was criticized for his many romantic affairs and for his political leftist
views. When Charles went to London in 1952 with his fourth wife Oona, he was
informed that he wasn't allowed to return to America. They moved to Switzerland.

During his absence from the States he made two more films, A King in New York (1957),
and his final film A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), which starred Marlon Brando
and Sophia Loren Chaplin did not return to the USA until 1972, when he accepted
a Special Academy Award.