7 February 2012

This day in history:
On 7th February 1914 Charlie Chaplin makes his first appearance in his popular `Little Tramp` role, in Kid Auto Races at Venice. Born on 16 April 1889 in London, to music hall singers, Chaplin grew up in the theater. At age 17 he joined the vaudeville troupe of Fred Karno, which took him to America in 1910. Famously outspoken and sympathetic to communism, Chaplin left the United States in 1952 because of increased political pressure. He settled in Switzerland, where he and his wife Oona raised eight children, including actress Geraldine Chaplin. In 1975 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. read more