For and by fans of classic comedy
Chaplin in your life, a philosophical approach
Hey there,
i thought, this might be an interesting idea.
Does your "hobby" affect your life? Or better, does this man affect it?
i thought i'd share a litte out of my own "pandoras box"
I'm rather recipient when it comes to Films and music. even books have a great impact on me.
This is really a good thing, cause i can sort of steer my emotions by remote control. when i'm down i watch certain films or listen to special songs and it's an instant feel good.
I use that regularly. when i'm angry i listen to rameaus gavotte with 10 variations and all is gone (ok the repeat button gets stressed a little.
On the other hand, sometimes only the mention of a song title makes my eyes water....
Chaplin and his films play an important part in my life.
and 99% of my friends know that.
and i thought i'd share a little story with you, which happend this year in august :)
i hope you enjoy it :)
It was my 30s birthday this year in august and i had invited several friends (and comrades *snigger) to a bottle party.
My job at that time didn't get me enough money to have a propper party so i figured, let the mbring their own food and not bother with presents.
A few years back someone had started the rumor that i collect elk plushies, so i could very well go without presents :D
Well seems i underestimated my friends.
A few days before my birthday i found a chaplin DVD in my mailbox, sent by a friend who couldn't come to the party. even tho i already had the films i was rather moved.
The day of the party came and 20 something people gathered in my garden. and it was weird. some of my friends drove 500 kilometers just to be there. i was so moved by the gesture.
I really don't care much for presents, i care much more for the people and the good time. so when the first presents hit the table i was flabbergasted.
one of the first i opened was a card from 3 work colleagues. designers aswell.
The party proceeded and we had lots of fun.
Then suddently a friend of mine disappeared. she had been anxious for some time, barely touching her food and been rather monosyllabic.
quite an odd behaviour i thought but honestly had no time to care cause there were other people also demanding my attention.
i was in the midth of talking to someone when i noticed something at the other end of the garden.
three people approached the party. i squinted a little and noticed it was my friend and two people i didn't know. But they were carrying instruments.
my friend is a piano player and has a Kletzmer trio on the side. it hit me immediately, they were the trio. i saw an accordeon a clarinet, and my friend with her violin...
they announced that they'd be playing for the guests and started with one of my all time favourite kletzmer pieces; lulaby for kamilla.
they pushed a button and my mind switched of. i was caught up in the music and watching the people arround me also enjoying it.
they played for a while paused, played again... it was great. then after quite a while, the sun had already set and we had lit some torches. my friend quieted the guests, something was going on.
she announced the last song for the evening, and shyly told the captive audience that they had learned this song just for me.
i had a lump in my throat and when the music started i broke in tears.
They played limelight.
i tried to record it with my camera but i was too far gone.
within seconds the garden was lit by sparklers, every guest had one.
my mental habilities were just enough to pull out my cell phone and call RiSi.
i had done that before earlyer that evening and she had acknowledged the music with a Maseltov. i honestly don't remember what she said about limelight.
RiSi?
after they finished i was done for the day. someone asked me what song that was and i actually said "Smile" i mixed them up!!! that far gone was i.
(actually last week the accordeon woman remembered the incident when we were on a party to gether. she couldn't stop laughing)
i honestly barely remember what else went on that day. and i didn't drink that much!
well okay after the set was over the piano player friend opened the tequila sunrise bar but that was afterwards.
And i won't go into detail about the hangover the day after.....
But now everytime i hear that song, i not only have scenes of the film in my head, but also see my guests listening to these marvelous kletzmorim.
A few weeks later the accordeon lady and my piano friend came over to actually watch limelight. they had never seen it before. but still they played the song with so much depth and emotion. it transported so much. i still get goosebumps thinking of it.
when we watched the movie they both were crying in the end.
i thought, this might be an interesting idea.
Does your "hobby" affect your life? Or better, does this man affect it?
i thought i'd share a litte out of my own "pandoras box"
I'm rather recipient when it comes to Films and music. even books have a great impact on me.
This is really a good thing, cause i can sort of steer my emotions by remote control. when i'm down i watch certain films or listen to special songs and it's an instant feel good.
I use that regularly. when i'm angry i listen to rameaus gavotte with 10 variations and all is gone (ok the repeat button gets stressed a little.
On the other hand, sometimes only the mention of a song title makes my eyes water....
Chaplin and his films play an important part in my life.
and 99% of my friends know that.
and i thought i'd share a little story with you, which happend this year in august :)
i hope you enjoy it :)
It was my 30s birthday this year in august and i had invited several friends (and comrades *snigger) to a bottle party.
My job at that time didn't get me enough money to have a propper party so i figured, let the mbring their own food and not bother with presents.
A few years back someone had started the rumor that i collect elk plushies, so i could very well go without presents :D
Well seems i underestimated my friends.
A few days before my birthday i found a chaplin DVD in my mailbox, sent by a friend who couldn't come to the party. even tho i already had the films i was rather moved.
The day of the party came and 20 something people gathered in my garden. and it was weird. some of my friends drove 500 kilometers just to be there. i was so moved by the gesture.
I really don't care much for presents, i care much more for the people and the good time. so when the first presents hit the table i was flabbergasted.
one of the first i opened was a card from 3 work colleagues. designers aswell.
The party proceeded and we had lots of fun.
Then suddently a friend of mine disappeared. she had been anxious for some time, barely touching her food and been rather monosyllabic.
quite an odd behaviour i thought but honestly had no time to care cause there were other people also demanding my attention.
i was in the midth of talking to someone when i noticed something at the other end of the garden.
three people approached the party. i squinted a little and noticed it was my friend and two people i didn't know. But they were carrying instruments.
my friend is a piano player and has a Kletzmer trio on the side. it hit me immediately, they were the trio. i saw an accordeon a clarinet, and my friend with her violin...
they announced that they'd be playing for the guests and started with one of my all time favourite kletzmer pieces; lulaby for kamilla.
they pushed a button and my mind switched of. i was caught up in the music and watching the people arround me also enjoying it.
they played for a while paused, played again... it was great. then after quite a while, the sun had already set and we had lit some torches. my friend quieted the guests, something was going on.
she announced the last song for the evening, and shyly told the captive audience that they had learned this song just for me.
i had a lump in my throat and when the music started i broke in tears.
They played limelight.
i tried to record it with my camera but i was too far gone.
within seconds the garden was lit by sparklers, every guest had one.
my mental habilities were just enough to pull out my cell phone and call RiSi.
i had done that before earlyer that evening and she had acknowledged the music with a Maseltov. i honestly don't remember what she said about limelight.
RiSi?
after they finished i was done for the day. someone asked me what song that was and i actually said "Smile" i mixed them up!!! that far gone was i.
(actually last week the accordeon woman remembered the incident when we were on a party to gether. she couldn't stop laughing)
i honestly barely remember what else went on that day. and i didn't drink that much!
well okay after the set was over the piano player friend opened the tequila sunrise bar but that was afterwards.
And i won't go into detail about the hangover the day after.....
But now everytime i hear that song, i not only have scenes of the film in my head, but also see my guests listening to these marvelous kletzmorim.
A few weeks later the accordeon lady and my piano friend came over to actually watch limelight. they had never seen it before. but still they played the song with so much depth and emotion. it transported so much. i still get goosebumps thinking of it.
when we watched the movie they both were crying in the end.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by RiSi on -
i said limelight was splendid and your friends are terrific whereas mine suck on that entire charlie-front. all *they* do is roll their eye at me and patt my back as if it was a passing sickness. :( whenever i gush about the brilliance of silent films and that an image should suffice in telling the story and that in many cases dialogue is not neccessary, they think i'm being stupid on purpose.
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Permalink Reply by Jessica on -
What a wonderful story, Alley! I choked up a bit at the part when your friends play the Limelight theme for you. Sounds like a party you will not soon forget!
I've only been a fan since March 2008, but it has totally taken over my life. I guess the word "obsession" would apply. Luckily, I have a very understanding husband, who listens patiently as I go on and on about Charlie, and he also watches the movies with me. He is a collector himself (record albums), so he understands when I buy Chaplin stuff on Ebay. The first movie I saw was The Kid and I feel like my whole life changed after that. And Charlie was worried that people were going to forget about him!
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Permalink Reply by alley on -
Jessica said:What a wonderful story, Alley! I choked up a bit at the part when your friends play the Limelight theme for you. Sounds like a party you will not soon forget!
I've only been a fan since March 2008, but it has totally taken over my life. I guess the word "obsession" would apply. Luckily, I have a very understanding husband, who listens patiently as I go on and on about Charlie, and he also watches the movies with me. He is a collector himself (record albums), so he understands when I buy Chaplin stuff on Ebay. The first movie I saw was The Kid and I feel like my whole life changed after that. And Charlie was worried that people were going to forget about him!
hehe when you chocked when reading have a guess how i felt sitting there.
here's a hint of how i looked (im the fat lady with the ugly shirt)
thefilm poster of the kid was the first chaplin item i owned, my brother brought it back from paris for me. back then i had just started learning english, i misread the ad "6 reels of joy" for "6 rules of joy" and wondered for years what it meant.
in my childhood there was a program on german tv called klamottenkiste they showed the silent comedies but usually cut into oblivion, we kids didn't care as long as someone was slipping on a banana peel :)
years later when i was in my teens i watched an interview with marlee matlin where she was talking about chaplins gold rush and because i like marlee matlin i watched goldrush, i caught the bug there and then.
within month i saw every movie i could get my hands on, but the private man didn't really interest me. then along came RiSi and we infected each other. since i know her my collection of books and photos grew constantly. and i became fascinated with the private chaplin aswell.
that's my story :)
or better parts of it ;) so tune in next time when i explain why people from across the country send me fake mustaches :D
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Permalink Reply by Charlot on -
What a wonderful story, Alley!
I have always loved comedians, (probably Lucy, Danny Kaye, Dick van Dyke, 3 Stooges, Laurel and Hardy more than Charlie wien I was a kid) but I hadn't actually seen any of Charlie's films (except for excerpts) until there was a film festival probably sometime in the 80's that I went to with my Mom (the one who dressed up as Jackie Coogan when she was 5 years old) . We viewed Modern Times, the Gold Rush and the Great Dictator. I fell in love with Charlie right then and there, but it didn't become an obsession with me until I was able to purchase all of his (later) films on DVD and as many of the early ones as I could find. Then it started to get crazy...I went on ebay and I have pictures, books, movie posters, a Charlie doll, a Charlie standup, a Modern Times watch, etc.....
Anyway, I have always used films and music as a way to combat depression and loneliness. I live alone, most of my family has passed away, my brothers are out of state, most of my friends are not here either. So anyway, I have always had a lot of hobbies, but music and films have helped lift my spirits a great deal. I love to sing and play guitar, do it often for the people at work...(it must sound like all we do is party there...LOL!)
Another reason the silent films fit so well into my personality, I have always had an affinity for the past. I love old radio shows too. I still sew on my Grandma's 1917 Singer treadle sewing machine, I have a dial phone at home and I love to collect windup watches and clocks (the REAL ones). I sing folk songs - some are very old...I feel like I was born into the wrong era...but then I think about how much I like computers with the instant communications that it brings and I have to admit that I love that too.
Another of my "hobbies" is my cats and no, I don't have one named Charlie...yet! And yet another is making costumes, and you saw how that came out this year...LOL!
I have listened to (or sung) Smile when I have been down and watching Charlie's films or other comedies always makes me feel better. Music always uplifts the soul. I have sung in church choirs for many years although not at the present moment. I was in a folk group (amateur) for about 17 years and I miss the comraderie...I probably mentioned before I am an amateur artist also and that's another thing that makes me feel good....along with writing stories. I joined fanfiction recently and I love writing stories based on TV or movie themes. So guess what, I wrote a few Little Tramp stories. Of course no one there "gets" it and I have gotten no feedback on those stories, I don't think they're all that bad, just people have no clue. But it is very much fun writing them. I have written a bunch of "Get Smart" stories too.
And yes, like Alley, I wasn't too interested in the private Chaplin at first, but have definitely gotten into that lately.
OKay, I am totally rambling...I'm sure I have lots more to say but I'm beginning to bore myself so I will sign off here.
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Permalink Reply by alley on
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tis sad that you bore yourself cause i certanly had an interesting read ;)
and i see quite some similarities there :)
the music, the art, the writing....
luckily, i might say, my family is still rather intact. and, believe it or not we al live on the same lot :)
they all like charlie even tho they not necessarily want to watch his films.
i'm at the moment in the process of opening a shop, here in my home town. so the last weeks i spent learning what i needed for opening, like forms, applications ect ;)
i spent countless hours on talking to people for inventory, goods, insurance....
on monday is the appointment with the bank where i have to borrow the money.
you might imagine the last weeks were rather trying emotionally.
will the shop be a success, what if i have to go out of business without any chance of repaying my debts things like that....
it drove me mad. i slept bad and my neck and shoulders are so tense it gives me constant headache.
And here's what charles does for you :D
last week i came home totally exhausted. i fell asleep on the couch and when i awoke decided that i would do a little work and then settle down with a good film.
round 8 i did so and stood in front of the cupboard where i keep my dvds.
i didn't even need to look. blindly i grabbed limelight.
sat down in the comfy chair and watched half the film (too long and too tired to watch all)
the first half gives off that positive view of the worlds.
i had a serious cry and went to bed. feeling relaxed and confident when i awoke.
since then i made it a habit of doing something related to charlie every day, just to keep sane.
i joined here, i watched several of his films. i even dug up the piano sheet for smile (tho i settled for "i'll stand by you" easier to play ;) )
i'm a strong believer in Power Items. I don't know if you know the concept. it's like a talisman or lucky charm. but something that only has meaning to you. it's like an invisible amour behind which you can hide.
and which makes you stronger.
in my case for example my Tom Baker dr Who scarf. nobody in germany knows that scarf but i do and that makes me feel good :D
or my 1930s two tone wing tipped shoes.
a power item can be everything the important thing is noone knows the real meaning (except for friends) so for everyone else tis just a scarf or just a t shirt or whatever.
i decided since charlie, by proxy, helped me a lot lately i'd have some sort of charles power item in the shop.
that's quite difficult because of the copyright and other stuff.
so i played around the corner ;) i decided on a victorian style shop sign :)
in a way it has a connection with chaplin and well, i'm also an admirer of sherlock holmes :D
btw i sew on a 1956 adler symphonie and one of my cats is called Harpo ;)
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Permalink Reply by Charlot on
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Love your blog, Alley...I hope your shop does well...I love Sherlock Holmes too...have been trying to write a Sherlock Holmes story several times, but just can't get it right...I think I know what you mean about "power" items although, I guess I would call it "secret" items because it's something just you and your friends know about.
The friends that I have don't seem to be into Charlie at all.. one of my best friends, who moved away recently, (boo-hoo) even said she didn't think Charlie was funny at all. Oh well...
When I said I bore myself, I was being facetious (spelling?) I guess I really mean I hoped I wasn't boring anyone else talking about myself. When you live by yourself you get a little "into yourself" sometimes and I don't want to sound a bore.
Anyway, I would like to find a partner and work up a comedy act where I could do the "Charlie" character and have someone else do another character, doesn't matter who, could even be a clown character and entertain for elderly and kids. I feel very comfortable with little kids and elderly people.
I just love Charlie's films...they always make me feel good.
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Permalink Reply by alley on
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i think tis the attitude
my friends are sorta uhm... well most of them know me for quite some time so they're used to me being weird ;)
i've been living alone now for quite some time i know what you mean with getting into yourself. and actually i don't really care bout it :D
i just met my neighbours in the street when walking the dog (dark dog at night gee i had fun!)
and after chatting to them for 30 minutes or so i mentioned i'd have to get inside soon cause mr chaplin would be waiting and they both gleamed. we just have to find a date for a collective chuckles evening.
but then we'll have to find dates for them cooking for me, me cooking for them, me helping them move stuff, him helping me with some stuff regarding the shop.... err never mind :)
tis funny that you regard this post as a blog i sorta was hoping some onther members would share too :D
but well, i think i like to hear myself type :D
lol
sorry had a beer already *hick*
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Permalink Reply by RiSi on
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well, i would share. but i have nothing to share. :( it's really much when speaking about charles, my friends don't roll their eyes at me openly anymore, but do it behind my back.
-- then again, i roll my eyes every time talk turns to brad pitt. so we're even and it's all in good sport. :D
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Permalink Reply by terra cotta on -
Wow, Alley, you are so lucky that so many of your friends know that Chaplin and his films are important to you. Some of my friends know I am a CC fan, others don't and family members joke about my being "obsessed" which I can't really deny! Every time my sister comes over she checks to see if I have bought another Chaplin book. As for all my other Chaplin stuff, I don't have it taking over the living room or anything, items are in various spots throughout the house, and the magazines and similar items aren't even out in view. Geez, as I point out, it's Charlie Chaplin, not Charles Manson! It annoys me a bit, because he is one of many interests I have, but I guess the others are considered more "mainstream" or something. I didn't sit down one day and decide to become a "Charlie Chaplin fan", and it never crossed my mind that I would be, it just suddenly happened. Aside from this board, I guess my my experiences would be more like RiSi's or Charlot's than yours or Jessica's, in terms of Chaplin "support". I don't know what it is about CC, though, but I just get very moved by him, and this includes the early movies. In fact, they "get" me more than the later ones. I guess I think about where he came from, where he ended up, and the all the scandelous stuff that was in the future in the early days. Then again, I am also someone who bursts into tears at certain pieces of music, or movie scenes that don't affect anyone else that way. Call me corny!
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Permalink Reply by alley on
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welcome to the club then ;)
i think with me tis really the attitude, i'm quite tall and a tad chubby and really strong minded. so people think twice before calling me weird.
giggles.
just joking
i'm strong minded and i reason with people and i explain my point of view. and more than once i asked them to just view one film with me and i won them over.
but i like the chaplin / manson thingie actually i have books about both :D
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Permalink Reply by Charlot on
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Sigh...I've tried to get people to watch Charlie's films with me, but they see "silent film" and "black and white" and they say no way. I recently bought some really cool tin movie poster signs from the Wizard of Oz and a John Wayne film. The sales lady admired them and I said I liked old movies. I said not only these, but really old movies, like Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd films etc. She said, "Silents...noooo". This is the attitude I get from so many people.
At least my Mom and grandma liked Charlie, but they aren't around any more. And if I mentioned it to my brothers and nephew and niece, I wouldl get the same reaction. Although there is hope for my neice, she may be getting into genealogy and family history. I'm rambling again...
alley said:welcome to the club then ;)
i think with me tis really the attitude, i'm quite tall and a tad chubby and really strong minded. so people think twice before calling me weird.
giggles.
just joking
i'm strong minded and i reason with people and i explain my point of view. and more than once i asked them to just view one film with me and i won them over.
but i like the chaplin / manson thingie actually i have books about both :D
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Permalink Reply by RiSi on
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maybe one of the reasons why people are all like 'silents?!?, hell, no!' lies with these terrible re-cut films with the so-called funny noises and someone talking on top of the film with a fake voice for each character. as a kid i didn't mind this technique at all. but as i grew older, i only thought that somewhere in a far away grave an old director or actor is spinning top. anyway, most people these days still have that impression that the silents are those choppy films without any cultural value. to them i say, 'you just have never learned to really *see* a film!' there's a large difference between watching and seeing. and, i have a hunch, we all on this board have learned how to do the latter.
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