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Show and Tell: Not Just Any Cog in a Machine


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Pictured above is no ordinary cog. It is a relic from Chaplin Studios that film archivist and historian Bruce Lawton recently showed us (and let us hold!). The small cog is made of wood and was used as a prop in Modern Times, in a factory scene with Chester Conklin.

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In Bruce’s own words:

“It was acquired by my great-grandfather, Don Malkames - who was an A.S.C. cinematographer and early film history preservationist - when he was working in California in the day. He first showed it to me at his house in Yonkers, NY during the summer of 1977 when I was 9 years old - where it was kept in his cinemachinery museum. I was already an avowed Chaplin fanatic - so I was mightily impressed! My Grandfather, Karl Malkames (also an A.S.C. cinematographer - and pioneering film restorer and preservationist) entrusted it to me one Christmas in the mid-1990s. It was Karl that first introduced me to Chaplin films as a very young child (he ran MODERN TIMES for me repeatedly - and it became my favorite film.) Presumably it is one of the VERY few existing cogs from the production.

Thanks, Bruce Lawton, for sharing this bit of history with Chaplin fans. Here he is pictured with the cog: IMG 1402


Photos from the Opening of Chaplin's World


Chaplin’s World by Grévin is FINALLY open! Here are some photos from the inauguration celebrations of April 16th, 2016 (Charlie Chaplin’s 127th birthday):

Michael Chaplin  Kate Guyonvarch   Eugene Chaplin at opening of Chaplin s World Michael Chaplin, Kate Guyonvarch (managing director of the Chaplin office) & Eugene Chaplin in front of the Manoir de Ban, the former Chaplin family home

Manoir de Ban The red carpet leading to the Manoir de Ban for the evening inauguration of Chaplin’s World

Chaplin Family in Manoir de Ban Some Chaplin family members, actress Claire Bloom & performer Arturo Brachetti in the Manoir de Ban

Ribbon cutting ceremony The Chaplin’s World ribbon cutting ceremony

Michael and Eugene Chaplin  Ribbon cutting ceremony Philippe Meylan, Michael Chaplin and Eugene Chaplin at the Chaplin’s World ribbon cutting ceremony

Ribbon cutting ceremony2 The Chaplin’s World ribbon cutting ceremony

Michael  Patricia and Eugene Chaplin Michael Chaplin, his wife Patricia, and Eugene Chaplin

The Press floods easy street The press floods Easy Street at the Chaplin’s World inauguration

michael  eugene and colette aeby at chaplin s world Colette Aeby worked at the Manoir de Ban as a kitchen girl when she was 16 years old. She has fond memories of Charlie & Oona Chaplin and their children. Here she reminisces with Michael and Eugene Chaplin.

Carole Sandrin  Tatyana Franck   Cecilia Cenciarelli Carole Sandrin (who looks after the Chaplin photographic collection deposited at the Musée de l’Élysée - Lausanne), Tatyana Franck (director of the Musée de l’Élysée) & Cecilia Cenciarelli (head of the Chaplin Project at the Cineteca di Bologna) seem to have found the perfect spot for an impromptu meeting to discuss Chaplin projects…

carole sandrin  opening of Chaplin s World Carole Sandrin (who looks after the Chaplin photographic collection deposited at the Musée de l’Élysée - Lausanne) caught up in the cogs from Modern Times at Chaplin’s World

arnold lozano of the chaplin office  opening of chaplin s world Arnold Lozano of the Chaplin office visits a special barber at Chaplin’s World

the gold rush cabin  opening of chaplin s world The cabin from The Gold Rush at Chaplin’s World

freak wings  opening of Chaplin s world The wings Chaplin had made for The Freak on display at Chaplin’s World

manoir de ban  opening of Chaplin s World View of lake and mountains from the Manoir de Ban, the former Chaplin family home, now Chaplin’s World

clare sheridan bust  opening of Chaplin s World The gorgeous bust of Chaplin by Clare Sheridan on display at Chaplin’s World

And of course… iconic tramp costume  opening of chaplin s world Chaplin’s iconic Tramp costume on display at Chaplin’s World

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Modern Times Hotel


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Our merchandising company Bubbles Inc SA has licensed the rights to the sleek, 4-star Modern Times Hotel, situated between lake and mountains at the heart of the Swiss Riviera, in Saint-Légier. The hotel was officially inaugurated on 22nd March 2016, and is now open. It is a great place to stay when visiting the nearby Chaplin’s World by Grévin, which will open to the public on April 17th.