Meet Charlie Aplin (not a typo)...

in #history7 years ago (edited)

Can you tell if this is Chaplin or an imposter?

Screen Shot 2017-08-23 at 7.47.27 AM.png

In 1916 a Mexican actor by the name of Charles Amador changed his name to Charlie Aplin, and donned the now familiar costume of the "the tramp". In that same year Aplin filmed a Chaplin knock-off titled The Road Track, a film that was basically a copy of Chaplin's The Kid Auto-Race.

Charlie Chaplin was none too pleased with his new doppelgänger, and eventually sued the imposter. In 1925 Chaplin v. Amador was decided in Chaplin's favor. The basis for the ruling was not so much that Chaplin owned the exclusive rights to wear baggy pants and carry his iconic cane, but was due to Amador's intention to fraudulently deceive viewers with his "new" character.

Screen Shot 2017-08-23 at 7.51.22 AM.png
The empty costume used an exhibit.

Screen Shot 2017-08-23 at 7.53.31 AM.pngScreen Shot 2017-08-23 at 7.53.49 AM.png
Chaplin on the left. Aplin on the right.

*the first photograph is a picture of Aplin used as an exhibit in the trial.