Chaplin opened his studio in 1918 in what was orange farms and country homes. Hollywood grew up around it quickly in the 1920's. Houses were being built as can be seen in the background of the 1919 film 'A Day's Pleasure'. Chaplin shot this scene late in the day outside his dressing room.The bottom image was taken about noon in May 2006. The 1919 image was taken with a longer lens, so that is why the hills in the background seem closer. Also there is a large building behind me where I shot this image. The area behind me was most likely a field in 1919...
Update June 20: I have another view I will post one of these days showing how close the studio is to Chaplin's former dressing room/office...
4 comments:
As a historical footnote, the English Cottage offices of the Chaplin Studios that front La Brea Avenue, including those shown in the photos, were physically moved about 15 feet to the east in 1929, as part of the widening of La Brea Avenue. The 1919 frame capture shows the original locations, and does not precisely reflect the buildings' current location.
From looking at studio photos and even a studio map, appears the lawn area behind the offices and two dressing rooms, was the main thing lost. One building front used in 'The Kid' where Edna is looking at the couple being married, had the front porch removed, at some point. Might have been when the street was widen.
The street was widen during the time of 'The Circus', I recall.
Exactly - the Tudor offices and laboratory building were moved back onto the areas that were formerly lawns. Air photos from various times show this very clearly. The offices shown in the 1919 frame capture were basically moved right up against Stage 1, which still stands in its original location (although enclosed into a soundstage in 1933-1934). The relocation work took place during the filming of City Lights - filming then focused mainly on the scenes where the Tramp and the Millionaire fall in the river, at sets built over the studio swimming pool. The pool itself was filled in and built over during the soundstage renovation around 1934.
I know, I was thinking about the fire that happened on 'The Circus' and they filmed the cafe scene that Brownlow showed with the Twin fighters.
Thanks Paul!
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