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I've run across some 'Variety' items about Chaplin's first appearances in America. I thought I'd pass along a few excerpts.
In 1910 the Karno troupe went to New York, where they opened on October 3rd at the Colonial Theater. Karno had insisted that they present a new sketch, THE WOW-WOWS, OR A NIGHT IN A LONDON SECRET SOCIETY. It seems that the show was rather weak. As we can see from the reviews, only Chaplin's performance saved it from failure. From 'Variety':
''The Wow Wows'....consists merely of a burlesque on a secret society initiation. To 'get even' on the 'tightwad' of a summer camp, the rest of the bunch frame up a phony secret society into which they initiate M. Neverloosen. Charles Chaplin is the 'mark,' and chief comedian. Chaplin is typically English, the sort of comedian that the American audiences seem to like....His manner is quiet and easy and he goes about his work in a devil-may-care manner, in direct contrast to the twenty-minutes-from-a-cemetery make-up he employs. The make-up and manner in themselves are funny. That is what will have to carry 'The Wow Wows' over....Chaplin will do all right for America....' ('Dash,' 'Variety,' October 8, 1910.)
From a review of the program at the American Theater in Chicago:
'Before intermission, very little of moment happened, save the appearance of the Karnos in 'The Wow-wows.' Chas. Chapin [sic], as Archie, won a personal success to which the other[s] contributed as support.' (Walter K. Hill, 'Variety,' February 11, 1911.)
While out on tour, the company revived their old sketch MUMMING BIRDS, retitled A NIGHT IN AN ENGLISH MUSIC HALL. Audiences had seen it before but welcomed it back.
In March of 1911, the troupe performed here in Minneapolis at the Unique Theater. 'Variety' said, simply: 'UNIQUE
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