bjgreen
By Betsy J. Green
Charlie Chaplin made his first visit to Santa Barbara in June 1915. In real life, there seemed to be little of his “Little Tramp” persona. “To a person who knows Chaplin only by his appearance on the screen,” wrote the local paper, “his personality and his personal appearance are a pleasing surprise. There is in them nothing that could possibly suggest any of the attributes so familiar in the various phases of hobo and other eccentric characters … He is only 26 years of age, smooth-faced, with an air of true refinement. … His talk rings with intelligence and sincerity.” Note: Chaplin did not make any films here, nor did he build any hotels.
Santa Barbara’s citizens were clearly surprised that Chaplin seemed like a normal person when not on screen.
