Charlie Chaplin is not a Jew (as has been repeatedly claimed in many quarters – “Charlie is a Jew,” the “Daily Express wrote in an editorial only this week). In a new book entitled “Charlie Chaplin: His Life And Art” by William Dodgson Bowman, a biography, which has just been published here by Messrs. George Routledge, the author says that “there has been much debate as to Chaplin’s origin. His name, Charles Spencer Chaplin, was given him at the font (meaning that he was christened) in London on April 16th., 1889. What we know definitely is that Charles parents were English. His father also bore the name of Charles Chaplin, and in the eighties of last century was a great favourite with the public in the London music halls. He was also well known on the legitimate stage. His death while still in his prime was a desolating blow to the Chaplin household and condemned Charlie and his brother Sidney to a life of poverty in their early years. Charles mother, Mrs. Hannah Chaplin, had also considerable talent as a musician and took leading parts in the stock companies that performed Gilbert and Sullivan operas and other popular musical plays. When Charles position at Hollywood was assured she went out there to join her sons and she died in California in August 1928.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
