CHAPLIN ’ s WORLD , a Foundation Museum , opened to the world April 17 , 2016 . It was one day after Charlie Chaplin turned 127 . The museum rests in Corsier-sur-Vevey , subsidiary to the larger town of Vevey , Switzerland . Population twenty-thousand in the off-season , and ballooning to fifty-thousand in the Summer for those who want to water ski the majestic Lake Geneva , also known as Lac Léman when viewed from the North . The lake , views , Alps and the estate are indeed — magical . This is magic of a different order ; poetic , transcendental , blissful — yet with mountainous calamity always just a step away . Switzerland — the heartbeat of Europe . The peaceful center of the clock spring that never moves , yet , drives the entire show ...
CHAPLIN ’ s WORLD is the most telling example of one man raising himself from poverty ; and conquering the world in many respects . Chaplin ’ s fame rests in a category by itself . No other artist of the 20th century has been as noted . His Academy Award presented to him in 1972 is on display and the scripture reads ( in part ): “ For his profound insight into the human condition .” In one wry observation , no other world figure adorns as many different postage stamps . His birth centenary wrought the US government to issue one collector ’ s edition stamp in 24 ct . gold . Over fifty nations have issued stamps in honor of Sir Charles Chaplin . Full-blown statues in cast metal inhabit at least five countries ( Ireland , Switzerland , France , the US , and England ).
CHAPLIN ’ S WORLD IS THE MOST TELLING EXAMPLE OF ONE MAN RAISING HIMSELF FROM POVERTY ; AND CONQUERING THE WORLD IN MANY RESPECTS .
1918 : Chaplin was without question the most famous man in the world . That year he also cofounded United Artists along with Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks and D . W . Griffith . As well , the police estimated over seventy-five thousand people came to lower Manhattan to see Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks at Federal Hall in New York City . This was when raising money for the War Bond effort concerning WWI .
When Chaplin first returned to England in 1922 , he recounts in his first autobiography , My Trip Abroad , daily he received over two-thousand letters , many of which asked him for help of one kind or another . His son , Charles Chaplin Jr . ( 1925-1968 ) wrote in the opening pages to his biography of his father , “... even your rankest enemies concede that in your realm of talent you have no peer .”
PHTOTOS : Ben with Chaplin statue . Middle An with Buster Keaton . Bottom Ben with opening day sign .