Edna Purviance's bio

June 6, 2018 - Re-editing Edna Purviance's family biography 2nd Draft. Photo: Leading Ladies © used by ednapurviance.org

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Notice about a current auction item

I have noticed a current auction item on a popular online site, which lists a 1916 Original Lobby Card, showing Charlie Chaplin, Eric Campbell and Edna Purviance from Behind the Screen. While the film was made in 1916, the Lobby card is most likely made in the 1930s or maybe later.

Clue? The fact it says 'Republic Pictures' on the card.

Mutual was releasing all of Chaplin's Mutual created films. Behind the Screen was a Mutual Film Production, created at Chaplin's Lone Star Studio. Mutual Films ceased production in 1919, and the films fell into many hands.

In researching Republic Pictures (and if I found the correct one), Republic didn't start business until the mid-1930s, which probably means they required rights to show the Chaplin films sometime after.

So, with that in mind, the Lobby Card for auction is not from 1916, as it says in the ad placing, but from sometime after the mid-1930s.

The starting bid is high and the owners maybe only going by the film pictured on the card. But just beware when buying anything of this matter. While the card looks nice, I will say, from some research, the 1916 date is wrong...

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