Essanay Poster (1915)
The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company was an American film studio well known for their production of Charlie Chaplin silent films. This poster is most likely one that would be found on a street corner or in a restaurant. The poster boasts that the company is home to some of the “greatest stars in the world,” a fitting title given Chaplin’s success at the time. The caption under Chaplin’s portrait explains that his world-famous “Tramp” character “has made millions laugh,” a sure sign of his positive influence on those who view his films. We chose to include this in the exhibit because it shows how important Chaplin is in the eyes of viewers, but also to large studios. Chaplin was a pioneer of the industry and helped film become a popularly-accepted medium never before cherished as much as the public did during the 1920’s.