As part of the Los Angeles Conservancy Last Remaining Seats film series, on June 13, 2015 I will be introducing Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece City Lights at the spectacular Los Angeles Theater where the film premiered January 30, 1931. Although the show is now sold out, I have prepared the attached self-guided written tour (see link below) to the many downtown and Wilshire Boulevard film locations appearing during the film that I will cover as part of my presentation.
Albert Einstein and Chaplin at the premiere
The tour starts at the Los Angeles Theater at 615 S. Broadway, and covers many locations within steps of the theater before heading west along Wilshire Boulevard. Unlike the gritty locations appearing during The Kid (1921), Chaplin sought out modern and urbane settings for City Lights. Yet another example of how the varied streets of Los Angeles were used to set the right character and tone for the movies. After the screening I will be signing copies of my Chaplin book Silent Traces.
Charlie Chaplin City Lights Film Location Tour – John Bengtson
You can read more new discoveries about City Lights and the Los Angeles Theater HERE.
All images from Chaplin films made from 1918 onwards, copyright © Roy Export Company Establishment. CHARLES CHAPLIN, CHAPLIN, and the LITTLE TRAMP, photographs from and the names of Mr. Chaplin’s films are trademarks and/or service marks of Bubbles Incorporated SA and/or Roy Export Company Establishment. Used with permission.
Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd film locations (and more) 
John ~
No doubt this will be a big success, with the hope that some few young people in the audience will find this a life-altering experience, like some I can remember, and that new disciples for old films will emerge as a result. Otherwise, we’re all doing this work for nothing.
Today Rich Correll made DVDs for the two of us using the VHS you gave me long ago of FANTASY RANCH. I spoke to Ben Burtt at Lone Pine a few years ago and he said he had hopes of revising his film. If he does, and you learn of it, I want to get a copy. Rich does too.
rwb
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