1921 CHARLIE CHAPLIN Bread Card D55 The Tramp MOREHOUSE Movie Star RARE
Item History & Price
This fantasticcard is one in a series of 50 cards issued by the MOREHOUSE BAKING COMPANY of Lawrence Massachusetts. One was insertedinto each package of their brand of Betsy Ross and Sunlight Bread The series is designated as series D55 in Burdick’s American CardCatalogue and is entitled “ MovieStars” Burdick does not provide a date forthis series, however on a variation backof these cards it ...states that after May 25 1921 no more Photos of Movie Starswill be wrapped in Betsy Ross Bread”. The front features a beautiful head and shouldersportrait of the featured Actor or Actress. There aretwo different variations of the backs of these cards. One done in Black ink which explains how youcould exchange 25 of these cards for a 25 cent movie ticket at one of the listed local movie theaters, and another in red ink that states that a date when the cards willstop being put in the bread and you will no longer be able to exchange them forMovie tickets . This variation is theBLACK Ink Back. It also should be notedthat this card has a “CancelledStamp”on the back which was done by the factory when the cards were sent in andexchanged for tickets. This card features CHARLIE CHAPLIN: Here is some information I found about him onthe internet Sir CharlesSpencer Chaplin KBE (16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977) was an English comicactor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. Hebecame a worldwide icon through his screen persona, "The Tramp", andis considered one of the most important figures in the history of the filmindustry. His career spanned more than 75 years, from childhood in theVictorian era until a year before his death in 1977, and encompassed bothadulation and controversy. Chaplin'schildhood in London was one of poverty and hardship, as his father was absentand his mother struggled financially, and he was sent to a workhouse twicebefore the age of nine. When he was 14, his mother was committed to a mentalasylum. Chaplin began performing at an early age, touring music halls and laterworking as a stage actor and comedian. At 19, he was signed to the prestigiousFred Karno company, which took him to America. He was scouted for the filmindustry and began appearing in 1914 for Keystone Studios. He soon developedthe Tramp persona and formed a large fan base. He directed his own films andcontinued to hone his craft as he moved to the Essanay, Mutual, and FirstNational corporations. By 1918, he was one of the best-known figures in theworld. In 1919, Chaplin co-founded thedistribution company United Artists which gave him complete control over hisfilms. His first feature-length film was The Kid (1921), followed by A Woman ofParis (1923), The Gold Rush (1925), and The Circus (1928). He refused to moveto sound films in the 1930s, instead producing City Lights (1931) and ModernTimes (1936) without dialogue. He became increasingly political, and his nextfilm The Great Dictator (1940) satirized Adolf Hitler. The 1940s were a decademarked with controversy for Chaplin, and his popularity declined rapidly. Hewas accused of communist sympathies, while he created scandal through hisinvolvement in a paternity suit and his marriages to much younger women. An FBIinvestigation was opened, and Chaplin was forced to leave the United States andsettle in Switzerland. He abandoned the Tramp in his later films, which includeMonsieur Verdoux (1947), Limelight (1952), A King in New York (1957), and ACountess from Hong Kong (1967). Chaplinwrote, directed, produced, edited, starred in, and composed the music for mostof his films. He was a perfectionist, and his financial independence enabledhim to spend years on the development and production of a picture. His filmsare characterized by slapstick combined with pathos, typified in the Tramp'sstruggles against adversity. Many contain social and political themes, as wellas autobiographical elements. He received an Honorary Academy Award for"the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art formof this century" in 1972, as part of a renewed appreciation for his work.He continues to be held in high regard, with The Gold Rush, City Lights, ModernTimes, and The Great Dictator often ranked on lists of the greatest films ofall time...The Card measures 2 1/8 inches by 3 ½ inches approximately . The card does have some creasing I have scanned the front and back of the cardfairly large so you can determine the condition for yourself. This is a scarce series, due in part to thefact that I suspect that many children exchangedthe cards for the movie tickets ( what kid wouldn’t ?).I will be tryingto list several EARLY TRADE & TYPE CARDS over the next few days(spread across different categories), including one or two that are unrecordedin any guide, that were put given away with Tobacco, Caramel, Candy, Gum, Chocolate, Bread Coffee Tea Cereal and other products, covering such diversesubjects as Native American Indians , Baseball , Football, Boy Scouts, IceHockey, Golf, Presidents of the United States and Circus themes. To viewthe other cards I have up on ebay please click on the “View Sellers otherItems” Icon located on this page. It will take you directly to them.I am actually located in Canada just across the border. I have a U.S.A. mailing address, and I mail my items from the USA to avoid border delays. Due to my work schedule and distance to the post office I am only able to ship Monday Mornings. If I haven’t received payment for an item the EVENING BEFORE Monday the item will have to wait until the next Monday to go out. Its unfortunate but unavoidable. If this doesn’t work for you I respectfully ask that you do not bid. Thanks again
