Thread by @VintageShanghai

On March 9, 1936, Charlie Chaplin passed through #Shanghai on his world tour after ‘Modern Times.’ He spent less than 20 hours in the city and one of his big secrets was scooped out. What’s that? A 🧵 to guide you through Chaplin’s ONLY visit to Shanghai.👇

Approx. 1:30 PM, Chaplin arrived onboard SS President Coolidge with Paulette Goddard, leading actress of ‘Modern Times’ and his rumored fiancée.

Dozens of reporters boarded the ship the moment it docked. They found Chaplin on the deck. Chaplin promised them an interview around 6 p.m. and quickly ‘sought shelter and solitude aboard a private launch.’

After settling in at the Cathay Hotel, Chaplin had, according to the local press, a 'fast and somewhat furious motor trip through the city.' He went to Nanking Road, paid a visit to a Temple, and viewed the site of the '1.28 incident' memorial site.

Around 4 PM, he arrived at the International Arts Theatre Studio on Yuen Ming Yuen Rd. for a tea party, viewed the exhibition of Chinese paintings, and met prominent artists, poets, and writers, including film star Butterfly Wu and an old friend, Dr. Mei Lan-Fang.

Chaplin had known Dr.Mei in Hollywood some years ago. “This isn’t fair’ he said laughingly. ‘I saw you only a few years ago, and we both had black hair at that time. Now my hair is white, and your hair is all black. You haven’t one white hair in your head!”

At the I.A.T, Chaplin tried a cup of tea. Well, He held a cup of tea in one hand and a pencil in the other as eager I.A.T. members sought to have him sign his autograph.

Around 6 PM, Chaplin returned to the Cathay Hotel as promised and sat for an interview with local reporters. Do you think they would ask clichéd questions like ‘first impression’? The Shanghai press corps were pros; they asked real questions 'Are you married to Miss Goddard?'

“I can’t tell your that.” Chaplin replied, “You will have to ask the lady” Two of his henchmen darted angrily at the questioner. “Don’t get personal; ask him about his pictures.” One requested.

But Chaplin was asked that question again by another reporter when existing Ku Wu Tai Theatre in Avenue Edward VII later that night, where he watched ‘Red Lotus Temple On Fire ’. Again, Chaplin refused to confirm or deny the rumors.

Around 11 pm, Chaplin arrived at Strand theater, where he watched another performance of Peking Opera and took pictures with Master Ma Lianliang.

Here were some films screened in other parts of the city that night. This has nothing to do with the Chapin visit, just to give you a sense of what kind of city #Shanghai was.

Around 1 am, Chaplin went to Paramount Ballroom, danced with Paulette Goddard, and left about 3 am.

Chaplin left #Shanghai 8 am the next day. Around the same time, News appeared in the Shanghai Times that ‘Miss Goddard’s Secret Out.’ It turned out that Goddard confessed to a reporter at the Tea Party, and the reporter kept it to herself until it was in print!

What were the other legacies of Chaplin’s visit? According to the Shanghai Evening and Mercury, it ‘helped Chinese theatre.’

For Chaplin, that trip gave him something to talk about when he met Chinese premier Chou Enlai 18 years later in Geneva. ‘I visited Shanghai in 1936!’ he told Chou, who at the same time, had just finished an arduous foot journey across #China called ‘The Long March.’