Plaque

Chaplin - Lambeth Walk

Inscription

Charlie Chaplin described the character he was famed for as "a tramp, a gentleman, a poet, a dreamer, a lonely fellow always hopeful of romance and adventure." He was born in East Street, Walworth in April 1889. There are records of him moving to Kennington Road in 1898. His uncle was the landlord of The Queen's Head in Black Prince Road. His parents, who were both entertainers, separated soon after he was born. His mother was desperately poor. Charlie grew up experiencing hunger and ill health. At the age of 5 he first stood in for his mother in a Music Hall performance. By 11, he got the role of the comic cat in a pantomime of Cinderella at the London Hippodrome. In 1912 at the age of 23, he went to America. By 1917 he became the first Hollywood actor to get a $1 million deal.
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." Charlie Chaplin 1889 - 1977.

The BFI date the Hippodrome performance to Christmas 1900. The quote about a day without laughter may have been said by Chaplin but he was not the first.

Site: Chaplin mosaics (5 memorials)

SE1, Lambeth Walk, Chandler Hall

We've numbered the mosaics left to right. The text plaque is to the right of the curved wall, just out of sight of our camera. Chaplin certainly lived his early life in the Lambeth area but we can find nothing to associate him with Lambeth Walk. Until 2024, when David Smith wrote to say: "On page 37 of the Penguin edition of Charlie's autobiography he recalls walking in Lambeth Walk."  Thanks David.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Chaplin - Lambeth Walk

Subjects commemorated i

London Hippodrome

From Hippodrome Casino: "Originally opened in 1900 by the renowned theatre ar...

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Charlie Chaplin

Born Charles Spencer Chaplin in East Street, Walworth (possibly, see Londonis...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Chaplin - Lambeth Walk

Also at this site i

Chaplin mosaics 1

Chaplin mosaics 1

Southbank Mosaics

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Chaplin mosaics 2

Chaplin mosaics 2

This image is from the 1918 'A Dog's Life'.

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Chaplin mosaics 4

Chaplin mosaics 4

This image is from the 1921 'The Kid'.

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Nearby Memorials

Percy Shelley - SE1 - blue

Percy Shelley - SE1 - blue

SE1, Nelson Square, 26, Applegarth House

British History Online: "In 1932 the London County Council erected a memorial tablet on No. 26, Nelson Square." Nice though the Historic...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Crystal Hale

Crystal Hale

N1, Canal towpath, Regent's Canal

Sometimes our site photographs can be a little dull so we brought along some friends for this one. Photo taken at the 2011 Angel Canal Fe...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
PP - 4T - Coghlam

PP - 4T - Coghlam

EC1, Edward Street

This garden acquired its name due to its popularity as a lunchtime garden with workers from the nearby General Post Office (long gone). ...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Laura & Harold Knight

Laura & Harold Knight

NW8, Langford Place, 16

They lived here 1922 - 1970 and this is where Laura died.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
George Robinson, 1st  Marquess of Ripon

George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon

SW3, Chelsea Embankment, 9

London County Council George Frederick Samuel Robinson Marquess of Ripon, 1827 - 1909, Viceroy of India, lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator