The Clown Suicides: The Death and Cinematic Afterlife of Marceline Orbes and Francis “Slivers” Oakley, New York's Superstar Clowns, in Charlie Chaplin’s Limelight

Darren Reid

doi:10.5325/studamerhumor.3.2.0157

The Clown Suicides: The Death and Cinematic Afterlife of Marceline Orbes and Francis “Slivers” Oakley, New York's Superstar Clowns, in Charlie Chaplin’s Limelight

Darren Reid

School of Humanities

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

792 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A detailed exploration of the ways in which Chaplin coded his 1952 film, hitherto seen as a work of autobiography, with references to Marceline Orbes and Francis Oakley, a pair of earlier stage clowns who had inspired the film legend but who took their own lives after cinematic works by Chaplin helped to destroy their careers.

Publisher Statement: Copyright © 2017 by The Pennsylvania State University. All rights reserved.

This article is used by permission of The Pennsylvania State University Press.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	157-177
Number of pages	21
Journal	Studies in American Humor
Volume	3
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5325/studamerhumor.3.2.0157
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2017

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2017 by The Pennsylvania State University. All rights reserved.

This article is used by permission of The Pennsylvania State University Press.

Keywords

chaplin
suicide
mime
comedy
performing arts
keaton
clowning
silent film
vaudeville
american studies

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.5325/studamerhumor.3.2.0157

PublishedFinal published version, 678 KB

1 Public Engagement Event

Cinematic Release - Looking for Charlie
Darren Reid (Speaker)
5 May 2018 → 30 Jun 2019
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Public Engagement Event

1 Citations
1 Article
1 Digital or Visual Media

Looking for Charlie: Life and Death in the Silent Era
Reid, D. & Sanders, B., 5 May 2018
Research output: Practice-Based and Non-textual Research › Digital or Visual Media
Silent Film Killed the Clown: Recovering the Lost Life and Silent Film of Marceline Orbes, the Suicidal Clown of the New York Hippodrome, 1905-1915
Reid, D., 6 Nov 2014, In: The Appendix. 2, 4, 2.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access

Cite this

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title = "The Clown Suicides: The Death and Cinematic Afterlife of Marceline Orbes and Francis “Slivers” Oakley, New York's Superstar Clowns, in Charlie Chaplin{\textquoteright}s Limelight",

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KW - suicide

KW - mime

KW - comedy

KW - performing arts

KW - keaton

KW - clowning

KW - silent film

KW - vaudeville

KW - american studies

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The Clown Suicides: The Death and Cinematic Afterlife of Marceline Orbes and Francis “Slivers” Oakley, New York's Superstar Clowns, in Charlie Chaplin’s Limelight

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Activities

Cinematic Release - Looking for Charlie

Research output

Looking for Charlie: Life and Death in the Silent Era

Silent Film Killed the Clown: Recovering the Lost Life and Silent Film of Marceline Orbes, the Suicidal Clown of the New York Hippodrome, 1905-1915

Cite this