£115K to dress like a tramp: Famous Chaplin costume up for sale
THE tramp costume that propelled silent film star Charlie Chaplin to international fame will go on sale for a price no tramp could afford... £115,000.
The London-born comedian died in 1977
The London-born comic, who died aged 88 in 1977, first appeared in it on stage in 1910.
It was meant to be worn by his mentor Billie Ritchie while the pair were performing together in a sketch show.
Ritchie was to play the role of the tramp while Chaplin was cast as a foppish gentleman but neither were happy with their parts and swapped.
Chaplin put on the tramp costume, made by Ritchie's wife Winifred, but the shoes were too big so he put them on opposite feet - and an icon was born as he hobbled about in them.
Shoes worn by Charlie Chaplin are part of the costume up for sale
This is the costume responsible for starting Charlie Chaplin's career and is undoubtedly a slice of film history
Chaplin returned the costume after the show but reprised a version of it for his first film hit The Kid Auto Races in 1914.
After Ritchie's death Winifred made more versions for Chaplin's later films.
The costume was meant to be worn by Billie Ritchie
But when she retired and came back to Britain she brought the original suit with her and it went on display at museums including the Museum of the Moving Image in London.
The costume is now on sale at Plymouth antiques dealers Parade Antiques whose owner John Cabello said: "This is the costume responsible for starting Charlie Chaplin's career and is undoubtedly a slice of film history."