At the end of 1914, the then-unheard of salary of $1,250 per week lured rising star Charlie Chaplin from Keystone Studios to the Chicago-based Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, where he made 14 short comedies. Lobster Films and Cineteca di Bologna have recently restored the Essanay films. Join us for a program of highlights from the studio, including:

“The Bank” (1915, 25 min.) Chaplin plays a bank janitor who is smitten with a clerk (Edna Purviance).

“The Tramp” (1915, 26 min.) As the iconic title character, Chaplin works on a farm hoping to win the heart of the farmer’s daughter.

“The Champion” (1915, 31 min.) After Chaplin proves a surprisingly successful boxer, a gambler asks him to throw a fight. With Ben Turpin.

“A Night in the Show” (1915, 30 min.) Chaplin plays a dual role as Mr. Pest and Mr. Rowdy, audience members at a music hall performance.