Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid

— Reminiscing —

Charlie Chaplin’s <i>The Kid</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, February 6, 2018

1. Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid Marker

Inscription. The heart-tugging reunion in The Kid (1921) played between Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp and his “adopted” son (Jackie Coogan) remains one of the most emotionally charged scenes in all of film history.

Remarkably, the setting for this iconic scene remains standing, and is passed unknowingly by hundreds of tourists every day. As shown here, the reunion took place on Olvera Street, a colorful Mexican marketplace and cultural center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment.

Location. 34° 3.472′ N, 118° 14.264′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown Los Angeles. It can be reached from Olvera Street south of Cesar Chavez Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Located near the north end of the plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 70 Olvera St, Los Angeles CA 90012, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally,

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it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1932 Olympic Village Cottage (a few steps from this marker); Zanja Madre (a few steps from this marker); Pure Water from Many Sources (a few steps from this marker); Pelanconi House (within shouting distance of this marker); Hammel Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Italian Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Sandstone Trough (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Italian Hall (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Regarding Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid.
This was Charlie Chaplin’s first feature film. It is often rated among the top 100 movies of all time.

Olvera Street became a popular marketplace ten years after filming.

A new version of the film was re-issued in 1971, with a new

Marker and Photos image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 25, 2018

2. Marker and Photos

music score composed by Charlie Chaplin, who also re-edited the film.

Chaplin decided to make a film around Jackie Coogan after seeing him in a vaudeville performance with his father Jack Coogan Sr., who coached his son during filming. Chaplin rewarded Jack Sr. by paying him almost double what Jackie was getting to co-star. Jack Sr. also played several roles in the film: a bum who picks the Tramp's pocket; the Devil in the Heaven sequence; and a party guest.

In 1944, as a glider pilot during World War II, Jackie Coogan landed British troops 100 miles behind enemy lines at night. He later became famous for his role as Uncle Fester in the 1960’s TV sitcom The Addams Family.

Also see . . . "The Kid" (1921). Wikipedia entry:
Excerpt:

Chaplin wrote, produced, directed, edited, and starred in The Kid, and later composed a score. Innovative in its combination of comedic and dramatic elements, The Kid is widely considered one of the greatest films of the silent era. Chaplin biographer Jeffrey Vance maintains, “The film is a perfect blend of comedy and drama and is arguably Chaplin’s most personal and autobiographical work.”
Photographed by Craig Baker, February 6, 2018

3. Reunion Scene Location
The marker is at the bottom of the stairs, on the left. This is the Hammel Building.
...
Mary Pickford said of the film, “The Kid is one of the finest examples of the screen language, depending upon its actions rather than upon subtitles”.

(Submitted on January 29, 2021.)

Reunion Scene image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

4. Reunion Scene

This photo is on display below the marker. Compare the windows to the previous photo.

Public Domain

5. Reunion Scene

This photo is on display below the marker. Jackie Coogan was six years old when he worked on the film.

Publicity Poster for <i>The Kid</i> image. Click for more information.

Public Domain via Wikipedia Commons, 1921

6. Publicity Poster for The Kid

IMDb website entry
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 2,519 times since then and 89 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week January 31, 2021. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 6, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on January 29, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.