British spies stumped by Charlie Chaplin mystery

[ellisonz]

By JILL LAWLESS | Associated Press – 7 hrs ago

LONDON (AP) — They foiled plots and cracked Nazi codes, but Britain's spies were unable to solve the mystery of Charlie Chaplin's birth.

Although the entertainer is celebrated as one of London's most famous sons, newly declassified files reveal that Britain's MI5 domestic intelligence service found no records to back up Chaplin's claim that he was born in the city on April 16, 1889.

Uncertainty about Chaplin's origins linger to this day — a mystery Chaplin himself may have helped to nurture.

The previously secret file, released Friday by Britain's National Archives, shows that MI5 investigated the silent film star in the 1950s at the request of U.S. authorities, who had long suspected him of communist sympathies. MI5 historian Christopher Andrew said the FBI's red-hating chief, J. Edgar Hoover, privately denounced Chaplin as "one of Hollywood's parlor Bolsheviks."

More: http://news.yahoo.com/british-spies-stumped-charlie-chaplin-mystery-000427298.html

This scene was filmed at the Pasadena City Hall in Pasadena, California: http://www.examiner.com/headlines-in-los-angeles/pasadena-city-hall-beautiful-stone-beautiful-pastry-at-city-s-124th-birthday-celebration

[MADem]

1. I like the gypsy-Roma story myself. He looks the part! nt

[jis6255xe]

3. indeed

[dmr]

2. M15 are birthers!

He prob was born at home without a doctor, or the bombings from the 2 World Wars destroyed the records.

All I know is he was a comedic genius.

We have a new kitty cat that we named Charlie Chaplin because he's a funny kitten & has Charlie's mustache.