Was a person believed to have traveled through time present at the initial screening of Charlie Chaplin's movie 'The Circus'?
In the world of cinema, mysteries often captivate audiences, and one such enigma was the video clip from the 1928 Hollywood premiere of Charlie Chaplin's film 'The Circus.' The video, which features a heavyset woman holding a hand to her face, gave the impression that she was using an iPhone, causing a stir among spectators who speculated she might be a time traveler.
However, the Internet quickly debunked this theory, pointing out that there would have been no cell phone service in 1928. A more plausible explanation is that the woman was using a hearing aid, specifically an 'ear trumpet.'
This misconception was first brought to the world's attention by a young filmmaker named George Clarke from Northern Ireland. Clarke claimed that he discovered the video while perusing the extras on 'The Circus' DVD in 2010. Clarke and others speculated that the woman was a time traveler due to her apparent use of an iPhone in 1928.
The video's popularity may have been due to a slow news day, but it was also related to articles discussing special relativity and how time changes speed. It was also connected to articles discussing how cell phones work and the history of hearing aids.
In 1924, Siemens had introduced a compact hearing aid that could fit into the palm of the hand. This device, while not a cell phone, bears a striking resemblance to the object the woman in the video is holding.
The woman's actions in the video can be explained as trying to get the attention of a man who crossed the screen in front of her or possibly talking to herself. Regardless, the mystery of the supposed time traveler has been laid to rest, leaving us to marvel at the power of perception and the enduring allure of cinematic enigmas.
Read also:
- Today's most impactful photographic moments
- Support for Eric Adams in The Post's Letters to the Editor on August 13, 2025
- Roosting Shark and Rambunctious Red Squirrels: Unconventional House Rental in Yorkshire Involving Aquatic Marvel, Squirrely Mayhem, and Mystical Planning Regulations
- Legal Dispute Dismissed with Humor: Supreme Court Laughs off Another Civil Matter Mislabeled as Criminal Prosecution
