Billy Ritchie was known for dressing as "the Little Tramp" at about the same time Chaplin began doing this in 1914. Both argued that they invented the character. Chaplin did do it first on film, but Ritchie proclaimed that he had done it first on stage--before the popularity of silent comedy shorts. Whoever was the actual originator, both played essentially the same character on film and look very similar. In fact, this short looks almost exactly like the average Chaplin short of the 1914-1915 era. This is before Chaplin really fully developed the character--before he injected him with more likability and charm. Instead, the Little Tramp was more a goofy guy who did occasionally nasty things to others. And, as a result of the unlikability, few people today would be terribly impressed with either comedian! My advice is don't watch the Ritchie incarnation or the Chaplin ones made really early in his career. The 1916-1920 period of time showed vast improvements in the characterization and helped to give Chaplin more lasting appeal.
Review of Live Wires and Love Sparks
