By the time the above advert appeared in the Watford Observer in 1921, Charlie Chaplin was already a huge star. Although The Kid was his first full-length film as director, it is widely regarded as one of the finest movies ever made.

In fact, less than three years ago – 90 years after it was made – the movie was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

Here in south-west Herts, it was as popular as anywhere else. It had been initially released in January that year but, with no television in those days of course, films would often hang around for some time and, even nine months later, it was popular (mind you, as the ad declares it to be “a stupendous programme” with “high class orchestral music”, how could anyone refuse?)

Anyway, the film column in the Watford Observer of October 15, 1921, left no-one in any doubt as to where they should be heading for their celluloid entertainment.   

“The Central Hall announce a great attraction next week in the famous Chaplin film The Kid,” declared the paper.

“Advance bookings have been very heavy, over 11,000 having been to the ticket office by Thursday mid-day, showing that big audiences can easily be obtained for the highest class of film.”

The report in the following week’s paper was equally effusive.

“The capacity of the Central Hall has been taxed to its utmost during the evenings of this week, when Charlie Chaplin in The Kid has been showing.

“The afternoon attendances have also been large and it is probable that over 20,000 will have paid for admission by Saturday evening – a striking tribute to the continued popularity of the most famous film comedian.

“By this time, everybody knows the story of The Kid. It is a matter of opinion whether Chaplin touches, in this picture, the genius of Shoulder Arms [released in 1918] but the boy Coogan is wonderful. [Jackie Coogan played the eponymous child and, after a long distinguished career, is perhaps best-known these days as Uncle Fester on the 1960s sitcom The Addams Family.]

“All this child does is done naturally and without the least effort. He is almost uncannily precocious.

“There are one or two scenes in the garret where Chaplin lives which are highly diverting, where the humour is one moment subtle and the next broad, but there is nothing quite equal to the early morning promenade where Charlie finds the baby. Here one laughs without restraint.

“The picture has broken the records made by Daddy Longlegs [a 1919 silent comedy-drama starring Mary Pickford] at the same hall.”

The ticket price to see The Kid ranged from 4d (about 2p) to, for the most expensive reserved seats, 1s 10d (about 9p).

Despite these, in today’s terms, tiny prices, The Kid still grossed more than £2,500,000, perhaps indicating more than anything just how popular Chaplin was. And this was just the start.