Rafael Padilla
Chocolat was the stage name of Rafael Padilla (ca. 1865/68 – 4 November 1917), a clown who performed in a Paris circus around the turn of the 20th century. Rafael was of Afro-Cuban descent and was one of the earliest successful black entertainers in modern France. He was the first black clown to play a lead role in a circus pantomime act, and with his longtime partner George Foottit they revolutionized the art of clowning by pairing the sophisticated white clown with the foolish auguste clown.
Chaise en bascule (1900)
Vaudeville comedians Foottit and Chocolat hop and dance around and occasionally fight. (more)
Vaudeville comedians Foottit and Chocolat hop and dance around and occasionally fight. (more)
Foottit et Chocolat, I. Boxeurs (1900)
George Footit & Rafael Patodos starts fighting. (more)
George Footit & Rafael Patodos starts fighting. (more)
Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre (1900)
The Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre was a special pavilion at the 1900 Paris World's Fair which featured filmed performances presented with sound via wax cylinder recordings. Many of these short films were also presented in hand-tinted color. The performances ranged from ... (more)
The Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre was a special pavilion at the 1900 Paris World's Fair which featured filmed performances presented with sound via wax cylinder recordings. Many of these short films were also presented in hand-tinted color. The performances ranged from ... (more)
Le policeman (1900)
Comic scenes taken at the Nouveau-Cirque by the two famous clowns Foottit and Chocolat. To separate Foottit and Chocolat who are fighting, their servant brings a policeman to whom the two accomplices play all sorts of tricks. (more)
Comic scenes taken at the Nouveau-Cirque by the two famous clowns Foottit and Chocolat. To separate Foottit and Chocolat who are fighting, their servant brings a policeman to whom the two accomplices play all sorts of tricks. (more)
La mort de Chocolat (1900)
Comic scenes taken at the Nouveau-Cirque by the two famous clowns Foottit and Chocolat. During a battle between Foottit and Chocolat, the latter, who received a slap, plays dead; a stretcher is brought in to carry it away, but the prankster passes under it and ... (more)
Comic scenes taken at the Nouveau-Cirque by the two famous clowns Foottit and Chocolat. During a battle between Foottit and Chocolat, the latter, who received a slap, plays dead; a stretcher is brought in to carry it away, but the prankster passes under it and ... (more)