Rare Charlie Chaplin artefacts return to Hanoi at Paddy MacDonald’s exhibition

After studying menswear design and even making an appearance on the BBC, Paddy branched into radio and television. He moved to the US, graduated with a degree in broadcasting and became a morning radio presenter in Wisconsin. His restless spirit carried him to Canada, then to Australia, where he worked for ABC television and opened a Sydney bistro. Yet behind all these ventures, a passion quietly took root: the collecting of Charlie Chaplin memorabilia.

Paddy’s collecting journey began almost by chance, in a café in Vevey, Switzerland, in 1978, a year after Chaplin’s death. While chatting with his brother Gerry, he learned that the Hotel Famille, where the Chaplins had stayed, belonged to Gerry’s in-laws. They had even encouraged Charlie to purchase the house in Vevey that would later become Chaplin’s World. The most striking detail Gerry shared was a remark from Charlie’s last wife, Oona, to his in-laws after his passing: “In the end, they won’t remember us.” Those words struck Paddy deeply, a reminder of how easily memory fades and why history must be preserved. That was the moment he resolved to begin collecting. “That’s when I started,” he recalls.

For over 40 years, Paddy has journeyed across continents, meeting those who knew Chaplin, recording their memories and gathering an extraordinary archive of memorabilia. His collection, numbering in the hundreds if not thousands, has been shown in more than 50 countries, including Vietnam, with around 60 types of artefacts on display.

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Among these “treasures” are rare and historically significant items. One of Paddy’s most prized possessions is an original copy of TIME magazine, dated 6 July 1925, with Chaplin on the cover. “It was the first time an actor had appeared on the cover of TIME, which for many years was the most influential magazine in the world,” he explains.

Yet for Paddy, the true worth of an object is not always measured in money. The smallest piece can hold the most poignant story. He recalls a visit to Cuba, a nation rich in culture despite its limited means, where a man presented him with a singular gift: a kernel of corn, hand-painted with Chaplin’s face. “Small, magical things happen,” he reflects.

Paddy was not only a collector of objects, but of stories. History lives in these stories, and a turning point for him began in Ireland. In 1959, Chaplin first visited Waterville, a small village of only a few hundred people in County Kerry, at the height of the summer tourist season. The silent film king walked into the Butler Arms Hotel in search of a room, only to be told it was fully booked, the receptionist failing to recognise him. Soon after, the hotel owner heard what had happened, hurried after him, caught up with the Rolls Royce, and persuaded Chaplin to return. They gave up their own private quarters to the Chaplins, and a new friendship was born. Chaplin returned to Waterville every year for the next decade. Today, the village honours him with a bronze statue and an annual Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival, which has run since 2011.

Having part of the collection on display at the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi from 24 June to 22 July was a singular moment not only for the Vietnamese public, but also for Paddy himself. It was here, in 1936, that Chaplin and his third wife, Paulette Goddard, spent their honeymoon in Indochina. To commemorate the visit, the hotel named a suite on the third floor of the Heritage Wing the “Charlie Chaplin Suite”.

The exhibition at the Metropole not only presented rare items such as film posters by French artist Léo Kouper and original sheet music for Smile, but also created a space to tell the story of Chaplin’s life and career while honouring the remarkable collecting journey of Paddy MacDonald.

Reflecting on the joy this brings him, Paddy shares that there are days when he sits in his study, pulls out a film poster or some other item, and simply looks at it in silence. “I think about the effort, the talent of the people who created them, from places such as Argentina, Mexico, Italy, France and Cuba,” he says.

Chaplin’s character The Tramp has become a universal symbol, embodying resilience and giving voice to the underdog. Though created long ago, the figure still resonates in today’s world, particularly in places where survival remains a daily struggle.

Chaplin drew deeply from everyday life, from his travels and the people he encountered. Despite many hardships, from a childhood of poverty to the complexities of four marriages, he never lost his vision. When asked who most influenced his life, Chaplin answered: “If I have achieved anything, I owe it to one person, and that is my mother.”

For Paddy, collecting has never been only about preserving artefacts. It is about safeguarding stories and inspiring new generations. He hopes that visitors to the exhibition will feel Chaplin’s spirit and find joy and optimism. “Find a hobby and be passionate about it. Find a mentor and be interested in an aspect of culture and life,” Paddy advises.

And that is precisely what Paddy MacDonald has done for more than 40 years. He is not only a collector, but a guardian of heritage; a storyteller who has kept Charlie Chaplin’s memory alive, not only in the silent films, but in the hearts of millions around the world.

About Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin, full name Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr., was born on 16 April 1889. He was an English comedian, filmmaker and composer.

Over a career spanning more than 75 years, he became one of the most recognisable figures of the silent film era. His character The Tramp came to symbolise resilience and the struggles of the ordinary man.

His life was marked by hardship and triumph, from a poor childhood to four marriages. In 1936, he travelled to Indochina and stayed at the Metropole Hotel with his third wife, Paulette Goddard.

He died in 1977 and is remembered as one of cinema’s most influential figures.

Article adapted from the original feature in Tatler Vietnam, July 2025 issue

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