A close-up view of two celebrities of the motion picture studios posed with a crowd of spectators and dignitaries. Inez Brooks-Myers, October 8, 2007: The man on the proper left side of the image (wearing a double-breasted overcoat which is buttoned) is film star Ben Turpin, known for his "crazy eyes." Turpin (b. 1896, d. 1940) had been in vaudeville; in 1907 he became the first actor for the Essanay Film Company. He travelled to California in 1908, and acted in Essanay films in Colorado in 1909. He returned to vaudeville and did his "Happy Hooligan act." By 1913 he was back in films, working for Essanay. He was in Charlie Chaplin's first two Essanay films shot in Niles, CA. When Essanay closed in 1916 he went on to work for Vogue Films. He met great success at Mack Sennett's Keystone studio. Turpin was married to Carrie Turpin (b. 1878, d. 1925) who also acted for the Essany studios from 1915-1916.