When Charlie Met Joan: The Tragedy of the Chaplin Trials and the Failings of American Law - Diane Kiesel
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About the episode
Dr. Lynn Price Robbins and Isaac S. Loftus welcome retired New York Supreme Court judge and author Diane Kiesel to explore the scandalous romance between film icon Charlie Chaplin and young aspiring actress Joan Barry. The explosive courtroom drama that followed—set against Chaplin’s famously chaotic personal life—reveals much about fame, justice, and power in America. Please support this podcast by checking out our patreon:www.patreon.com/primarysourcemedia CHAPTERS:0:00 - Introductions3:06 - Charlie Chaplin: The Man Behind the Tramp6:30 - The Juicy Hollywood Story: Chaplin’s Relationships7:36 - The Legal Journey: How a Judge Writes a Biography10:25 - Joan Barry: The Woman Behind the Scandal13:44 - Charlie Chaplin’s Romantic History20:54 - The Complicated Relationship: Victim or Victimizer?24:15 - The FBI Investigation: Politics and Scandal27:23 - The Complicated Relationship: Victim or Victimizer? PT.234:11 - The Media Circus of the Chaplin Trial39:59 - The Role of the Judge and Legal Maneuvering45:51 - Joan’s Paternity Lawsuit and It’s Implications54:38 - The Aftermath: Chaplin's Career and Joan's Struggles1:06:05 - Final Thoughts EPISODE LINKS:Diane Kiesel – https://www.dianekiesel.comWhen Charlie Met Joan – https://press.umich.edu/Books/W/When-Charlie-Met-Joan2Mary Louise Gribble (“Joan Barry”) – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150198409/mary_louise-baker2026 Prose Award in Biography – https://publishers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-PROSE-Awards-Finalists-and-Category-Winners-1.pdfKeystone Comedy – https://www.britannica.com/topic/Keystone-KopsMack Sennett – https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mack-SennettThe Little Tramp – https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/jan/27/charlie-chaplin-tramp-birth-heroThe Great Dictator – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032553/Modern Times – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027977/?ref_=fn_t_1Paulette Goddard – https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paulette-GoddardJ. Paul Getty – https://www.britannica.com/money/J-Paul-GettyTim Durant – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0243885/The Gold Rush – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0015864/?ref_=fn_t_1Oona O'Neill – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0152253/The Mann Act – https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/mann_actHedda Hopper – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0394407/Fatty Arbuckle scandal – https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/11/fatty-arbuckle-and-the-birth-of-the-celebrity-scandalJerry Giesler – https://www.nytimes.com/1962/01/02/archives/jerry-giesler-75-lawyer-is-dead-he-won-fame-for-defending-hollywood.htmlJames Francis Thaddeus O'Connor – https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/oconnor-james-francis-thaddeusCharles H. Carr – https://www.fjc.gov/node/1378866Samuel Marx – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0555674/Joseph Scott – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Scott_(attorney)Monsieur Verdoux – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039631/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_4_nm_0_in_0_q_Monsieur%20Vodou%20PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: 2c4hpod.comApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2-complicated-4-history/id1664183536Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3svQpZfxhVQnYJMESpp842?si=514780ada34d4aab Full episodes playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX2x56DEw1y7EYWxfufgfSR951RrdsXet&si=TuDcpAjaeQx-vjkH SOCIAL:- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/2c4hPodcast- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/2c4h_podcast
