The earliest example of robotic mime was performed by Charlie Chaplin in 'Modern Times'.  Which. like all Chaplin films is as entertaining today as it was in at the beginning of the last century.  He is working on a production line and takes on the mechanical movements of a machine every time he stops.

The robot has occasionally been inaccurately attributed to the late great Michael Jackson. However he mastered Bill Bailey's little known backslide, which Bill developed in the fifties, renamed it moonwalk and made it an intrinsic part of his own act.

Charlie Chaplin's robot didn't catch on like Michael Jackson's moonwalk, in fact it went largely unnoticed.  Like Bill Bailey's backslide it was before its time in 1936, and it had to wait fifty years before to be rediscovered. 

"Bellows Feeding Machine"

There are some amusing videos on Youtube of robotic dancers from the eighties.   Charlie Chaplin saw what was coming and died three years previously.

Michael Jackson died on Thursday 25th June 2009 and is sadly missed.

There are some amusing videos on Youtube of robotic dancers from the eighties.   Charlie Chaplin saw what was coming and died three years previously.

Michael Jackson died on Thursday 25th June 2009 and is sadly missed.