A particular favourite of mine is ‘The Cure’ first shown on April 16th 1917. It is a short comedy only 31 minutes. Charlie plays and alcoholic who checks into a health spa to dry out but takes a trunk of alcohol in with him. During the clip I have put below Charlie interprets a massage as a wrestling match. Not surprising looking at this clip that massage was not particularly popular in 1917.
It was in 1917 in London at St Thomas Hospital that James Mennell first did physical treatment by manipulation movement and massage. Massage was also being used for rehabilitation of soldiers during World War 1. Massage was used mainly for medical purposes and was continued to be used by nurses till the 1940’s. Gradually the advancement of medical science and the use of electrotherapy and drugs saw massage become just a luxury afforded by few with the first spas opening in the USA and nurses no longer being taught massage.
Massage today is very different to that of 1917, after a surge of re-interest in the 1960’s and 70’s people became interested in alternative health and fitness. Training courses were set up by City and Guilds and other schools to train therapist. The health and fitness boom resulted in massage becoming a respectable form of alternative and complementary medicine. People became interested in maintaining wellness. Massage has continued to grow in popularity with therapist now practicing many techniques that have their roots deep in the ancient history of massage.
We have come a long way since Charlie Chaplin experienced his massage in 1917.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSbIbxXQVUs&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL0DBABDE3591404EE
Enjoy the clip, the massage section is about 5 minutes into the clip.
" A day without laughter is a day wasted" Charlie Chaplin
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