Chimmie Hicks at the Races

Above the Limit (United States copyright 1902 as Chimmie Hicks at the Races)[1] is a short film made in November 1900 by Frederick S. Armitage.

It marks the film debut of vaudevillian actor Charley Grapewin, 39 years before his better-remembered role as Dorothy's Uncle Henry in MGM's The Wizard of Oz.

][3][4][5] Created by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company along with its sister film, Grapewin's Chimmie Hicks and the Rum Omelet,[6] it was shot in September and October 1900 and released in November of that year for viewing in Mutoscope "Moving Picture Machines" (a format with greater viewing quality than the Edison Kinetoscope) as a tale sharing the pitfalls of gambling.

[7] The film is a silent character sketch that shows Chimmie Hicks (Charles E. Grapewin) imitating a man at the races winning and losing.

The next race begins and Chimmie again shows great excitement, which quickly turns to despair and anger as the horse loses.