ONE OF THE GIANTS OF SILENT FILM - MY FATHER, HARRY LANGDON, SR.

Harry Langdon, Sr.
(circa 1890)

All images in this blog article, written by Harry Langdon, Jr. are courtesy of the personal archive of Harry Langdon, Jr.  No copying or republishing of photos is allowed without prior written consent. Sharing this blog in whole, on social media is permitted. Please include #CourtesyofHarryLangdon. Thank you.

"Entertainment for the generation of today is light years ahead of the silent film era. The very primitive recording of black & white photo images to film, was actually an improvement over what folks were left to see on the Vaudeville stage in the early 1900's. One hundred fifteen years ago, people would have thought today's  TV, radio & movies were some kind of witchcraft, let alone wireless cell phones and 3D films, in "Panavison" no less.

Harry Langdon, Sr.
Circa 1925
(Courtesy of the personal archive of Harry Langdon, Jr.)

My father began his career in 1890 - he ran away from home at age 16 to be in a "One Man Vaudeville Act". To earn extra money he was a clown in the circus, a Medicine Show hawker, and then he created a major Vaudeville Act with a collapsible car. He made a fortune; some say millions in these early, pioneering forms of entertainment.

Harry Langdon, Sr.
Circa 1906
Trompe l'oeil background painted by Harry Langdon, Sr.
(Courtesy of the personal archive of Harry Langdon, Jr.)

It was 1920 when he was asked to be in the movies, "Langdon" thought it was only a passing fad. He began earning less money, gave in and joined the Mack Sennett Repertory Company on the heels of Charlie Chaplin. My father then appeared in 60 very successful Silent Films for Sennett. All very ingenious, featuring fine, sublime, unique humor compared to the Chaplin "Slapstick" form of humor.

Harry Langdon, Sr.
Circa 1926
(Courtesy of the personal archive of Harry Langdon, Jr.)

In 1926 he produced seven of his own Classic Feature Films, then in 1930 fate intervened and talking films began to be popular. My father then had to reinvent his humor and was very successful doing ‘Talkies’ until his death in 1945. The reason he was so immensely popular was his ability to generate his humor through Pantomime. He was also very popular in Europe because they understood his humor without knowing the language only by his silent skills.

Harry Langdon, Sr.
Circa 1936
(Courtesy of the personal archive of Harry Langdon, Jr.)

This was due to his previous performances on the Vaudeville stage where he was an expert Top Dancer, played Ragtime Piano Music by ear, did a balancing act, played the banjo and did caricatures in the audience after his act. My father's personal life was like his screen persona, a mix of Comedy and Tragedy that we now see today as a symbol of the Theater. I have his collection of hundreds upon hundreds of still photos that he kept, and I am sharing some here in this article.

My parents, Harry and Mabel Langdon.
Circa 1934
(Courtesy of the personal archive of Harry Langdon, Jr.) 

I am also publishing a book of some of these priceless photos, many have never been seen before and they date from 1888 thru 1945. In addition, a biography that his wife, my mother, Mabel Langdon had written, dictated by my father, is in the process of being published as this article is being written.

The Langdon Family in their
Salvation Army uniforms.
Harry Langdon, Sr.
is in the center of this photo from 1880.
(Courtesy of the personal archive of Harry Langdon, Jr.)

My father's humor had an underlying theme, perhaps it was inherited from his family who were the original Salvation Army officers, showing that those who are downtrodden and feeling left behind in life will survive by staying humble, keeping their chin up, and having faith...eventually they will overcome the ruthless and in-sensitives of the world."

- Harry Langdon, Jr.
Father's Day
June 21, 2015

All images in this blog article, written by Harry Langdon, Jr. are courtesy of the personal archive of Harry Langdon, Jr.  No copying or republishing of photos is allowed without prior written consent. Sharing this blog in whole, on social media is permitted. 

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Shawni Groves (213) 255-0059
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