Harry Langdon is Scratching His Head -- March 16, 2025

Photoplay, March, 1925

Harry Langdon stepped into big shoes when he was assigned to what was labelled as Charlie Chaplin's old dressing room at the Mack Sennett studio. Others named on the sign are Betty Compson, Ford Sterling, Syd Chaplin, Charlie Murray, I can't read it and Harold Lloyd.

Film Daily, 15-March-1925

100 years ago this month, Mack Sennett didn't have any really big stars, so he used the dreaded "All-Star" label.

Harry Langdon -- The Acid Test -- Clocking the Laughs -- January 17, 2025

Moving Picture World, 10-January-1925

"Show these two rib-rockers in your house."

Moving Picture World, 10-January-1925

Langdon, as Usual, Does Highly Amusing Work -- December 14, 2024

Moving Picture World, 27-December-1924

Harry Langdon played a street sweeper in "Feet of Mud." The film includes some racist stereotypes in Chinatown.

Moving Picture World, 06-December-1924

Harry Langdon -- The First Hundred Years -- November 12, 2024

Wichita Eagle, 06-November-1924

Harry Langdon's career at the Mack Sennett Studio was a great success, but short comedies did not get much room in ads unless they starred Charlie Chaplin. We see here that Alla Nazimova's Madonna of the Streets was considered the important part of the bill.

Wichita Eagle, 06-November-1924

Here is a larger view of the bit about Harry Langdon in "The First Hundred Years."

Spokane Chronicle, 04-November-1924

Sometimes the ads included a small image of Harry. This election night show promised that results would be "Projected Upon Victor Dessert's Building" across the street. Patrons inside the theater received announcements. 

Spokane Chronicle, 04-November-1924

There is Only One Harry Langdon -- August 11, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 09-August-1924

"There is only one Vesuvius; one Babe Ruth; one Man o'War; one Sarazen; and one Tilden. All champions, each dominating in its kind.

"There is only one Harry Langdon."

Exhibitors Herald, 09-August-1924Exhibitors Herald, 09-August-1924

Picture Play, August, 1924

Harry Langdon in His New Momma -- July 12, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 05-July-1924

Vaudeville comic Harry Langdon had started to appear in short comedies for Mack Sennett. Harry Edwards directed most of his movies. I like the director's shoes.

Exhibitors Herald, 05-July-1924

Alice Day was Langdon's leading lady in "His New Mamma."

Exhibitors Herald, 19-July-1924

Sisters Alice and Marceline Day both worked with Harry Langdon. 

Harry Langdon, Mack Sennett's Latest and Best Bet -- June 22, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 07-June-1924

Vaudeville comic Harry Langdon had started to appear in short comedies for Mack Sennett.

Exhibitors Herald, 21-June-1924

Roy Del Ruth directed "The Cat's Meow."

Mack Sennett's New Comedy Find -- Harry Langdon -- May 15, 2024

Burlington Daily News, 17-May-1924

"Picking Peaches" was Harry Langdon's first film for Mack Sennett.

Riverside Daily Press, 01-May-1924

In his next film, Harry played a beleaguered photographer. 

Honolulu Advertiser, 27-March-1924

The image in this ad for "Shanghaied Lovers" does not resemble Harry Langdon.

Exhibitors Herald, 10-May-1924

"Harry Langdon whom the Keatons, Lloyds and Semons will do well to watch, is better than before in this sea-going two reeler." What about Chaplin?

Charlie Chaplin -- The Funniest Picture the World Has Ever Seen -- April 14, 2024

Photoplay, April, 1924

Charlie Chaplin was an avid amateur boxer, but I'm pretty sure Mack Swain is out of is weight class. Mack wears his costume from The Gold Rush. The referee is Kid McCoy, who was often called the dirtiest boxer in the world.

Motion Picture Magazine, April, 1924

Motion Picture Magazine, April, 1924

Chaplin's pretty new studio is presently (2024) occupied by the Jim Henson Company.

San Antonio Light, 15-April-1924

In 1914, Charlie Chaplin played a supporting role in his first feature film, Keystone's Tillie's Punctured Romance. Mabel Normand played a supporting role and Mack Sennett directed. The star was Marie Dressler. Tillie's Punctured Romance was repeatedly reissued to take advantage of Chaplin's fame.

Washington Times, 15-April-1924

Gloria Swanson 125 -- March 27, 2024

Cine-Mundial, November, 1921

Beautiful and formidable actress Gloria Swanson was born 125 years ago today, on 27-March-1899. I read her autobiography soon after it was published in 1981. She started at Essanay, making one film with Charlie Chaplin, moved on to work for Mack Sennett at Keystone, went on to Triangle, had a big breakthrough with Cecil B DeMille at Famous Players-Lasky, starred in a series of Paramount features during the 1920s, and wrapped up the silent era making Queen Kelly with Erich von Stroheim. She didn't make many movies during the sound era, but Sunset Boulevard, which reunited her with DeMille and Stroheim, was one of the best of all time. I remember when she appeared on a few television shows. 

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Motion Picture News, 11-June-1921

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Harry Langdon in Two Reel Comedies -- March 19, 2024

Motion Picture News, 29-March-1924

Vaudeville comic Harry Langdon had started to appear in short comedies for Mack Sennett. Harry looks dapper in this image. 

Motion Picture News, 08-March-1924

Alberta Vaughn was Harry's leading lady in "Smile Please."

Motion Picture News, 29-March-1924

Alice Day was Harry's leading lady in "Shanghaied Lovers."

Roy Del Ruth directed both films. 

Mack Sennett Presents Picking Peaches With Harry Langdon -- February 24, 2024

Motion Picture News, 09-February-1924

Vaudeville comic Harry Langdon had started to appear in short comedies for Mack Sennett. "Picking Peaches," directed by Erle C Kenton, was the first. Sennett's Bathing Beauties were prominently featured.

Motion Picture News, 02-February-1924

Motion Picture News, 02-February-1924

Langdon's childlike/childish character did not appear in this film.

Mabel Normand Broke All House Records -- January 31, 2024

Film Daily, 27-January-1924

Back around 1970, our public television station, KQED-Channel 9, showed a series of silent movies from the Paul Killiam collection. These may have been the first silents that I saw with tinting and good musical scores. One of the movies that I remember best was The Extra Girl with Mabel Normand. Mack Sennett produced, and F Richard Jones directed. 

Mabel Normand's career had been impeded by her being accused of involvement in various scandals, including Roscoe Arbuckle's and the murder of William Desmond Taylor. Some theaters stopped showing her films. The Extra Girl gave her career new life. 

Film Daily, 03-January-1924

Film Daily, 07-January-1924

Film Daily, 09-January-1924

Film Daily, 14-January-1924

Film Daily, 16-January-1924

Film Daily, 18-January-1924

Film Daily, 20-January-1924

Film Daily, 22-January-1924

Film Daily, 24-January-1924

Film Daily, 27-January-1924

Film Daily, 31-January-1924