HARRY LANGDON - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 280908

HARRY LANGDON
Signed b/w bust photo of a foppish Harry Langdon holding a cigar in top hat, high-collared tux and a confused expression
Inscribed photograph signed "To Thomas/from/Harry Langdon". Pencil notations on versoin unknown hand. B/w, 7½x9¼, printed on cardstock. Actor, comedian, screenwriter and director Langdon (1884-1944) was one of the "Big Four" American screen comedians in the 1920s, joining the ranks of the legendary Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. Langdon, who had begun his career on vaudeville, signed with Mack Sennett's film company in 1923 and appeared in numerous two-reel comedies. Creating a character that wore white pantomime makeup and a tightly buttoned jacket reminiscent of a young boy outgrowing his clothes, Langdon became a huge star. In 1926, Langdon left Sennett to form his own film company, bringing along director Harry Edwards and writer/director Frank Capra. The Harry Langdon Company made three successful films, including 1926's Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, before Langdon fired Capra and went on to appear in three additional critical and financial flops. In 1929, Langdon signed with Hal Roach and made eight films before being fired. He later returned to the Roach studios as a gag writer, writing, among others, Block-Heads (1938) for Laurel and Hardy. Langdon later appeared as a character actor in several feature films, the last of which were released in 1945, the year after his death. Lightly toned, silvered, cracked, creased and bowed. Lightly worn corners. Otherwise in fine condition.