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Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:59 am
http://www.southwestiowanews.com/counci ... f887a.html
By Kim Bousquet
kbousquet@nonpareilonline.com | 0 comments
One of Council Bluffs’ famous sons, Harry Langdon, is the subject of an extensive biography released in June.
Co-author Michael Hayde said the 600-plus page bio, “Little Elf: A Celebration of Harry Langdon,” rights a lot of myths surrounding the silent film legend.
The tome is so large, Hayde said, it was basically two books in one: A biography of the vaudeville and silent film star, as well as a filmography. The book also contains 500 photographs, some of which were shared with the authors by Dick Warner and his wife.
It took Hayde, based in Virginia, and co-author Chuck Harter, based in Los Angeles, almost two years to complete the book. It was published by Bear Manor Media on June 28, though digital versions were available earlier.
Langdon was born June 15, 1884, in Council Bluffs. Hayde said the book shows how his character was shaped right here in Council Bluffs, and how his famous vaudeville act “Johnny’s New Car” was reworked here.
“Council Bluffs was very important to his development,” said Hayde.
So important, Hayde said, “basically, the story begins and ends in Council Bluffs.”
Langdon’s time here is well covered in the book.
“The entire first chapter deals with his boyhood,” said Hayde. “There’s a good deal of information about his parents.”
Some of Langdon’s early days were a little rough, according to Hayde, but there were some pleasant surprises. The book details the antics of Langdon and his brothers getting into typical boyhood mischief.
The book also has a picture of where Langdon did his earliest work on stage, and it’s a picture of a Bluffs stage.
Through the authors’ research, they also learned that the 1915 state census showed Langdon had returned to Council Bluffs with his wife and resided in his parents’ home. There, said Hayde, Langdon reworked “Johnny’s New Car.”
Hayde said the most interesting part of researching Langdon’s life was coming across his vaudeville scripts in the Library of Congress. The authors were able to recreate the acts and learned that they had been “grossly misinterpreted” in Frank Capra’s accounts of Langdon’s work.
Capra claimed that, unlike the other great silent comics, Langdon never understood what made his film character so successful.
“It was fascinating to trace his life as a comedian,” said Hayde.
By Kim Bousquet
kbousquet@nonpareilonline.com | 0 comments
One of Council Bluffs’ famous sons, Harry Langdon, is the subject of an extensive biography released in June.
Co-author Michael Hayde said the 600-plus page bio, “Little Elf: A Celebration of Harry Langdon,” rights a lot of myths surrounding the silent film legend.
The tome is so large, Hayde said, it was basically two books in one: A biography of the vaudeville and silent film star, as well as a filmography. The book also contains 500 photographs, some of which were shared with the authors by Dick Warner and his wife.
It took Hayde, based in Virginia, and co-author Chuck Harter, based in Los Angeles, almost two years to complete the book. It was published by Bear Manor Media on June 28, though digital versions were available earlier.
Langdon was born June 15, 1884, in Council Bluffs. Hayde said the book shows how his character was shaped right here in Council Bluffs, and how his famous vaudeville act “Johnny’s New Car” was reworked here.
“Council Bluffs was very important to his development,” said Hayde.
So important, Hayde said, “basically, the story begins and ends in Council Bluffs.”
Langdon’s time here is well covered in the book.
“The entire first chapter deals with his boyhood,” said Hayde. “There’s a good deal of information about his parents.”
Some of Langdon’s early days were a little rough, according to Hayde, but there were some pleasant surprises. The book details the antics of Langdon and his brothers getting into typical boyhood mischief.
The book also has a picture of where Langdon did his earliest work on stage, and it’s a picture of a Bluffs stage.
Through the authors’ research, they also learned that the 1915 state census showed Langdon had returned to Council Bluffs with his wife and resided in his parents’ home. There, said Hayde, Langdon reworked “Johnny’s New Car.”
Hayde said the most interesting part of researching Langdon’s life was coming across his vaudeville scripts in the Library of Congress. The authors were able to recreate the acts and learned that they had been “grossly misinterpreted” in Frank Capra’s accounts of Langdon’s work.
Capra claimed that, unlike the other great silent comics, Langdon never understood what made his film character so successful.
“It was fascinating to trace his life as a comedian,” said Hayde.