Council Bluffs’ Harry Langdon Boulevard. Who is Harry?

I’ve been filling in for Rachel the last few weeks here at Highclere while she is on maternity leave and every morning I pull up to the mansion on the hill by way of Harry Langdon Blvd.  But I can’t help but wonder; who is Harry?  A quick bit of research uncovered his identity.  It turns out that Harry Langdon was a Council Bluffs native who was famous for starring in vaudeville and silent films around the 1920s.  He worked with one of the industry’s famed directors, Frank Capra (It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), and then eventually took creative control of his career.  At the height of his success, Langdon was making $7,500 a week!

Harry Langdon Day was celebrated in 1997 in Council Bluffs, and the Boulevard was soon to follow in 1999.  Langdon also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Information was gathered from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Langdon