War work Orson Welles

1 war work

1.1 goodwill ambassador
1.2 s true
1.3 radio (1942–43)
1.4 mercury wonder show
1.5 radio (1944–45)

war work
goodwill ambassador

delia garcés , welles @ argentine film critics association awards reception citizen kane (april 1942)

in late november 1941, welles appointed goodwill ambassador latin america nelson rockefeller, u.s. coordinator of inter-american affairs , principal stockholder in rko radio pictures. mission of ociaa cultural diplomacy, promoting hemispheric solidarity , countering growing influence of axis powers in latin america. john hay whitney, head of agency s motion picture division, asked brazilian government produce documentary of annual rio carnival celebration taking place in february 1942. in telegram december 20, 1941, whitney wrote welles, believe make great contribution hemisphere solidarity project.

the ociaa sponsored cultural tours latin america , appointed goodwill ambassadors including george balanchine , american ballet, bing crosby, aaron copland, walt disney, john ford , rita hayworth. welles thoroughly briefed in washington, d.c., before departure brazil, , film scholar catherine l. benamou, specialist in latin american affairs, finds not unlikely among goodwill ambassadors asked gather intelligence u.s. government in addition cultural duties. concludes welles s acceptance of whitney s request logical , patently patriotic choice .

in addition working on ill-fated film project, s true, welles responsible radio programs, lectures, interviews , informal talks part of ociaa-sponsored cultural mission, regarded success. spoke on topics ranging shakespeare visual art @ gatherings of brazil s elite, , 2 intercontinental radio broadcasts in april 1942 particularly intended tell u.s. audiences president vargas partner allies. welles s ambassadorial mission extended permit travel other nations including argentina, bolivia, chile, colombia, ecuador, guatemala, mexico, peru , uruguay. welles worked more half year no compensation.

welles s own expectations film modest. s true not going make cinematic history, nor intended to, later said. intended honorable execution of job goodwill ambassador, bringing entertainment northern hemisphere showed them southern one.

it s true

in july 1941, welles conceived s true omnibus film mixing documentary , docufiction in project emphasized dignity of labor , celebrated cultural , ethnic diversity of north america. have been third film rko, following citizen kane (1941) , magnificent ambersons (1942). duke ellington put under contract score segment working title, story of jazz , drawn louis armstrong s 1936 autobiography, swing music. armstrong cast play himself in brief dramatization of history of jazz performance, roots place in american culture in 1940s. story of jazz go production in december 1941.

mercury productions purchased stories 2 other segments— friend bonito , captain s chair —from documentary filmmaker robert j. flaherty. adapted norman foster , john fante, friend bonito segment of original s true go production. filming took place in mexico september–december 1941, norman foster directing under welles s supervision.

in december 1941, office of coordinator of inter-american affairs asked welles make film in brazil showcase carnaval in rio de janeiro. filming of friend bonito two-thirds complete, welles decided shift geography of s true , incorporate flaherty s story omnibus film latin america—supporting roosevelt administration s neighbor policy, welles advocated. in revised concept, story of jazz replaced story of samba, musical form comparable history , 1 came fascinate welles. decided ripped-from-the-headlines episode epic voyage of 4 poor brazilian fishermen, jangadeiros, had become national heroes. welles later said valuable story.

required film carnaval in rio de janeiro in february 1942, welles rushed edit magnificent ambersons , finish acting scenes in journey fear. ended lucrative cbs radio show february 2, flew washington, d.c., briefing, , lashed rough cut of ambersons in miami editor robert wise. welles recorded film s narration night before left south america: went projection room @ 4 in morning, did whole thing, , got on plane , off rio—and end of civilization know it.

welles left brazil on february 4 , began filming in rio february 8, 1942. @ time did not seem welles s other film projects disrupted, film historian catherine l. benamou wrote, ambassadorial appointment first in series of turning points leading—in zigs , zags, rather in straight line—to welles s loss of complete directorial control on both magnificent ambersons , s true, cancellation of contract @ rko radio studio, expulsion of company mercury productions rko lot, and, ultimately, total suspension of s true.

in 1942 rko pictures underwent major changes under new management. nelson rockefeller, primary backer of brazil project, left board of directors, , welles s principal sponsor @ rko, studio president george schaefer, resigned. rko took control of ambersons , edited film studio considered commercial format. welles s attempts protect version failed. in south america, welles requested resources finish s true. given limited amount of black-and-white film stock , silent camera, able finish shooting episode jangadeiros, rko refused support further production on film.

fired rko, welles later recalled. , made great publicity point of fact had gone south america without script , thrown money away. never recovered attack. later in 1942, when rko pictures began promoting new corporate motto, showmanship in place of genius: new deal @ rko , welles understood reference him.

radio (1942–43)

welles returned united states august 22, 1942, after more 6 months in south america. week after return produced , emceed first 2 hours of seven-hour coast-to-coast war bond drive broadcast titled pledge america. airing august 29, 1942, on blue network, program presented in cooperation united states department of treasury, western union (which wired bond subscriptions free of charge) , american women s voluntary services. featuring 21 dance bands , score of stage , screen , radio stars, broadcast raised more $10 million—more $146 million today—for war effort.

on october 12, 1942, cavalcade of america presented welles s radio play, admiral of ocean sea, entertaining , factual @ legend of christopher columbus.

belongs period when hemispheric unity crucial matter , many programs being devoted common heritage of americas, wrote broadcasting historian erik barnouw. many such programs being translated spanish , portuguese , broadcast latin america, counteract many years of successful axis propaganda area. axis, trying stir latin america against anglo-america, had emphasized differences between two. became job of american radio emphasize common experience , essential unity.

admiral of ocean sea, known columbus day, begins words, hello americans —the title welles choose own series 5 weeks later.

hello americans, cbs radio series broadcast november 15, 1942 – january 31, 1943, produced, directed , hosted welles under auspices of office of coordinator inter-american affairs. 30-minute weekly program promoted inter-american understanding , friendship, drawing upon research amassed ill-fated film, s true. series produced concurrently welles s other cbs series, ceiling unlimited (november 9, 1942 – february 1, 1943), sponsored lockheed-vega corporation. program conceived glorify aviation industry , dramatize role in world war ii. welles s shows regarded significant contributions war effort.

throughout war welles worked on patriotic radio programs including command performance, g.i. journal, mail call, nazi eyes on canada, stage door canteen , treasury star parade.

the mercury wonder show

in 1943, 2 concurrent radio series (ceiling unlimited, hello americans) orson welles created cbs support war effort had ended. filming had wrapped on 1943 film adaptation of jane eyre , fee, in addition income regular guest-star roles in radio, made possible welles fulfill lifelong dream. approached war assistance league of southern california , proposed show evolved big-top spectacle, part circus , part magic show. offered services magician , director, , invested $40,000 of own money in extravaganza co-produced friend joseph cotten: mercury wonder show service men. members of u.s. armed forces admitted free of charge, while general public had pay. show entertained more 1,000 service members each night, , proceeds went war assistance league, charity military service personnel.

the development of show coincided resolution of welles s oft-changing draft status in may 1943, when declared 4-f—unfit military service—for variety of medical reasons. felt guilty war, welles told biographer barbara leaming. guilt-ridden civilian status. had been publicly hounded patriotism since citizen kane, when hearst press began persistent inquiries why welles had not been drafted.

the mercury wonder show ran august 3 – september 9, 1943, in 80-by-120-foot tent located @ 9000 cahuenga boulevard, in heart of hollywood.

at intermission september 7, 1943, kmpc radio interviewed audience , cast members of mercury wonder show—including welles , rita hayworth, married earlier day. welles remarked mercury wonder show had been performed approximately 48,000 members of u.s. armed forces.

radio (1944–45)

the idea of doing radio variety show occurred welles after success substitute host of 4 consecutive episodes (march 14 – april 4, 1943) of jack benny program, radio s popular show, when benny contracted pneumonia on performance tour of military bases. half-hour variety show broadcast january 26 – july 19, 1944, on columbia pacific network, orson welles almanac presented sketch comedy, magic, mindreading, music , readings classic works. many of shows originated on u.s. military camps, welles , repertory company , guests entertained troops reduced version of mercury wonder show. performances of all-star jazz group welles brought show popular band became regular feature , important force in reviving interest in traditional new orleans jazz.

welles placed on u.s. treasury payroll on may 15, 1944, expert consultant duration of war, retainer of $1 year. on recommendation of president franklin d. roosevelt, secretary of treasury henry morgenthau asked welles lead fifth war loan drive, opened june 12 one-hour radio show on 4 networks, broadcast texarkana, texas. including statement president, program defined causes of war , encouraged americans buy $16 billion in bonds finance normandy landings , violent phase of world war ii. welles produced additional war loan drive broadcasts on june 14 hollywood bowl, , june 16 soldier field, chicago. americans purchased $20.6 billion in war bonds during fifth war loan drive, ended on july 8, 1944.

welles campaigned ardently roosevelt in 1944. longtime supporter , campaign speaker fdr, sent president ideas , phrases incorporated welles characterized less important speeches . 1 of these ideas joke in came called fala speech, roosevelt s nationally broadcast september 23 address international teamsters union opened 1944 presidential campaign.

welles campaigned roosevelt–truman ticket full-time in fall of 1944, traveling every state detriment of own health , @ own expense. in addition radio addresses filled in roosevelt, opposite republican presidential nominee thomas e. dewey, @ new york herald tribune forum broadcast october 18 on blue network. welles accompanied fdr last campaign rally, speaking @ event november 4 @ boston s fenway park before 40,000 people, , took part in historic election-eve campaign broadcast november 6 on 4 radio networks.

on november 21, 1944, welles began association best, cbs radio series briefly produce, direct, write , host (march 13 – april 24, 1945). wrote political column called orson welles almanac (later titled orson welles today) new york post january–november 1945, , advocated continuation of fdr s new deal policies , international vision, particularly establishment of united nations , cause of world peace.

on april 12, 1945, day franklin d. roosevelt died, blue-abc network marshalled entire executive staff , national leaders pay homage late president. among outstanding programs attracted wide attention special tribute delivered orson welles , reported broadcasting magazine. welles spoke @ 10:10 p.m eastern war time, hollywood, , stressed importance of continuing fdr s work: has no need homage , loved him have no time tears … our fighting sons , brothers cannot pause tonight mark death of him name given age live in.

welles presented special broadcast on death of roosevelt following evening: must move on beyond mere death free world hope , labor of life.

he dedicated april 17 episode of best roosevelt , future of america on eve of united nations conference on international organization. welles advisor , correspondent blue-abc radio network s coverage of san francisco conference formed un, taking place april 24 – june 23, 1945. presented half-hour dramatic program written ben hecht on opening day of conference, , on sunday afternoons (april 29 – june 10) led weekly discussion san francisco civic auditorium.