We're on hiatus right now, but we still pop up other places, okay??
04.12.2025 23:48
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We're on hiatus right now, but we still pop up other places, okay??
Happy 87th anniversary to the broadcast that gave Orson his Hollywood blank check: The Mercury Theater's adaptation of H.G. Wells's WAR OF THE WORLDS, which went on the air on this day in 1938.
Listen to the broadcast in its entirety here: youtu.be/9q7tN7MhQ4I?...
Sorry we haven't posted an episode in a while (that's my bad - S.), but Hope has written a wonderful blog post about her most recent pilgrimage to Grovers Mill, NJ that is a MUST READ for Welles U fans!
So... what are your waiting for?
READ IT! 👍🏻
Orson Welles and Henry Jaglom on the set of SOMEONE TO LOVE, c. 1986
The cover to MY LUNCHES WITH ORSON, Jaglom's book of conversations with Orson Welles
The movie poster for SOMEONE TO LOVE (1987), featuring illustrated versions of Orson Welles, Henry Jaglom, and Andrea Marcovicci
Henry Jaglom at the premiere of JACK AND JILL, February 2016
R.I.P. to Henry Jaglom, author of MY LUNCHES WITH ORSON and director of SOMEONE TO LOVE (Welles's final screen performance), who passed away earlier this week at the age of 87:
A snippet from the linked Variety article on the proposed AI reconstruction of THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS. The text in the snippet reads as follows: “We saw the various articles on ‘Ambersons’ today. In general, the estate has embraced AI technology to create a voice model intended to be used for VO work with brands. That said, this attempt to generate publicity on the back of Welles’ creative genius is disappointing, especially as we weren’t even given the courtesy of a heads up,” a spokesperson for the Welles estate wrote. “While AI is inevitable, it still cannot replace the creative instincts resident in the human mind, which means this effort to make Ambersons whole will be a purely mechanical exercise without any of the uniquely innovative thinking or a creative force like Welles.”
The Welles estate responds to the AI AMBERSONS news. Weak response, in our opinion, but given they've sold off Welles's voice for AI usage, it would seem hypocritical to go as hard as the man himself likely would.
bit.ly/4gk7Hgr
AI hucksters have such boring ideas, at least P. T. Barnum was out there sewing half a monkey to a fish
Absolutely the fuck NOT!!!
Hard to imagine a Welles who vehemently opposed the colorization of CITIZEN KANE would be onboard with this bullshit. 🐂💩
bit.ly/4paZ0ZD
Samuel Dumas, amateur filmmaker and technical director for The Department of Menial Humor
A closeup on the face of Orson Welles in heavy age makeup in a still from the 1934 film THE HEARTS OF AGE
Werner Krauss in character as Dr. Caligari in a publicity still from 1920's THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI. Caligari's look influenced the appearance of Welles's Death character in THE HEARTS OF AGE
Spanish-Mexican filmmaker Luis Buñuel c. 1929, the year his film UN CHIEN ANDALOU was released. UN CHIEN ANDALOU was a heavy influence on THE HEARTS OF AGE
This week, we welcome guest lecturer Samuel Dumas from The Dept. of Menial Humor to discuss Welles's 1934 short film, THE HEARTS OF AGE, its surrealist & expressionist influences, and Stephen's fabled bachelor party! List NOW wherever podcasts are sold!
apple.co/42857Er
Title page for the 1934 edition of "Everybody's Shakespeare"
Orson Welles as Shylock from his unfinished film version THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Two actors from the award-winning 1933 Todd School for Boys production of TWELFTH NIGHT
Arthur Anderson and Orson Welles performing in the Mercury Theater's 1937 production of CAESAR, an adaptation of Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR
Better late than never! Our latest episode is now LIVE! This class, we're discussing EVERYBODY'S SHAKESPEARE, The Bard, and the three plays covered here - THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, TWELFTH NIGHT, and JULIUS CAESAR!
Join us! Maybe learn a little something? apple.co/4oPjWFn
New Welles film ranking from @nofilmschool.bsky.social. Do you agree? How would *you* rank Welles's filmography as a cinephile?
nofilmschool.com/best-orson-w...
A bit belated in memoriam for Norman Eshley, one of the stars of Orson Welles's THE IMMORTAL STORY (1968), who passed away on August 2 at the age of 80. RIP.
wellesnet.com/norman-eshle...
The mural "Tragic Prelude" by John Steuart Curry. It depicts (per Wikipedia) "the abolitionist John Brown with a Bible in one hand, on which the Greek letters alpha and omega of Revelation 1:8 can be seen. In his other hand, he holds a rifle, referred to as the 'Beecher's Bibles.' He is in front of Union and Confederate soldiers, living and dead, with a tornado and a prairie fire approaching. Emigrants with covered wagons travel from east to west."
The title page for the music for the "Battle Hymn of the Republic, adapted to the favorite melody of 'Glory, Hallelujah' written by Mrs. Dr. S.G. Howe." The text is flanked by illustrated greenery.
Orson Welles (age 33) seated next to mentor Roger Hill at the 100th anniversary of the Todd School in 1948
The cover of the 2019 edition of MARCHING SONG, featuring an illustrated John Brown holding a rifle over his head. The title is in yellow, beneath which the words (in white) "A Play" appear and, below those, the name "Orson Welles" in large yellow font. "with Roger Hill" appears below Orson Welles in a significantly smaller font. The book was edited by Todd Tarbox with a foreword by Simon Callow (whose name also appears in yellow).
This week, we're finally getting to The Work™️ as we discuss abolitionist John Brown, his rebellion, his glorious beard, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and the unproduced Welles/Hill 'collaboration,' MARCHING SONG!
Available NOW wherever you get your podcasts: apple.co/4oxORpv
It’s Alive! And the most in-depth piece I’ve written for this series yet. Hope you enjoy!
👀 👀 👀
#WellesWatch #WellesUniversity #SupplementalReading
We FINALLY got our boy to Ireland! 🇮🇪☘️🫏 We discuss his donkey cart adventures through Éire, his first forays into professional theater - including meeting Hilton Edwards & Micheál MacLiammóir and the Gate Theater production of JEW SÜSS - plus, the origins of Orson's love of cigars!
apple.co/3TDD8aX
We're back to school again today as we wrap up Orson's time at Todd, including his first production of JULIUS CAESAR and the death of his father, Dick Welles. Available NOW wherever you get your podcasts!
bit.ly/44trQuK
We don't have an episode out this week, but get your fix and listen to our own @chewywalrus.bsky.social as he discusses David Lynch's 1980 classic THE ELEPHANT MAN with @bodiesofhorror.bsky.social - out now for your listening pleasure wherever podcasts are sold!
An extra credit assignment for the class: check out Hope's latest podcast endeavor - The Lanes Between, a Radio Fan Fic podcast - out TODAY wherever podcasts are sold!
bit.ly/3HNeH87
A young Orson Welles (dressed as Sherlock Holmes) holding a magnifying glass onstage next to his Todd School classmate Sherman Perlman dressed as Groucho Marx
Rogers Hall in Woodstock, IL, the last remaining building from the campus of the Todd School for Boys.
A sign for the Rogers Hall Apartments in Woodstock, IL. The sign reads, "Rogers Hall Apartments. Formerly Todd Seminary for Boys. Founded in 1873." A "For Rent" sign with a local phone number hangs to the right on a red brick post.
The Kankakee State Hospital in Kankakee, IL where Orson's older brother Richard I. Welles was institutionalized for a number of years.
Just in time for summer, we're packing Orson off to school! 🏫🎒👩🏫📏 Check out the first of our two episodes on Welles's time at the Todd School for Boys, available NOW wherever podcasts are sold!
bit.ly/45nhD5g
Have you caught up with our latest episode yet? If not, buckle up to hear us discuss THE BIRTH OF A NATION, Malört, and arguably the most formative event in the life of young Orson, though the man himself would later say he had no 'Rosebuds.'
Listen NOW wherever podcasts are sold: apple.co/44a1XBe
Happy 77th anniversary to this classic! #TheLadyFromShaghai #OrsonWelles
Bike lamps! Suffrage! Kenosha, Wisconsin - the birthplace of Orson Welles! All this (and the most obvious, sophomoric name joke ever) on this week's episode of Welles University, available NOW wherever podcasts are sold!
apple.co/4mpuael
I agree with the #1. The rest...? 😬😬
This is a pretty bold list! So you agree or disagree? How would YOU rank Orson's directorial efforts? Let us know!
Wishing a VERY happy 110th birthday to the man himself, the great Orson Welles #BOTD. In celebration, we offer our first episode, wherein @highimhope.bsky.social & @chewywalrus.bsky.social share the details of their new ongoing project.
apple.co/3SpIxSa
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow... our first episode drops TOMORROW! Check it out wherever podcasts are sold!
Just five days between today and The Man's 110th birthday... AND our first episode! Look for it wherever podcasts are sold!
A photo of young Orson Welles from a newspaper clipping with the headline "Cartoonist, Actor, Poet and only 10"
Ten days until Orson's 110th birthday AND our inaugural episode! GET HYPED!
Wearing my @whmpodcast.bsky.social Orson Welles "Night Vision" t-shirt today in honor of the late, great Mr. Welles. VOTE ORSON! @blankcheck.bsky.social @wellesupod.bsky.social
ELECT CHARLES FOSTER KANE.
It's Orson Welles:
blankcheckpod.com/march-madness
