Henry Jaglom recalls Orson

[Alan Brody]

In the early 70s Welles reportedly turned down some offers to direct Hollywood films cause his irregular sleep habits wouldn't let him conform to Hollywood's rigid assembly-line schedule. Given that, he probably wouldn't have been up for a TV series either, which by most accounts requires even more discipline. It's probably just as well. My guess is that a recurring lead role on Fantasy Island might have done a lot more damage to his rep then a one-time appearance on Love Boat.

Back to Jaglom for a second. Giving it some more thought, does anyone else find this somewhat implausible?:

I didn’t have my little tape recorder in my bag that day, the one that was forever recording our lunches. He had suggested two years earlier I hide it from him so it wouldn’t make him self-conscious but keep it on at all times. He said it would help “down the road, when I write my autobiography.”

[Skylark]

Cool Hitch thing - he's always stealing Orson's ideas - But to be fair to Welles, he was first in line in the guessing order - which is tough - the first person sets it up, then it's easy for that lady to nail it, it's even easier being the mystery guest - Welles probably coud have disguised his voice better than Hitch, I must say...

[Alan Brody]

The panel probably thought it was someone doing a Hitchcock imitation. Did you see the one with Reagan?!

[Skylark]

No, I'm afraid not - how did this become about Ronald Reagan?

[Alan Brody]

The same way it became about Alfred Hitchcock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5D6RnMbfHI

[tonyw]

From Orson to the Gipper!

Can this site descend any further?

[Skylark]

How come that lady in the second chair always makes the right guess? She's unstoppable. It's sort of monotonous. Coincidently, Reagan is mentioned in the McBride interview, where he alledgedly attempted to infiltrate the Communist Party... around the same time of his WML appearance ...

[tonyw]

According to one source, the Party turned him down since he was too dumb to be a member. Wasn't this also the time of I WAS A COMMUNIST FOR THE FBI? He might have been in the running for the role and decided to get some practical experience.

[Skylark]

At this point, one can only speculate, but it is highly probable. Sadly, the gipper's ability to camouflage his voice is rather perfunctory. Not a good thing for a potential spy. I think I saw a Jimmy Stewart, WML video on Youtube - I wonder if it can provide insight into McBride's comments on Frank Capra? Although it's a safe bet that that lady who goes second will guess who he is. I think Welles should have been the last guesser on the show, rather than the first; then he would have been the third man....