Luck and Circumstance by Michael Lindsay-Hogg

[Glenn Anders]

The New York Times carries a quite sympathetic review by Alex Witchel of Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg's new autobiography, Luck and Circumstance. As has often been speculated at Wellesnet, rumors and appearances would suggest that Orson Welles was the father of Lindsay-Hogg by Irish Actress Geraldine Fitzgerald. Confirmation of that fact is evidently offered in Lindsay-Hogg's book:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/books ... updateema3

While Chris Welles Feder's In My Father's Shadow strongly suggested the above conclusion, Lindsay-Hogg offers a new and key piece of evidence. While he had long suspected the fact from his own appearance, his weight problems, his early precocious talents, a penchant for a career in theater, and hints from his mother, it was not until after Geraldine Fitzgerald's death, that he received several letters from her confidant, Gloria Vanderbilt.

Another Wellsian mystery solved!

Now . . . if we could only flesh out images of Anderson Cooper on a good computer . . . .

Glenn Anders

[Christopher]

This is amazing! I don't know what to say....and to think I found it out on Wellenet.

[RayKelly]

Glenn, Thanks for alerting us to the New York Times review of Michael Lindsay-Hogg's autobiography "Luck and Circumstance." I can't wait to read the book. I am not a DNA expert, but I wonder why he did not seek DNA from his possible half-sisters, rather than interviewing his late mother's friends. (I did read an online excerpt where he writes: "I've thought of calling Chrissie Welles to see if I could get some from her.") Maybe the book explains why he did not pursue this course of action.
I interviewed him a few years back for a story on The Beatles. He has great stories to tell about filming Let It Be and Rock and Roll Circus.
He really does not look like Geraldine Fitzgerald or Edward Lindsay-Hogg. He truly bears a striking resemblance to Orson Welles. Here is a little visual comparison.

Lindsay-Hogg at 18 ........ Welles at 22

[Christopher]

Ray, I agree with you that it's odd Michael relied on what Geraldine''s friends told him rather than a DNA test to prove his parentage. This does not sound very convincing to me, but I am keeping an open mind until I have read his book. I've just ordered it from Amazon.com and should have it by the end of this week.

[ToddBaesen]

As I recall there was a report about a year ago that Michael Lindsay-Hogg was going to take a DNA test to find out if his father really was Orson Welles. At the time I dismissed it as another fake tabloid story, since I thought it very unlikely Mr. Lindsay-Hogg would want to submit to such a test, especially if it was at the behest of some UK tabloid, but if it was for his own curiosity and his new autobiography, maybe he did take such a test.
I presume he will let us know whether he did or not in the book.

[Roger Ryan]

I'm thinking that the New York Times article would have revealed a DNA test result if it was, in fact, taken. Either way, it appears that Mr. Lindsay-Hogg is convinced. Looking forward to the book. By the way, the comparison photos of Lindsay-Hogg and Welles included in the Times article (both taken at age 18) are quite remarkable.

[mteal]

Those comparison photos, plus the fact that his mother and Welles worked together around the time he was born, would be enough to convince me. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.

I too, look forward to reading about Lindsay-Hogg's experiences with the Beatles, Stones, and the other rock supergroups. That sounds even more interesting then the Welles paternity issue. It's good to see that he's had a long and successful life and career, considering the tragic fate that befell Welles's two other male descendants, Tim McIntire (unconfirmed) and Mark McKerrow (confirmed).

[ToddBaesen]

I haven't read the book yet, but I must say, I'm upset by why Lindsay-Hogg is putting his faith in letters from Gloria Vanderbilt. What the hell did she ever know about Orson Welles and Miss Fitzgerald? Maybe it is explained in the book, but I have serious my serious doubts about if her word on this matter can ever be believed.

[RayKelly]

What the hell did she ever know about Orson Welles and Miss Fitzgerald?

Todd, Since you haven't read the book, I will fill you in with a non-spoiler: Fitzgerald and Vanderbilt were best pals.
(I have seen articles written 50 years ago where Vanderbilt is referred to as Fitzgerald's her best friend).
In the last pages of the book, he reaches a conclusion about his father that is touching. I don't want to ruin the well-written ending by printing it here.

[mteal]

http://web.me.com/mteal1/Site_27/OWs_Ma ... ndants.pdf

[Glenn Anders]

post deleted

[tonyw]

Glenn, Her link is not available since Chris is a very private person.

[Glenn Anders]

Sorry, Tony: My apologies to you, and Chris, too. I "field tested" the link and it seemed okay.

Well, we must be hopeful that she will give us a report, if she feels comfortable doing so.

Glenn

[mteal]

Digging through the ruins of Store Hadji's OW Radio Museum, I find that a few shows are still there and available for listening, including this one of THE APPLE TREE from 1941, with Welles and Geraldine Fitzgerald. It's one of his most beautiful programs, even though the sound is pretty beat up in spots:

http://ia600506.us.archive.org/18/items ... leTree.mp3

[RayKelly]

A new interview with Michael Lindsay-Hogg can be found at http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/books/s_766829.html

An excerpt from the Nov. 13, 2011 Pittsburgh Tribune:

"A lot of this stuff came to me in her last years and after she died," says Lindsay-Hogg, noting his mother had Alzheimer's disease before she passed away. "It made her an even more fascinating and elusive character to me because I learned so much about her and about the deals she may have made with herself in order to keep relationships going or not to be found out."

Lindsay-Hogg adds that his mother was in her late 20s when she made the decisions that led to the controversy that dogged him the rest of his life.

"One of the things I've learned about life is, you do change," says Lindsay-Hogg, who grew up thinking his father was Edward Lindsay-Hogg, an English baronet who lived in Ireland. "You may have your essential core, but the way life goes on, you change, and who you are at 50 or 60 bears no relationship to how you were at 25."