The lecture by award-winning author and historian David Nasaw that kicked off the Free Library of Philadelphia’s seven-part Orson Welles & The Golden Age of Hollywood lecture series is now available on YouTube.
His lecture, Mr. Lucky: The Life of Orson Welles Before Hollywood, took place on April 12 at the Parkway Central Library. It can be found embedded below or online at youtu.be/xz4I6T60ztw
Nasaw – who specializes in the cultural, social and business history of early 20th Century America – penned the acclaimed The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst and two Pulitzer Prize finalists Andrew Carnegie and The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy.
The Free Library of Philadelphia is hoping to make future installments in the series available to those who cannot attend the events in Philadelphia.
The next speaker in the series, Peter Decherney of the University of Pennsylvania, will speak on City of Nets and Traps: The Hollywood That Orson Welles Discovered on Wednesday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.
All events will take place at the Parkway Central Library on 1901 Vine Street in Philadelphia, according to Dick Levinson, librarian and lecture series producer. Admission is free, but tickets must be obtained online at tinyurl.com/wellesFLP
Orson Welles & The Golden Age of Hollywood programming includes:
Mr. Lucky: The Life of Orson Welles Before Hollywood with author David Nasaw; Wednesday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.
The City of Nets and Traps: The Hollywood That Orson Welles Discovered with Peter Decherney of the University of Pennsylvania, Wednesday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.
The Struggle to Make Citizen Kane with Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips, Wednesday, June 21, 7:30 p.m.
The Genius Who Couldn’t Do Anything Right with Ray Kelly of Wellesnet.com, Wednesday, July 19, 7:30 p.m.
The Genius Who Made Legendary Films on a Shoestring with Slate senior editor Sam Adams and Meta Mazaj of the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Cinema and Media Studies, Wednesday, September 6, 7:30 p.m.
The Crusader for Social Justice with actress-director Zuhairah McGill, Wednesday, October 11, 7:30 p.m.
The Legacy of Orson Welles with Bob Mondello of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Wednesday, October 18, 7:30 p.m.
The Free Library of Philadelphia hosts numerous events each year. Chartered in 1891, its mission is “to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity.” Those wishing further information on registering for the in-person Orson Welles & The Golden Age of Hollywood lecture series may email Dick Levinson at levinsonr@freelibrary.org or register on EventBrite.
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