| 1940/06/29 |
RKO Pictures |
Studio |
On a Saturday morning with few RKO studio executives watching, Orson Welles begins filming Citizen Kane. "The first day I ever walked onto a set was my first day as a director." OW |
Paramount Studios |
Los Angeles |
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| 1940/07/00 |
Orson Welles |
Director |
After dinner every night for about a month, I'd run Stagecoach, often with some different technician or department head from the studio, and ask questions. "How was this done?" "Why was this done?" It was like going to school. - OW |
Paramount Studios |
Los Angeles |
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| 1941/01/13 |
William Randolph Hearst |
Offended |
RKO plans to open Citizen Kaneon on Feb 14. Hearst threatens a legal action to prevent the release. George Schaefer meets with Hearst attorneys who search the script for anything libelous. Hearst told his 17 newspapers not to mention RKO, except in ads. |
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| 1941/02/12 |
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Orson Welles announces that he will sue RKO to release "Citizen Kane". |
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| 1941/02/26 |
The San Francisco Examiner |
Media |
A European producer named Joseph Ermolieff won a minor court ruling against RKO. Most newspapers don't print the story, but all Hearst papers run the story on the front page, lambasting both the studio and president RKO George Schaefer. |
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| 1941/04/10 |
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Variety prints a lengthy "film preview" of Citizen Kane saying it was a pictorial masterpiece and a landmark that could do sensational business if allowed to run its natural course and that the film was not disrepectful to its central character. |
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| 1941/04/16 |
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New York-based, Daily Variety reviewer, John C Flinn Sr predicts that Citizen Kane will inspire other directors to become even more creative. |
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| 1941/04/23 |
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RKO begins booking dates for Kane in major cities. Hearst reps cite Welles' alleged communist views and ask why Welles hadn't been drafted. Variety reports harassment of Welles by Hearst photographers at Palm Springs trying to get personal pictures. |
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| 1941/05/01 |
Joseph Cotten |
Actor |
Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" makes its world premiere at the Palace Theatre, NYC. |
Palace Theatre |
New York City |
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| 1941/05/01 |
Orson Welles |
Actor, Director, Producer |
Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" makes its world premiere at the Palace Theatre, NYC. |
Palace Theatre |
New York City |
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| 1941/05/06 |
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"Citizen Kane" opens in Chicago at the Woods Theatre. Opened in 1918, the Woods Theatre was a movie palace at the corner of Randolph and Dearborn Sts in the Chicago Loop. Originally a venue for live theater, it closed in 1989 and was demolished in 1990. |
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| 1941/05/08 |
Charles Laughton |
Audience Member |
"Kane" opening night in LA sells out, luminaries who attend include Bob Hope, John Barrymore, Gloria Swanson, King Vidor, Busby Berkeley, Mickey Rooney, Olivia De Havilland, Charles Laughton and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. |
El Capitan Theatre |
Los Angeles |
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| 1941/05/08 |
Hedda Hopper |
Audience Member |
"Kane" opening night in LA sells out, luminaries who attend include Bob Hope, John Barrymore, Gloria Swanson, King Vidor, Busby Berkeley, Mickey Rooney, Olivia De Havilland, Charles Laughton and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. |
El Capitan Theatre |
Los Angeles |
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| 1941/05/08 |
Bob Hope |
Audience Member |
"Kane" opening night in LA sells out, luminaries who attend include Bob Hope, John Barrymore, Gloria Swanson, King Vidor, Busby Berkeley, Mickey Rooney, Olivia De Havilland, Charles Laughton and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. |
El Capitan Theatre |
Los Angeles |
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| 1941/05/08 |
RKO Pictures |
Studio |
"Kane" opening night in LA sells out, luminaries who attend include Bob Hope, John Barrymore, Gloria Swanson, King Vidor, Busby Berkeley, Mickey Rooney, Olivia De Havilland, Charles Laughton and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. |
El Capitan Theatre |
Los Angeles |
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| 1941/05/08 |
King Vidor |
Audience Member |
"Kane" opening night in LA sells out, luminaries who attend include Bob Hope, John Barrymore, Gloria Swanson, King Vidor, Busby Berkeley, Mickey Rooney, Olivia De Havilland, Charles Laughton and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. |
El Capitan Theatre |
Los Angeles |
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| 1941/05/08 |
Busby Berkeley |
Audience Member |
"Kane" opening night in LA sells out, luminaries who attend include Bob Hope, John Barrymore, Gloria Swanson, King Vidor, Busby Berkeley, Mickey Rooney, Olivia De Havilland, Charles Laughton and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. |
El Capitan Theatre |
Los Angeles |
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| 1941/05/08 |
Orson Welles |
Actor, Director, Producer |
Orson Welles' 'Citizen Kane' opens at El Capitan in Los Angeles. "I'm usually criticized for talking too much, but right now I hardly know what to say. If it had not been for George J Schaefer, there would not be a Citizen Kane. |
El Capitan Theatre |
Los Angeles |
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| 1941/05/28 |
Orson Welles |
Health |
Orson Welles is classified 1-B by the draft board, due to bronchial asthma. |
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| 1941/10/16 |
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Hearst-owned Herald-Express and Examiner carry ads that only stated: Starts Tomorrow. Big Screen Attraction! See it from the beginning. Hawaii Theatre (5941 Hollywood Blvd, LA, has been gutted). The movie title, studio and director are not mentioned. |
Examiner Building |
Los Angeles |
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| 1941/10/29 |
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Daily Variety reports on the LA boxoffice: Fantasia ran for 32 weeks at the Carthay Circle (razed), bringing in a total $264,000. Citizen Kane played at the El Capitan, taking in a haul of $36,500. |
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| 1942/02/26 |
Orson Welles |
Screenwriter |
Nominated for nine Oscars, "Citizen Kane" by Orson Welles and Herman Mankiewicz wins the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. |
Millennium Biltmore Hotel |
Los Angeles |
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| 1942/02/26 |
Herman J Mankiewicz |
Screenwriter |
Nominated for nine Oscars, "Citizen Kane" by Orson Welles and Herman Mankiewicz wins the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. |
Millennium Biltmore Hotel |
Los Angeles |
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