Orson Welles’ Commercial Break

Orson Welles’ time as the spokesman for Paul Masson wines is commonly seen as a low-point in a once-great career: the writer, director, and star of Citizen Kane reduced to shilling for a budget wine brand. These and other Welles-starring commercials became equally derided and parodied. Leaked outtakes from a Paul Masson Champagne commercial and the infamous “frozen peas” tape became widespread, further blemishing Welles’ reputation.Yet these commercials not only afforded Welles stability but allowed him to use his own funds to finance his own personal plays and films in a time when no studio would. Many people made their careers working with Welles on these commercials, some of whom still work in the 21st century.Orson Welles’ Commercial Break illuminates the history of Welles’ commercials from the thirties to the eighties, putting them into the greater context of his career. Welles’ commercials may be the most misunderstood facet of his career, but they are not the nadir as so often portrayed.This book also features interviews from people who worked with Welles on these commercials (many never previously interviewed before) along with many never-before-published pictures from these commercial productions.Cover art by Don SimpsonRobert Kroll is a teacher at various schools and prisons throughout Michigan. He has written articles for Wellesnet.com, Bronze Knuckles, and The Shadowed Circle. Kroll also contributed a story to Megaton Man: Multimensions in collaboration with Don Simpson. In 2017 he self-published The Study Guide to the Lives of Harry Lime, an overview of the prequel radio series spun off from The Third Man. He is currently working on a book about George W. Trendle, co-creator of The Lone Ranger and Green Hornet. Read more