Hearst, ‘Kane’ and Media

Your review of the PBS production “The Battle Over Citizen Kane” (“The Tale of Two ‘Citizens,’ ” Jan. 29) brings back memories of my own involvement with the release of the film “Citizen Kane.”

In 1941 I was a publicist for RKO, producer and distributor of the film. Not only did the Hearst newspapers refuse publicity releases and art, [they] would accept no advertising on the film. In other words, RKO was “locked out.”

But even more severe were Hearst’s threats to sue any newspapers for the slightest intimation of a relationship between the publisher and his film character.

Many non-Hearst newspapers were so apprehensive of legal harassment they were fearful of accepting and/or using press materials on the film.

“Is this the story of Hearst or not?” I was asked by many editors. The legal department of RKO finally gave me a phrase that was “safe.” “This is not the story of William Randolph Hearst; however, if men like Hearst had not lived, this story could not be told.”

WILLIAM M. SHOLL

North Hollywood