On this day, May 1, 1941, "Citizen Kane" opened, but only at the RKO Palace Theatre on Broadway.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

🎬 ‘Citizen Kane’ starring Orson Welles premiered 82 years ago, May 1, 1941

Link to tweet

Citizen Kane


Theatrical release poster (Style B) by William Rose

Release dates:
May 1, 1941 (Palace Theatre)
September 5, 1941 (United States)

{snip}

Release


Theatrical release poster (Style A)

Radio City Music Hall's management refused to screen Citizen Kane for its premiere. A possible factor was {Gossip columnist Louella Parsons's} threat that The American Weekly would run a defamatory story on the grandfather of major RKO stockholder Nelson Rockefeller.  Other exhibitors feared being sued for libel by Hearst and refused to show the film.  In March Welles threatened the RKO board of governors with a lawsuit if they did not release the film. Schaefer stood by Welles and opposed the board of governors. When RKO still delayed the film's release Welles offered to buy the film for $1 million and the studio finally agreed to release the film on May 1.

Schaefer managed to book a few theaters willing to show the film. Hearst papers refused to accept advertising. RKO's publicity advertisements for the film erroneously promoted it as a love story.

Kane opened at the RKO Palace Theatre on Broadway in New York on May 1, 1941, in Chicago on May 6, and in Los Angeles on May 8.  Welles said that at the Chicago premiere that he attended the theater was almost empty.

{snip}

Wed May 3, 2023: On May 1, 1941, "Citizen Kane" opened.