Citizen Kane

Historical Themes “Rags to Riches” “American Dream” Entrepreneurship Early 20 th Century America: Gilded Age to Great Depression Power of the Press

Cornelius Vanderbilt 1869 purchased and merged three short New York railroads to form New York Central 1871 began building Grand Central Terminal in NYC At time of his death worth an estimated $100 million

John D. Rockefeller 1870 founded Standard Oil company: Today Exxon Mobile Ran this as a Monopoly Owned 90% of oil refining business by the end of his career First American Billionaire

Andrew Carnegie Scottish Immigrant came to America at the age of Twelve Started out cleaning bobbins in a factory for $1.20/week Sold Steel company to J.P. Morgan for $480 million.

Yellow Journalism Appealed and fed on public’s appetite for violence and sensationalism Goal: SELL PAPERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”-Hearst to reporter in Cuba during revolution in 1898

The Hearst Empire Owned nationwide chain of papers in Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta…… Family today worth $35 billion 168,000 acre San Simeon in California "San Simeon was the place God would have built--if he had the money.” –George Bernard Shaw

Historical Liberties/Omissions Kane is a “fictional” character Different childhoods: Hearst born to multi-millionaire family and inherited Examiner Portrayal of wives Kane not in Congress Hearst HATED this film and tried to stop it by any means necessary!