Happy Birthday, Orson Welles - Photos of teenage Welles at Todd School

While his influence was felt in a number of performance mediums, Orson Welles's lasting legacy is anchored by his work in film. In his mid-20s he co-wrote, directed, starred in, and produced his debut motion picture Citizen Kane, a groundbreaking work that continues to inform cinema 75 years later.

Welles (left) on the stage of Rogers Hall, Todd School For Boys, late 1920s.  -- Courtesy of the Woodstock Public Library

Welles (left) on the stage of Rogers Hall, Todd School For Boys, late 1920s.  

Courtesy of the Woodstock Public Library

Welles began growing his considerable creative talents at the Todd Seminary for Boys in Woodstock, Illinois, where he was able to study and practice theater and radio broadcasting. To celebrate the birthday of one of America's most renowned auteurs, here are a couple rare photos of a young Orson Welles at Todd that appeared in the book McHenry County Memories (additional information below).

Todd School For Boys Headmaster Roger Hill with students, including Orson Welles (far side of table with fist on chin), Woodstock, circa 1931. -- Courtesy of the Woodstock Public Library

Todd School For Boys Headmaster Roger Hill with students, including Orson Welles (far side of table with fist on chin), Woodstock, circa 1931.

Courtesy of the Woodstock Public Library

McHenry County Memories: The Early Years - 1800s - 1939 Cover
Northwest Herald presents McHenry County Memories: The Early Years - 1800s - 1939

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