Papers of MGM Executive Eddie O Connor, Doyen of Far East Motion Picture Distributors (1919-1957)

O CONNOR, Edward F.

Published by (Japan; China; Indochina; Cuba), 1957

An archive of over 100 letters and well over 200 photographs belonging to Edward "Eddie" Francis O Connor, a World War II U.S. Navy Commander and a leading MGM executive who, spanning a 30-year period from 1926 through 1957, opened and managed MGM Studio headquarters and offices in Japan, China, India, Indochina, and later in Cuba. Throughout his long and distinguished career, O Connor maintained close working and personal friendships with theater magnate Arthur Loew (who created MGM), American film director Clarence Brown (MGM s leading director), and Jean Marie Faircloth (Douglas MacArthur s famous wife), whom O Connor first met at the "American Mess" in Singapore. Among the photographs are numerous images of O'Connor with famous actors and actresses, including Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Spencer Tracy, Machiko Ky?, Marlon Brando, and Glenn Ford (to name but a few); and prominent political leaders and dignitaries, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Crown Prince Akihito (later Emperor of Japan). Born in Massachusetts in 1897, O Connor first served as a super cargo (overseer) for the U.S. Shipping Board in the Far East, and later as an agent for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company based in Hong Kong. In 1926 he went to Japan to head the distribution of American motion pictures for First National Pictures (predecessor to Warners). Two years later he met Arthur Loew and joined MGM, and was sent to India to open MGM headquarters in Bombay and offices in Calcutta and Delhi. This annual pattern of continual travel (mostly throughout the Far East) with about two months each year at MGM s New York offices and occasional trips to MGM s Hollywood headquarters, continued throughout O Connor s career. He was sent back to Japan in 1929, and from 1930-33 he headed the MGM office in Shanghai, China: "We had a lot of trouble in Shanghai in those thrilling days … we had two stirring invasions … one was by Chinese warlords from the North and the second and most serious was when the Japanese bombed the North Station in Shanghai and took over Kangwon." From 1933-37 he managed MGM operations in Malaya, Indonesia, Siam and Indochina (with headquarters in Singapore), and then went back briefly to Japan to take over operations in Japan and Manchuria: "This was about the time the Japanese were getting cantankerous. Twelve of us, were given rough treatment, and I left Japan and went over to Shanghai." After he was expelled from Japan, he went to his new post in Havana, Cuba: "Lived and loved Cuba and the Cubanos until Day of Pearl Harbor." O Connor immediately went into service as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and was assigned as Assistant Naval Attache at the American Embassy in Havana. Accordingly, his first two years of war service were in the Caribbean, until being transferred to the China-India-Burma Theatre in 1944, where he was promoted to Commander. After the war O Connor rejoined MGM as supervisor for the Far East until 1950 when he received permission from General MacArthur to reopen MGM operations in occupied Japan. He remained in Japan until 1956, where he returned to Havana. The collection consists of well over 200 black and white photographs, most of which were taken in Japan and Indochina before and after World War II, and including about 20 photographs taken in Cuba from the late 1930s through early 1940s. Among the over 100 letters in the collection, most were written by O Connor to this family in Clinton, Massachusetts. Also included are Asian film magazines, MGM promotional ephemera, newspaper and magazine clippings, and a few of O Conner s personal documents. Scattered short tears and associated creasing to the edges of some photographs and magazines, else most items in the archive are near fine or better. Among the collection s highlights are numerous photographs of O Connor meeting with MGM stars and other leading actors and actresses. There are also several notable photographs of O Connor conducting Japanese Crown Prince Akihit. Seller Inventory # 422171

Bibliographic Details

Title: Papers of MGM Executive Eddie O Connor, ...
Publisher: (Japan; China; Indochina; Cuba)
Publication Date: 1957
Condition: Very Good