Welles Oscar for sale - Christies to auction July 25th

[ToddBaesen]

I'd say based on Beatrice's past activities, that at the very least she will be sharing in whatever profits the 1942 Oscar gets at auction, and Beatrice has very wisely decided to shield herself from whatever negative media might come her way, by claiming that 100 % of the profits will go to a supposed non-profit organization. Sounds like a lot of bullshit to me, and it will be interesting to see what kind of media follow-up there will be once the Oscar is sold in December.

If it goes for $1 million or more, will there be a administrative fee of 40% or higher to cover the Dax foundations costs? If so, we can assume a large % of that would be going to Beatrice. She really seems to be way to much of a gold digger to have foolishly given over the Oscar without maintaining a interest in whatever it finally nets at auction.

And, as can clearly be seen in the highly inaccurate statements Beatrice made in her LA Times article, posted above, she really has no compunctions about distorting the facts to suit her own needs and views, and in fact, in telling outright lies.

Finally, if as Christopher posted, she really did turn her back on her sister Rebecca Welles in her hour of dire financial need, it sounds like she is exactly the kind of person that her father, Orson Welles would truly despise. Apparently she'd rather spend her money (if this can be believed) on assisting animals than in helping her own half-sister!

[Glenn Anders]

In the week that saw the DVD release of THE HOAX, a fictionalized film account of Clifford Irving's Howard Hughes autobiography fraud (at the time of the making of F FOR FAKE), it may be fitting in the name of caution to wonder further about the upcoming auction of Orson Welles' Oscar. Reliable correspondent that you are, Christopher, you raise more pertinent questions than the main stream media or the trades have bothered to.

For one thing, as you reasonably suggest, if the DAX Foundation received (purchased?) the Oscar from Beatrice Welles in 2003, after she sued Gary Graver and Southby's to prevent its auction in 1994, how is the Oscar at auction now, when the DAX Foundation did not come into existence until 2007?

What is the DAX Foundation? you ask. And if not Gregory Arkadin, who is "Mr. DAX"?

Well, the rather elaborate and flowing DAX Foundation website tells us with considerable hyperbole, and some very careful legalese, that the Foundation is into doing all kinds of good things for orphans, sick people, thirsty Africans, victims of Global Warming, broken down race horses, stray cats, and other needy creatures.

The website shows us a dark-haired man in a green silk suit, standing with his back to us. Alternatively, a Howard Hughes/Charles Foster Kane-like figure of a man in a wheel chair (attendant behind him), perched on the mesa of a cliff, is silhouetted against what looks like a tropical sea at sunset. The copy tells us that Mr. DAX was born and raised in the United States, but spent most of his life in Europe and Asia, presumably as some sort of tycoon. He has devoted the last 30 years, having returned from Macau or wherever, to quiet private philanthropy. Only in 2007, did he form the foundation which bears his name (or nom de guerre), and apply for 301 code status as a non-profit enterprise.

"All men dream: but not equally," DAX likes to say, quoting T.E. Laurence "Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams out in cold daylight."

If so, "The dark" to paraphrase Christopher Isherwood, "may be light enough."

For instance, almost the only accomplishment of the Foundation, aside from a vague reference to a speech on Global Warming, seems to be the procuring of the Welles' Oscar for sale. Every other enterprise or initiative listed by the Foundation either appears not to exist, is in the process of becoming, or makes no reference to participation by the DAX Foundation.

The Mayfair Foundation -- Said to be under construction by DAX to aid
disabled children in Southern California. No
other information available.

Over a Barrel -- Said to someday care for old lions, tigers, etc.
DAX tells us that it has purchased 120 acres
in the Lucerne Valley of Southern California.

Organs r' Us -- Founded in the San Francisco's Bay Area in
1997 to assist people in need of organ
transplants. Sponsors runners in the Bay-to-
Breakers. Has spread nationally, but lists no
affiliation with the DAX Foundation.

The Artesian African
Water Project -- Intends to provide drilling rigs to poor African
nations for water and irrigation. Not up and
running yet. Foundation promises 500
platform rigs over the life of the program. No
other information available.

Tanango Racing Horse
Rehabilitation Facility -- In the process of building stables. No other
information available.

Maui Cat Program -- Proposes to aid feral cats. No other
information available.

I could find no specific biography linking a David Weisman to the DAX Foundation. A Randy Shapiro was listed as a contact, with a Santa Monica area phone code given. Conditions are laid down for approaching the Foundation, rather like those that governed inquiries of the Thatcher Memorial Library.

It would seem inconceivable, having once been burned, that Southby's would not have carefully vetted the DAX Foundation, but if so, the charity certainly carries out its good works quietly.

Perhaps sharper minds than mine can gather more accurate information for you, Christopher. Thank you for stimulating a little detective work. We may find the need of "a little target practice," as I liked to say, when I was taking the Lady from Shanghai on the town.

Glenn

[ToddBaesen]

Dax is now selling Orson Welles Oscar to raise awareness about the power and personal satisfaction that can come from following one’s own heart. Dax hopes that the shining example of perseverance and personal commitment set by Orson Welles will serve as a catalyst that will inspire people around the world to pursue their own dreams and help make the world a better place. All of the proceeds of the Oscar sale will be used by the Dax Foundation to fund a range of important charitable programs and help enable others to pursue their individual passions to create their own objective works of excellence.

And what better person to pursue and share in that excellence than Beatrice Welles, the gifted humanatarian daughter of Orson Welles. After all, the primary mission of the Dax Foundation is to identify and assist key individuals and groups who have a vision and commitment to improve the lives of people and animals around the world.

Beatrice Welles has amply demonstrated her lovingly humanity by providing shelter for feral cats. Incidentally, Ms. Welles did hope to provide funds for her half sister, Rebecca Welles before she passed away, but was undergoing bankruptcy procedings at the time, so she naturally could not afford to contribute to Rebecca's care.

However, the Dax Foundation provides the necessary tools, resources and support to enable people in need, such as Beatrice, with innovative ideas and solutions to make a real difference in their lives. Dax only regrets we could not come to the aid of Beatrice when she and her half sister Rebecca were in such financial need, but we just recently got wind of the Oscar. With the promise of nearly $1 million in humanitarian funds we will get from the sale of the Welles Oscar, we now feel confident we will be able to begin our important work, based upon the belief that by allowing people to step back for a moment from the distractions of their daily life, they can reassess what really matters to them and that our world can be a far better place.

[Christopher]

Just for the record, Beatrice has been pleading poverty, lack of funds, threats from the IRS for Orson Welles's back taxes, threats of bankruptcy proceedings, and so on, ever since her father's death. In May of 2003, she claimed that she was putting up the Oscar for auction because she had no other alternative "to get out of debt." In the same breath, she admitted that the Orson Welles Estate had been supporting her for the past eighteen years -- this despite her frequent claims that there were "no funds" in the Estate -- but that all of a sudden, she had been without income for the past 19 months and was thus in "the terrible position" of having to sell the Oscar.

I leave it to you to surmise from all the available evidence whether or not Beatrice's claims that she is in no position to help anyone financially, including her dying half-sister Rebecca, should be believed.