Mr. Roberts a.k.a Mister Roberts the Movie
Thomas Heggen writes 1948 Play, 1955 Movie, 1965 TV Series & more
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Written by Kris Land
Thomas Heggen: The Pen that Started It All
Thomas Heggen was the author who created the original story behind Mister Roberts. Little did 
Heggen realize just how strong his influence on the popularity of the U.S.S. New Bedford would be, even decades later. The original story was based on Heggens personal experiences aboard the U.S.S. Virgo and U.S.S. Rotanin during World War II. Stationed in the South Pacific, Heggen turned this period in his life into a series of short stories that would grow into something much, much larger.
Early Life of Thomas Heggen
Heggen was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on December 23rd, 1919. His parents gave him the name Orlo Thomas Heggen. He spent his childhood primarily in Minnesota and Oklahoma. His early years were not terribly remarkable. He went on to attend classes at the University of Minnesota. It is here that his writing career began in 1937. He worked on a literary apprenticeship with the Minnesota Daily and campus humor magazine, Ski-U-Mah. He was a devoted writer, in fact more devoted to his apprenticeship than to his other academics. Heggen graduated in 1941 with a bachelors degree. Soon after graduating, he obtained a job as a member of the Readers Digest editorial staff.
Written by Kris Land
The year is 1955.
Rebel Without a Cause, To Catch a Thief and Marty were hitting the silver screen. But the runaway 
movie of the year was the inimitable film, Mr. Roberts. This comic drama of life on a US supply ship during World War II made movie-making history.
The lead, Mr. Roberts, was played by Henry Fonda. He was not the studios first choice. The role was offered to Marlon Brando and William Holden who both refused. Fonda led a cast of all stars including James Cagney as Captain Morton, William Powell as Lt. Doc, and the scene-stealing Jack Lemmon as Ensign Pulver. The film, now a classic, featured winning performances by some of the biggest names on the screen.
Written by Kris Land
Henry Fonda: A Shining Light in the History of Mister Roberts
Henry Fonda was another shining light in the time line of Mister Roberts. His history with the story
began earlier than the film, starting with the Broadway production. After being asked to star in the play, Fonda actually dropped out of a Hollywood film contract so that he could take on the role. His performance in the Broadway version earned Fonda a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. Fonda was a widely popular actor who helped bring to life Thomas Heggen's original novel.
Early Life of Henry Fonda
Born in Grand Island, Nebraska, Fonda was introduced to the world on May 16th, 1905. He was brought up in a Christian Scientist household, even though he was officially baptized Episcopalian. The family was very close knit and avoided medical practitioners because of their religious beliefs. As a young boy, Fonda was shy and generally avoided girls. He began working part time in his father's printing plant but was hoping to take on a career as a journalist.
Written by Kris Land
James Cagney: The Life of Captain James Morton
James Cagney is one of the most popular American actors in film history. The American Film Institute
placed him as eighth in a list of the greatest male stars of all time, which was compiled in 1999. Even decades after his death, Cagney is still receiving recognition for his acting talent. His first role was very different from his portrayal of Captain James Morton in the film Mister Roberts (1955). He wore a dress and performed as a female dancer in a chorus line for Every Sailor, a 1919 revue.
Early Life of James Cagney
Cagney was brought into the world on July 17th, 1899. His mother gave birth on the Lower East Side of Manhattan; however there is disagreement about exactly where. Some claim Cagney was actually born on the corner of Avenue D and 8th Street while others say it was in a top floor apartment at 391 East 8th Street. His father was a bartender and amateur boxer. Cagneys family moved twice during his earliest years. The family included seven children (Cagney was the second). Sadly, two of Cagneys siblings passed away only months after their birth. Even Cagney was a sickly child. His mother feared he would pass away before being baptized.
Written by Kris Land
Jack Lemmon: The Face of Ensign Frank Thurlowe Pulver
Jack Lemmon was an actor with a lengthy filmography including over sixty films. Lemmon was a 
likeable actor that was noted as being equally likeable off screen as well. His talent was lent to famous films including The Apartment (1960), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Odd Couple (1968), Out to Sea (1997), Grumpy Old Men (1993), and many others. He appeared in the widely acclaimed film Mister Roberts (1955) which earned him a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award.
A Young Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon was born John Uhler Lemmon III on February 8th, 1925. He was delivered inside an elevator in the Newton-Wellesley Hospital located in Newton, Massachusetts. He was an only child and his father was president of a company that produced doughnuts. Lemmon was enrolled at John Ward Elementary School and later the Rivers School. Lemmon claimed that he knew he wanted to take on an acting career by the age of eight.
Breaking News
Going to a car wash is a lot more water efficient then washing your car at home.
1944: Camano Class Light Cargo Ship was laid down for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, NY.
1945: Delivered to US Army.
1950: Acquired by the US Navy on July 1, 1950 and placed in service as USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1954: The movie, Mister Roberts, was made on the USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1955 - 1963: Used as a cargo supply ship for the Texas Towers, a network of advanced radar stations located off the Eastern Seaboard. In 1957, Capt. Sixto Mangual was commander of the AKL-17 and in 1961 it was rechristened the USNS New Bedford. The New Bedford, sailing out of State Pier, was keeping vigil when Texas Tower No. 4 callapsed off the New Jersey coast during a January 1961 nor'easter.
1963: Reclassified as Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-308).
1971: The New Bedford (IX-308) served as a Torpedo Test Firing Vessel in the Puget Sound area.
1994: Ceremony in New Bedford.
1995: The ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 4.
2004: The Sea Bird's current disposition is a tuna long liner (fishing boat) out of San Diego, CA.
2006: Design of the Tesla Turbine began on June 11, 2006. The Sea Bird was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for commercial service.
2007: The Sea Bird was drydocked for renovations.
2008: The Sea Bird setting sail to Sea-Tac in Seattle, WA.
2009 - 2010: The Sea Bird is currently docked at Seattle Sea-Tac.
