The Proud State of Connecticut, First in Historical Revisionism!

 

 

The State of Connecticut, not to be outdone, has redesigned their license plate, commemorating their aviation and aerospace industry. 

Connecticut's New License Plate.

  

The Wright Brothers were first in manned powered flight. Ohio (specifically Dayton Ohio) makes claim as the Birthplace of Aviation. North Carolina makes claim as the First in Flight. The Wright's aeroplane was designed in Dayton, tested in North Carolina, and eventually mechanically flown there in December of 1903. It was then perfected in Dayton in 1904 and 1905. These historical facts are based on one of the most thoroughly documented inventive processes in the history of the world. Records of engineering calculations, personal diaries, letters of correspondence, fantastic exhaustive photographic records, artifacts, and eye witness accounts of many outstanding reliable citizens attest to the truth and accuracy of the timing and character of the events.  Photographic evidence of the flight, "the first in the history of the world in which a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight, had sailed forward without reduction of speed, and had finally landed at a point as high as that from which it started" shows Orville flying with Wilbur running along side. The flight was repeated, four flights total, in front of reliable witnesses, and a telegraph indicating success was sent home that afternoon. Newspapers carried the story the next day, December 18, 1903. 

In spite of the above historical truth, and in spite of knowing the claims of Ohio as birthplace of aviation, and North Carolina as first in flight, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed into law a measure stating that Gustave Whitehead (a former Connecticut resident) flew in 1901, two years before Wilbur and Orville Wright. "The Governor shall proclaim a date certain in each year as Powered Flight Day to honor the first powered flight by Gustave Whitehead and to commemorate the Connecticut aviation and aerospace industry", House Bill No. 6671, passed into law as Public Act no. 13-210, June 25, 2013. Evidence provided by Governor Malloy to show the Wright Brothers do not deserve the title of First in Flight is presented in the following post:

 

Connecticut, You Have Gustave Be Kidding Me!

 

 

More amazing evidence has been unearthed by the Connecticut State Legislature, as provided in this newly surfaced sketch of the Wright Brothers. Using X-ray analysis of the underlying layers of graphite used to draw Wilbur's odd face with big ears, Wilbur's true identity was revealed.........

 

When interviewed by the Connecticut State Legislature, Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Picard in the Star Trek Next Generation series had little to say about the recent discovery, but would not deny that the Ferengi species may not be entirely fictional. Actually, he just looked at the interviewer oddly. When asked if he believed Wilbur Wright had ancestral roots originating back to that alien planet, therefore disqualifying him and his brother Orville to claims of First in Flight, since they obviously cheated using Ferengi wing warping technology,  Patrick again, didn't answer the question.........

More research is required. 

 

 

 

Copyright 2025-Getting the Story Wright

 

 

Orville, writing to Fred L. Black of The Edison Institute, Dearborn, Michigan, in a letter dated October 19, 1937- 

"Dear Mr. Black:

I have not seen the book "Lost Flights of Gustave Whitehead", but I did see the story on the same subject printed in "Popular Aviation" of January, 1935, and signed by Stella Randolf and Harvey Phillips.  

I have learned through a friend in Washington that Miss Randolph works in a doctor's office in Washington; that she has no particular interest in aviation; that the Harvey Phillips whom she had not know before, induced her to collaborate with him in the preparation of the story.

I suspect that, could it be traced, the idea for the book would be found to have originated in the mind of  A. F. Zahm, of whom you already know. He has been quite active in this matter, as I have learned from several sources. 

The book is interesting in showing how easy it is, after an interval of 35 years, to get affidavits on matters which are utterly false. Neither Wilbur nor I ever were in Bridgeport until 1909, and then only in passing through on the train. 

I believe I told you of the statements of eye-witnesses secured by A. V. Roe to establish his claim to having been the first Englishman to fly. Unfortunately for Roe I had in my possession letters written by himself at the time that proved the statements of his witnesses false. Moore-Brabazom told me that he would have been helpless in refuting these statements, produced twenty-five years after the event, excepting for the evidence which I was able to furnish. 

In the case of Whitehead the design of the machine is in itself enough to refute the statements that the machine flew. 

Have you seen the article in the N.A.A. Magazine of December, 1936, by Professor John B. Crane, who made some investigation of the Randolph story and interviewed some of the alleged eye-witnesses?

I am hoping to get my work here cleared up enough before long so that I can make the postponed visit to Greenfield Village. 

Thanking you for the photostats of the affidavits in Stella Randolph's book, I am

Sincerely yours, 

Orville Wright 

 

Orville Wright- The Art Critic

 Updated August 17, 2025

 

Orville Wright had an appreciation of the arts, but modern art.......not so much. From "Wright Reminiscences", compiled by Ivonette Wright Miller, 1978, Milton Wright Jr., Grand nephew of Orville Wright, is quoted "The most unique contribution I can add to reminiscences of Uncle Orv are letters he wrote kidding me about modern art." Orville, at the age of 73,  really shows his sense of humor in this letter.

July 31, 1945, Orville wrote-
Dear Trotz:

I have just come upon this exquisite piece of modern art--"Woman on the Beach"--which I feel sure you can appreciate, but which, without my sending it, you may not happen to see.

When I gaze upon it my admiration nearly puts me in a swoon. Such poetry-- fundamentally ardent, yet so familiar: Its furtive charm and spirit pervade the entire canvas to its remotest corners. Profundity issuing from every pore is represented with bold broad strokes and somber colors. Abysmal silence vies with chaotic clamor. 

The woman's head, as stated in the caption, is seen, though evanescent, in the upper left hand corner. What joy, what happiness, what pain and what despair is pictured there. The artist's endeavor to efface himself is intriguing, and almost successful, for only one foot is seen protruding from her mouth. The German bulge, portrayed in the foreground, proves the master hand of the artist by clearly showing an American victory.  

In treating a subject so beautiful, I should shun vulgar expressions, but facts are facts, and Whats His Name has knocked Picasso's eye out. You can actually see the eye just above "upper left hand" in the caption.

This picture is a gem of the ages. Rubens, Van Dyke, da Vinci, Velasquez, Raphael, nor Rembrandt ever painted anything that can be compared to it. Even Picasso and Gaugin will have to look to their laurels. (I am sorry that I failed to keep the name of this scintillating  genius, but his name will still live when Rembrandt and his passe tribe have gone down to oblivion; so I shall continue to call him "Whats his Name".) The paintings of Rembrandt and his ilk are good only when viewed from one direction, while Whats his Name's "Woman on the Beach" is equally good whatever the direction of view--upside down, sidewise, diagonally, or even better still when seen from the back side of the canvas. What genius!

While soaring in the atmosphere of this modern art I was so filled with ecstatic bliss I felt dizzy, but now I am down to earth again. My head still spins-- things go round and round. I wonder is it modern art or is it indigestion-- the two are so much alike.

Well, now you can't say again that your Uncle Orv doesn't say anything when he sends you these beautiful reproductions of modern art!

How's Trotz?

Affectionately, Uncle Orv.

"Woman on the Beach" print sent to Grand nephew Milton Wright by his Uncle Orville, July 31, 1945.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Orville expressed his thoughts well concerning Modern "Art", and I am right there with him on this subject. I am curious what his opinion might have been on the following examples of art work depicting himself and his brother Wilbur.

 

This collector plate has Orville Wright's name spelled correctly, but I'm not sure who the person pictured is supposed to be.....perhaps some neighbor friend of Orville's? 

 

Orville Wright collector plate with a likeness of some guy who lived down the street from Orville.

Wilbur's likeness isn't much better. But at least certain details are correct. Wilbur was losing his hair, but not sure about the Vulcan ears.

Wilbur Wright collector plate that sort of looks like Wilbur a little bit, maybe.

 

 

 

Wilbur Wright after a hair transplant? So, I'm guessing the artist never met Wilbur, and never saw a photograph of Wilbur, and so perhaps had a friend pose for the picture who maybe talked to someone who knew someone who once saw Wilbur from a distance, in the dark?

Wilbur Wright after several applications of Rogaine.

 

 

 

Next, take the artwork above, mirror image him, and remove any remaining slight facial resemblance of Wilbur, and I guess you have a close up of one of those guys pointing up to the thing that looks like a box kite.

Some random guy on a card for Rich's coffee.

Orville looks pretty good here, but not so sure about Wilbur's comb over.

 

 

When it was time to design the 1961 Ohio State Seal Wright Brothers medal, Wilbur couldn't be located, so Peter Boyle sat in for the design.  

  

Peter Boyle and Orville Wright, first in flight.

 

 

 

 

From The Dayton Collection, Plate No. 1, The Wright Brothers, by First Federal, dating to 1973. Orville had a prior engagement, so they had Alex Trebeck stand in for the artist. 

 

 

Alex Trebeck, first in flight per First Federal and State of Connecticut.

 

 

 

 

From a very early pilot show of Faulty Towers (long lost until now), Putin guest starred with John Cleese, the two flying a biplane into Argentina territory to rescue a long lost relative of Basil's employee, Manuel of Barcelona (Andrew Sachs). Manuel's relative left Spain years prior and settled somewhere in Argentina. Manuel's challenges with the English language and slap stick comedy resulted in the mistaken impression by the locals that Vlad and Basil were actually the Wrigth Brothers,  resulting in the following collectable:

From 1966 Crack Campeon Argentina Cards, Vladimir Putin as Wilbur, and Basil (John Cleese) as Orville Wrigth. The Wrigth Brothers, Vlad and Basil, first in flight. 

This next one shows Wilbur perhaps recovering from wisdom tooth extraction surgery?

Wilbur Wright after wisdom tooth extraction surgery gone bad.

 

 

Then there's the Angry Wilbur.....

Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry..........

This pair of stamps shows Orville Wright on the lower stamp, but I have no idea who the other guy is supposed to be. 

 

The Lang Gang, Inc., in 1998 produced "The Game of Famous Faces" with a series of cards. Unknown to many, Orville in later life acted on the popular 1960's show "The Adams Family".

Gomez (John Astin) of the Adams Family, first in flight according to The Lang Gang Inc, and the State of Connecticut.

Then there are the Gangster Wrights, one of my favorites......

You talkin' to me? Hey Will, I tink da guy is talkin' to me.......

 

 

 

Speaking of gangsters, Wilbur Wright looks more like James Cagney than Wilbur in this Editorial Ferma 1967 card. From Kitty Hawk, December 17, 1903, remembering his mother Susan, Cagney Wright yelled out during his 852 ft flight, "Made it Ma! Top of the World!"

 

James Cagney, first in flight according to Editorial Ferma and State of Connecticut.

 

 

Ok, so I guess Wilbur changed his face and his name to Hunter Wright, or H. Wright per this next card, and began flying Farman aeroplanes. Only on the X-files.........

Mulder and Scully investigate time travel event by Brian Thompson (Bounty Hunter) of X-files, who goes back in time to 1908, abducts Wilbur, takes his place, and flies Farman's aeroplane. The evil plot was financed by Governor of State of Connecticut in retaliation to Mulder and Scully's findings that proved Gustave Whitehead was actually Big Foot in disguise.

 

For clear evidence of the Big Foot / Gustave Whitehead connection, see my post:

Connecticut, You Have Gustave Be Kidding Me! 

More from the X-files, Chocolates Amatlle from the heart of Barcelona, apparently had Mitch Pileggi (who played Walter Skinner on the X-files) also go back in time to pose as the older Wright Brother on this collector card below, from the 1920 Hombres Eminentes card series. And then for good measure, they added a mono-plane that had nothing to do with Wilbur Wright. 

According to Chocolates Amatller, and State of Connecticut.

The next artist rendition is interesting. Orville looks like he's about to sneeze, and both Orville and Wilbur have those scary eyes.....maybe from not wearing goggles when they flew?

Ahhhhh- Shhoooooo! God bless you Orv. This hay fever is really bad in the Miami Valley.

Not sure why the following pair of stamps was issued. The stamp on the left appears to be Wilbur Wright, and maybe the guy on the right is the artist who created the stamp on the left?? I'm not sure.

Wilbur Wright died in 1912 at the age of 45. Apparently the next artist was unaware of this, and thought Wilbur lived into his 60's.......

Wilbur Wright's Golden Buckeye Card

 

 

What is really confusing though.....if you're going to issue a commemorative coin to honor the Wright Brothers, wouldn't it make sense to actually provide an image of the Brothers on the coin, in lieu of these two guys? 

Commemorative Coin in honor of Kurtwood Smith and Dennis Weaver.

 

This next one by Clevenger Brothers Glass Amethyst- Apparently Orville grew a beard, and Wilbur's either eating a slice of lemon, or his other wisdom tooth is acting up.

 

Wright Brothers bottle commemorated by Abraham Lincoln and his Grandpa. 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes you come across a new collectable and just have to scratch your head in disbelief. So I guess just draw a guy with a mustache and call him Orville, then make him bald, but leave the mustache, and call him Wilbur. I guess Orville and Wilbur were the same person; Orville would whip off his toupee and fake mustache when he needed to appear as Wilbur, but forgot to remove the mustache occasionally. 

 

Orville Wright's superpower, the ability to transform into Wilbur Wright.

 

 

  

As long as it has now been established that Wilbur also wore a mustache (even though he didn't), I guess the Brothers can now be depicted by any two guys with mustaches, as on the cover of this Children's book published in 2024.  

 

I guess as long as it's for kids, they won't know the difference?

 

 

 

This next one from Schuler's Potato Chips, with message on the back, "Man's conquest of the air started December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk. Orville Wright flew 120 feet in 12 seconds, in heavier-than-air machine built by himself and brother Wilbur." That's nice, but why is Artemus Gordon (character from 1960's Wild Wild West show), and Clint Eastwood pictured on the front instead of Orville and Wilbur Wright?

 

 

Artemus Gordon, first man to fly according to Schuler's Potato Chips, and State of Connecticut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweat shirts are available with this guy's face, and for some reason, Orville Wright's name. Wouldn't it make more sense to just have a picture of Orville Wright in lieu of one of the Kitty Hawk Life Saving crew?

More like the guy second from the left, if he trimmed his mustache. Or the Guy in the middle.......
 

Image on the left, courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives. Photo on right, courtesy of the guy second from the left who didn't want his face on a sweatshirt, so he told me to say it was the guy in the middle.

 

 

 

 

 

This Telecom Italia phone card from 2004 pictures a Wright Flyer on the right, and two random guys on the left. Maybe if you gave one a guitar, and the other an upright bass, and they performed folk songs and comedy........

 

The Smothers Brothers, first in flight according to Telecom Italia and State of Connecticut.

 

 

 

 

If you've seen "The Man With One Red Shoe", or are a fan of the series, "The Office", you might be interested in this next collectable:

In lieu of Orville and Wilbur, for some reason Dabney Coleman and Brian Baumgartner were pictured on this Celebrate the Century Cover.

 

 

 

Not many are aware that the Wright Brothers starred as zombies in the classic 1982 movie  comedy "Hysterical". You could tell who the zombies were by their bushy eyebrows and turtleneck sweaters and all they could say for the rest of their misbegotten lives was "What difference does it make". Wilbur and Orville agreed to grow the bushy eyebrows, but they wouldn't wear the turtle neck sweaters, and couldn't remember their lines, repeatedly saying "Tis makes no difference".

 

 

 

 

And for the last one, don't quit your day job.........

Just draw some guy with a mustache, and another guy losing his hair, and you're good.

Copyright 2024- Getting The Story Wright

 

For related post on Orville's grand-nephew Milton-

 

Orville Wright's grand-nephew, Milton Wright Jr.

 

 

 

For other Wright Brother Humor posts, see-

Wright Brother Humor
 Connecticut, you have Gustave be kidding me! 

What if the Wright Brothers had not experimented in flight in the early 1900's?
 
Orville Wright's Sense of Humor. 

An Alternate Time Line- The 1905 Wright Flyer III Flies Again!
 
The Nine Lives of Orville Wright. 
 
A Journey Back in Time- An Interview with Orville Wright.

Great Scott! It's Wilbur Wright Back in 1909!

Tom Hanks and The Wright Brothers Miniseries. 

The Secret Orville Wright Lab Experiments 

Index of Topics

The Secret Orville Wright Lab Experiments

Orville Wright liked to "tinker" at his Lab at 15 North Broadway, Dayton Ohio. This is what has been written of Orville's activities there, by a vast number of historians. But the truth of what really went on has been hidden away, until now......

Photographic evidence of Orville Wright using a cell phone in 1946!

Twice you have visited the Wright home "Hawthorn Hill" in Oakwood and twice you have stumbled into the basement vault only to find yourself inexplicably transported back in time; to Orville Wright's Lab building in Dayton February 1942, and later to witness Wilbur Wright's flights at Governor's Island NY during the 1909 Hudson Fulton Celebration. (For these accounts, see "A Journey Back in Time- An Interview with Orville Wright" and "Great Scott!- It's Wilbur Wright back in 1909!")

Today, you are visiting the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center at West Third and South Williams Streets in West Dayton. Leaving the Center, you head west on West Third Street to the former location of the Wright Cycle Shop. Further west, to 15 North Broadway, you reach the former location of Orville Wright's Aeronautical Lab.

15 North Broadway, Dayton, Ohio. Former location of Wright's Aeronautical Lab, now with a replica of the building facade.

Orville's Last Workshop, the sign reads "Here, in the years following Wilbur's death, Orville perfected the split-wing flap and the automatic stabilizer. In 1976, Standard Oil of Ohio knocked down the former Wright Aeronautical Laboratory to use the property to sell gasoline- a gas station that was never built." In defense of Standard Oil, they offered the building to anyone who would remove the structure for relocation, and no one stepped forward.

Walking through the building facade, you turn to read the informational sign as pictured above, when the scene before you suddenly transforms into a swirl of grass and pavement, bricks and furniture, and with a flash, you find yourself standing in the vestibule of a building. A woman enters the room, scowls at you, tells you to take a seat, that Mr. Wright would be in shortly. Gaining your senses, you realize you have once again been pulled back through time to the early 1940's, now sitting in the small waiting room of the Wright Aeronautical Lab Building!

Orville Wright enters the room. "So I see you found your way back", he said. "Interested in my work at the Lab?"
You reply, "Yes, Mr. Wright, quite interested. Though your secretary didn't seem very pleased to see me again...".
"Oh, don't concern yourself about her" Orville explains, "She treats everyone that way, even my brother Lorin. But she serves her purpose. You know how ALF's can be."
You obviously look confused, and so Orville explains further.

"ALF's, Artificial life forms"

"Artificial.......you mean your secretary is an android??", you exclaim, "Mabel Beck?!"

Orville responds "Yes, I named her after the acronyms....the Multi-fiber Android Biochemical Ethernet Lattice cable connects the logic center to the....."

"The Multi-fiber android what?", you ask dumbfounded.

"The MABEL cable....please keep up with me," Orville explains, "And unfortunately there's the BECK Effect. The Bionic Entity Crabby Kinetics Effect...the unfortunate effect of the flow of the bio-genetic fluids through the android lattice personality circuits resulting in a rather unpleasant demeanor. Probably shouldn't have used the bicycle chains in her joints; seemed like a good idea at the time."
You look at Orville in disbelief. 

He continues, "Some kid peeking in the window caught me one day adjusting her brain stem Mabel cable. Thought I was kissing her. You should have seen the shocked look on his face! He took off running down the alley. Funniest thing ever!"

"It works fairly efficiently, but just never got that personality right. No one likes her much," Orville says with a chuckle, and then leads you back to the workshop area of the building. You notice what appears to be a nice cabinet record player with various broken LP's laying about in pieces, and ask Orville about it.

Orville Wright's record changer in basement of Hawthorn Hill.

"Record changer, yes, that's what I've been telling everyone it is. It does much more than that, I'll explain one day. Actually already did, but you haven't experienced that portion of the time line yet," Orville explains.

Not able to contain your curiosity any longer, you ask Orville "I hope I'm not out of line, but I really am amazed that I'm standing here talking to you, and I haven't a clue how it is possible. You say we've talked about the record changer before, but that I haven't experienced that time line...I'm really confused." Orville nods his head, and offers you a seat on one of the crates in the Lab. At this moment, Mabel Beck enters, stares at you, looks at her watch, rolls her eyes, and exits. Orville just sighs.
Orville explains "Wilbur and I were not just working on flight. We also delved into the possibility of time travel. Attempted the first experiments at Kitty Hawk in 1911, but too many reporters showed up. They thought I was there to test our automatic stabilizer," Orville chuckles again, "The flux capacitor was mounted right there in plain site, and.....".
Your jaw drops. "I'm sorry.... but did you just say the flux capacitor???"
At that you hear a phone ring. Orville reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a cell phone. "Excuse me, I know that is rude", he says as he silences the device. "I forgot to deactivate the worm hole connecting me to a cell tower in 2023. Anyway, you were asking me something?"
"You invented the flux capacitor?" you ask, thinking he must be pulling your leg. You've read of Orville's sense of humor, and practical jokes.

Orville replies "Come now, you haven't seen the Back to the Future movies?" Orville reaches into the desk drawer, and withdrew a sheet of paper and hands it to you.

Plain as day, the flux capacitor is depicted in the center of this sketch from 1910, hand drawn by Wilbur Wright!

You can't believe your eyes as you compare the sketch on the 1910 sheet of paper to the device as depicted in the Back to the Future Movies.

The flux capacitor is real, Great Scott!

"I'm really confused now", you tell Orville, "How did your invention get into a movie trilogy from 1985...."

Orville interrupts, " Well, you're not the only one I've pulled back in time...have always been a Christopher Lloyd fan."

"Ok, right there, this is something that has also been confusing me....aren't you afraid of changing the time line, tearing the fabric of the space time continuum, creating a time paradox that will destroy the known universe...." you stumble over various scenarios.

Orville sighs again, and explains....."There is only one time line. What has been, has been. There is no changing the past."

You again look at Orville in disbelief, "Wait, but if I change an event in the past, it will alter the future....."

Orville shakes his head, "You've been watching too many Star Trek episodes. The time line is the time line. What happened, happened. If you go back to the past, it is only because you were there when the past occurred."

"Yes, but in Back to the Future II, Older Biff brings the sports magazine back in time and gives it to the younger Biff, and that changes the time line, and......" you attempt to explain.

"Those are just movies! I'm talking about reality here...."Orville interrupts.

"Ok, how about this scenario", you challenge Orville, "I travel back to 1912, January, and warn your brother not to eat shellfish. He takes my advice, doesn't eat the tainted meal, and doesn't come down with typhoid fever as a result, and therefore is alive yet today." You think you have Orville on this one.

Orville is shaking his head again, and responds, "I appreciate your concern for my brother Wilbur. But the fact remains is that you did not go to the past to warn Wilbur. If you had, he may be alive today, but he is not. The past has already occurred, and what you describe did not occur, so therefore, you will never go into the past and warn Wilbur to not eat shellfish."

You can't help but raise your voice a bit, "But if I wanted to, I could! This makes no sense!"

"Tis so", Orville replies.

"Tis not!", you respond.

Orville looks at you, and says, "I like a good scrapper. It's been a long time since I've had a good scrap".

The lab door swings open, Orville's secretary stomps in, stares at Orville, stares at you, reaches into the record changer cabinet, grabs something, and dashes out, slamming the door behind her.

"She's been acting rather odd today. Sometimes I wonder if she isn't a bit jealous of my having visitors from the future," Orville explains. 

The interior of the record cabinet, stripped of its electronics.

"But what did she just take?", you ask. 

"Oh, the flux capacitor", Orville says calmly.

"The flux capacitor?! You keep it in the record cabinet??", you asked amazed. You're standing up now, and run to the door only to find it locked. "She locked the door! She has the flux capacitor! This is bad isn't it??"

Orville shrugs, and agrees perhaps he'd better check things out. "I'll be right back", he says as he reaches into his pocket, pulls out a key to unlock the door, and exits the room. From your time perspective, he immediately returns to the room, but is dressed in different clothing, and appears a bit frantic. "Oh my, this is not good, this is not good..." he repeats.

"What's going on?", you ask as you're surprised to see Orville's mood change. 

"She traveled in time, she did some very disturbing things...." Orville says as he rushes about the Lab picking up various items and loading them into a wooden box.

"Ok, but you said that no one can change the time line, so what could she have done that was so bad?", you ask of Orville. 

"I said no one can change the time line by traveling into the past. What has been has been. I'll bet this is all because I disassembled her IBM electric typewriter. She never did forgive me for that one." Orville yells as he digs through a tool chest. 

"Ok........then....so if she can't change the past.........", you're not sure what to ask.

"She didn't go to the past....she went to the future!! The future isn't written yet, so she can do anything she wants!", Orville explains, as he runs to his office and grabs a number of worn notebooks from his desk drawer.

"And that would be......" you ask preparing for the worst.

"She activated the Beck Organic Reorganizing Gene sequencer! She must have read my notebooks.....", Orville says, as he heads for the front door.

"The Beck organic....what?", you ask of Orville as he runs down the front steps.

"The BORG sequencer!", Orville yells back, as he climbs into his Roadster, and peels away, heading east on West Third Street, leaving you standing there on North Broadway. 

Copyright 2021-Getting the Story Wright

Index of Topics

Tom Hanks and The Wright Brothers Miniseries

An early script has been obtained of some scenes from the adaptation of  David McCullough's "The Wright Brothers", providing an early preview of Tom Hanks interpretation of this latest telling of the accomplishments of these two inventors from Dayton Ohio.......

Partial Cast Listing:
Tom Hanks- Wilbur Wright
Peter Scolari- Orville Wright
Jim Belushi- Charles E.Taylor
Daryl Hannah- Katharine Wright
Harrison Ford- Harry Haskell
Eugene Levy- Octave Chanute / Walter Kornbluth
Rowan Atkinson- Samuel Langley
Gary Sinise- Glen Curtiss
Tim Allen- Bishop Wright

Early September, the year of 1900. A close up of a man's hand with pen, writing a letter. Dipping the pen into the inkwell, and inscribing a message. Stopping briefly, as he looks up and out through the living room window sees his brother Orville ride by on a bicycle.
The scene follows Orville as he rides towards the Wright Cycle Shop. Small children play about the sidewalks, horse and carriages and motor cars share the streets. Orville reaches West Third Street, but waits for cross traffic, balancing in place on his bicycle, shifting the front wheel back and forth while both feet remain on the pedals, the cycle remaining at the curb and upright. Oddly, Orville wears one red shoe, and one dress shoe. Two pedestrians nearby observe Orville's balancing, and one asks the other "Can you do that? I can't do that."(1)  We hear Wilbur's voice dictating the words as he pens a note to his father, "I am intending to start in a few days for a trip to the coast of North Carolina in the vicinity of Roanoke Island, for the purpose of making some experiments with a flying machine. It is my belief that flight is possible..."

An amazing music score, as "The Wright Brothers" Miniseries is announced. Scenes of Wilbur traveling on train. Then awaiting a boat, he takes pen in hand again.
"I am at this place waiting for a boat to take me across Albemarle Sound to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, which will be my address at present...."

The scene opens with a small boat far from the shore line, with two occupants. A rather heavyset salty old sea dog of a man, and a lone rather uncomfortable passenger, Wilbur Wright.

Fat Jack- "What's the matter? You look a little nervous."(2)
Wilbur- "The boat is smaller than I anticipated. My swimming skills, I fear, are not up to sufficient standards for these waters."
(Wilbur is distracted for a moment, as he stares at a volley ball floating by with an odd painted face.)(3)
Fat Jack- "Can't swim? Then you wouldn't want me to do this?"
At which point Fat Jack begins to rock the little skiff.
Wilbur-"Auughh, please Mr. Fat Jack, you're splashing water into the box of chocolates my sister Katharine gave to me."(4)
Fat Jack- "I'm just having a little fun!"
Wilbur- "Well, please don't do that."

The boat creaks to a halt, bobbing in the waves.
Wilbur- "What's the matter?"
Fat Jack- "I guess when I rocked the boat I must of got a little water in the engine. I can fix it, I'm mechanical."
At this point, Wilbur smiles when he realizes Mr. Fat Jack perhaps shares his brother Orville and his mechanical interests and skills. Fat Jack picks up a hammer from the bottom of the boat, and begins to pound dents into the boat engine.

Camera shot of hammer pounding engine transitions to hammer pounding boards of the small hangar and living quarters under construction by Wilbur and Orville on the sands of Kill Devil Hills. A vast wilderness of sand, wind, and isolation, the camera pans the landscape to some distant activity on the beach. Taking a break, the Brothers stroll along the shoreline of the Atlantic. They come upon several men carrying some crates.
Orville- "What is it you have there?"
Walter Kornbluth- "What? Why? Why do you ask?? I knew it! You're here to spy on me!"(5)
Wilbur- "No, really, we're just here to experiment with our flying machine."
Kornbluth- "I suppose you're just some harmless beachcombers who happen to wear tuxedos!
Other two men- Chuckling, snickers, making faces.
Orville- "Yes, we've built a glider and intend to glide down that large sand dune over there.
Kornbluth- "Ok, yeah, sure. And I was embarrassed to tell you I'm hunting for Mermaids!" 
All three men- Doubling over with laughter. "Going to fly over the sand dunes are they? Haaaaahhhh! Snort snort, haaaaaaahhhaaa"
Mermaid fins are seen in the waters just beyond the shoreline, and to the sound of an engine popping and propellers chopping, the scene changes to a cold December day in 1903, with Orville making the first 12 second flight of 120 feet.

Five witnesses cheer Orville on, as Wilbur runs along side the aeroplane. The men are yelling "Run, Wilbur, run!" Wilbur runs, and kicks off some curled driftwood branches that somehow became entangled on his legs.(6) Those 12 seconds pass by slowly, as Wilbur's heart beat grows louder and louder, close up of men cheering in slow motion, close up of Orville's face as he rides the wild beast, and then to Wilbur's face, and then to Wilbur's thoughts of the future, of the advancement of flight, the conquering of the skies, and eventually of outer space. Wilbur imagines himself in a spacecraft heading for the moon, the Apollo 13 mission, but Wilbur is suddenly snapped back to reality, as Orville lands the Flyer.(7) Wilbur takes a turn with similar results. Then Orville, and then Wilbur with the longest flight of 852 feet, 59 seconds. After these flights, a sudden gust of wind picks up the Flyer and begins to flip it. One of the five witnesses, John Daniels, jumps and grabs a strut, and is carried away with the aeroplane, as it rolls over and breaks apart, Daniels screaming as wires break and wood splinters and fabric tears. There would be no more flights that day.
Wilbur- (whispering to Orville) "Stupid is as stupid does".(8)

A year and a half later, Huffman Prairie, July 14, 1905-

Camera shot is from Orville's perspective, as he is manipulating the controls, flying the machine at Huffman Prairie, it begins to wobble and suddenly dives toward the ground. Orville loses control of the elevator and the craft smashes to earth, head first, at a speed of 30 miles per hour. What is left of the Flyer bounces three times down the field, upending on the front edges, catapulting Orville out of the cradle and through a broken section of the top wing. Charlie Taylor's whole body jerks and jumps slightly in the air upon seeing this (in classic Belushi style). He runs to the location of the wreck, and leaning over Orville, he declares, "This man has been badly beaned!"(9) It would not be the last time Orville would be hurt.......Sound of ambulance sirens coming from the distance, and odd monkey sounds, which transition to sounds of an incredible celebration on Main Street of Dayton Ohio, 1909 as the Wright's home town welcomes the Brothers home from their successful flights across the ocean. Scenes of the parade, and the fireworks that evening.

Wilbur and Orville at home; a knock at the door, and as the door is opened.....
Mailman- "You've got mail".
Wilbur- "Oh, this one isn't mine. To a Joe Fox..."
Mailman- "Sorry".(10)

Wilbur would have his revenge on Mr. Fat Jack in 1909 at Governor's Island. Having invited Fat Jack to the Hudson Fulton Celebration there, and having tied the little boat to the underside of his Flying Machine with Fat Jack inside, the two fly over the Hudson River steamboats as a million people watched.....
Wilbur- "Afraid of heights? Then you wouldn't want me to do this?"
Wilbur warps the wings and shifts the elevator heading the aeroplane toward the steamboat stacks.
Fat Jack- "Auughh, pleeeeease Mr. Wright! What a week I'm having!"

Hudson Fulton Event Sept/Oct 1909, Wilbur and Mr.Fat Jack having a little fun.

Turning the pages of the script through a number of scenes, the story takes a sad turn...

Very emotional scene of Wilbur fighting Typhoid fever in May of 1912. Difficult time for the family, and Orville and Katharine are hit hard by the loss.

Then, one chilly March morning of 1913 after days of heavy rain, the streets of Dayton are flooded this time not with its citizens celebrating the Wright's accomplishments, but with raging water as the levies can no longer hold back the rising rivers.

Major cool special effects and an even more amazing musical score, the City is flooded and on fire, Orville and Katharine fight to escape the rising flood waters. An unexpected plot twist occurs when Katharine (played by Daryl Hannah) is initially overcome and pulled under by  the waters, but then miraculously bursts upward from the depths with amazing swimming abilities, and rescues thousands.  Bishop Wright separated from the family, whereabouts unknown. As the water rises, the 1903 Wright Flyer is seen submerged under 12' of water and mud. The Wright's home is shown as water floods the first floor level. The glass plate negatives of the Wright's experiments at Kitty Hawk, and the first flight negative is seen as it goes under water stored in the storage shed behind the Wright home. Special guest appearances by  Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in an amazing sideline story of heroism and romance as they fight to survive. (11)

Though Wilbur is gone, his words are heard through the wind and rain-

" Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. And no one can direct his life entirely as he would choose. And that's all I have to say about that."(12)

Scripts for "The Wright Brothers", "Splash", "Man With One Red Shoe", "Cast Away", "Apollo 13", Forest Gump" "You've Got Mail" intermingled.
(1) Man With One Red Shoe, Tom Hanks character, Richard Drew balancing on bicycle.
(2) Splash, Fat Jack and Tom Hanks character, Allen Bauer boat scene. Allen falls overboard and is saved by a mermaid.
(3) Cast Away, Wilson the volley ball.
(4) Forest Gump, a box of chocolates in lieu of a jar of jelly. Katharine had packed a jar of jelly for Wilbur, and it was all he had to eat, as he dared not touch the food offered on the rat infested boat owned by Israel Perry.
(5) Splash, Eugene Levy's character, Walter Kornbluth in search of mermaids with his two bumbling assistants. Tom Hank's character Allen comes across them and is thought to be there to spy on Kornbluth's research.
(6) Forest Gump, early scene where young Forest Gump runs from bullies, and braces on legs break apart and fly off.
(7) Apollo 13, Tom Hank's character Jim Lovell on board.
(8) Forest Gump, what his mother used to tell him, and his quote throughout the movie.
(9) Man With One Red Shoe, scene at softball field, Richard Drew gets beaned in the head with a softball, and his friend Morris (Jim Belushi) jumps and runs to his aid.
(10) You've Got Mail, Joe Fox is Tom Hanks character's name.
(11) Titanic, not a Tom Hanks movie, but had to throw it in.
(12) Forest Gump, and that is all I have to say about that.

Copyright 2021-Getting the Story Wright

For more Wright Brother humor and adventures, see blogs:
Great Scott! It's Wilbur Wright back in 1909!
A Journey back in time: An interview with Orville Wright
Orville Wright's sense of humor
The nine lives of Orville Wright
An alternate time line: The 1905 Wright Flyer III flies again!
What if the Wright Brothers had not experimented in flight in the early 1900's?
Connecticut, you have Gustave be kidding me!

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