History of Proposed 200th Anniversary of John Paul Jones

HISTORY OF PROPOSED 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF JOHN PAUL JONES 2/7/46 J.M.C. Crane approached R. S. Pierrepont, Jr. with the idea of organizing a John Paul Jones bicentennial celebration to take place on the 200th birthday of the naval hero dated July 6, 1947. 2/8/46 Mr. Crane presented a script of a proposed motion picture based on the life of John Paul Jones to Mr. Pierrepont with the hopes that a motion picture company would buy this script. The idea was injected that a world premier could take place at the time of the proposed bicentennial celebra- tions. 2/10/46 At a luncheon meeting in Washington, D. C. between Mr. Crane, Mr. Pierrepont, and Capt. Baldridge, Curator of the Museum at the Naval Academy, Mr. Pierrepont was informed that: 1. Warner Bros. Productions had planned a motion picture planned on the life of John Paul Jones in 1940 starring James Cagney but that this program was postponed because of the second World War. 2. A football program announcing this motion picture was evidence of this fact. 3. Capt. Baldridge showed correspondence which he had had on this matter with James Cagney. GOVERWINENT 4. Capt. Baldridge was represented to be the outstanding American authority on all matters pertaining to the life of John Paul Jones. 5. Capt. Baldridge agreed to furnish a letter of introduction intro- ducing Mr. Pierrepont to Mr. Cagney to discuss the proposed motion picture. 6. Mr. Pierrepont agreed to attempt to sell the script prepared by Mr. Crane. 2/16/46 At a meeting between Mr. Cagney and Mr. Pierrepont in Los Angeles, Mr. Cagney agreed to advise his intent on producing this film within one week. 2/18/46 The following telegram was received by Mr. Pierrepont: "R. S. PIERRE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL, LOS ANGELES JONES BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION IN ORGANIZATION NOW. PIERREPONT PROPOSED TODAYS MEETING FIRST RANKING CIVILIAN MEMBER AS PRESIDENT. OTHER MEMBERS NAVAL AND GOVERNMENT AS OUTLINED BY BALDRIDGE WHO WILL DIRECT WHOLE CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES FOR NAVY INCLUDING FILM PREMIERE ANNAPOLIS AND NATIONWIDE CELEBRATIONS. WILLIAM AND JAMES CAGNEY AS PRODUCERS FILM CAN BE MADE ACTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. TENTATIVE CELEBRATIONS PLANS NOW COMPLETED TO SUBMIT TO YOU ON RETURN. CRANE "