Last month I wrote about promotional and behind-the-scenes images from M*A*S*H at the Motion Picture and Television Archive. Big Daddy O’Reilly then took the initiative and checked to see if Getty Images had any M*A*S*H images. A search for “alan alda” returns over 1,000 results, although the bulk are from the past decade or so. Getty Images appears to have purchased the rights to a variety of photographic collections; the bulk of the following images are from the CBS Photo Archive but a few are from WireImage, Time Life Photographs and Getty Images itself.

Perhaps the most interesting image Big Daddy O’Reilly found wasthis one of Harry Morgan, in costume as Colonel Potter, standing in what appears to be a stable. The caption reads as follows:

American actor Harry Morgan as Colonel Sherman Potter on the television show ‘MASH’ as he appears on a cast reunion show, 1991

I don’t recall seeing Harry Morgan in costume during “Memories of M*A*S*H,” the 20th anniversary reunion special broadcast in 1991. Perhaps members of the cast appeared in promotional spots for the special wearing their old uniforms?

Here are the rest of the images Big Daddy O’Reilly found; I’ve broken them into categories as best I could:

30th Anniversary Reunion Special

• Allan Arbus, Harry Morgan, Mike Farrell Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Bill Christoper, Jamie Farr at 30th Anniversary Reunion
• Jamie, Wayne and Bill at the reunion
• Harry, Mike, Alan at reunion

AfterMASH

• Jamie, Rosalind Choa and Bill on the set of AfterMASH
• Episodic promo shot from AfterMASH
• Rosalind and Jamie from AfterMASH
• Bill, Harry and Jamie for AfterMASH promo shot

Behind the scenes

• Behind the scenes with Alan
• Behind the scenes with Alan and Loretta Swit

Promotional

• Promo shot for final day of filming M*A*S*H
• Alan, Mike and Harry promo shot in Officers Club
• Different shot of above
• Promo shot of Mike before joining the cast
• Promo shot of Gary
• Different shot of above
• Promo shot of Loretta
• Promo shot of Alan
• Promo shot of Alan
• Promo shot of Timothy Brown
• Promo shot of Timothy Brown
• Promo shot of Larry

During filming

• Alan, Mike and Harry during filming of "The M*A*S*H Olympics"
• Gary Burghoff, Alan and Loretta during filming of "Bug-Out, Part 2"
• Jamie during filming of "Margaret’s Marriage"
• McLean Stevenson and Gary during filming of "Private Charles Lamb"
• Alan during filking of "Private Charles Lamb"
• Filming of "Pilot Episode"
• Alan, Larry and Wayne during filming of "Rainbow Bridge"

Other

• Mike at signpost
• Loretta in Post-Op
• Jamie in pink dress with rifle on Fox Ranch
• Different shot of above
• Off set shot of Loretta
• Alan in Post-Op
• Harry at the Ranch

• Harry looking serious
• Harry and Jamie in Officers Club
• Harry and Gary in OC
• Alan in Mess Tent
• Alan and Wayne
• Alan
• Jamie in red dress
• Henry in his office
• Alan and Wayne in scrubs
• Loretta and Larry Linville in the scrub room
• Loretta and Larry cuddling on the ranch
• Larry reading a bible at the Ranch

If you’ve ever looked the entry for M*A*S*H at the Internet Movie Database you’ve probably come across the photos section, which includes more than 100 images. A good number of them are DVD covers but there are a few dozen promotional photographs and stills from the series, both color and black and white. Here‘s a nice one of Harry Morgan and Loretta Swit standing with Jamie Farr in his Scarlett O’Hara dress from “Major Ego.” Many of these promotional photos are from the Motion Picture and Television Archive (MPTV) and you can find plenty of others by searching the MPTV website.

Here are a few promotional or behind-the-scenes photographs I found by searching for “mash” or various actors’ names:

• Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, William Christopher and Loretta Swit in their director’s chairs at the Fox Ranch
• Alan Alda and Mike Farrell waiting at the Fox Ranch (notice the police officer in the background)
• Loretta Swit and Gary Burghoff at a Christmas party
• Early cast photograph, perhaps Season Three (notice the obviously fake mountain scenery)

You can also find photographs of the cast in other television shows/movies as well as more candid shots:

• Larry Linville and a glider he is building
• McLean Stevenson on The Dinah Shore Show (with Susan Anton, Teddy Pendergrass and Vicki Lawrence)
• A signed photograph of a very young Alan Alda
• Loretta Swit at home circa 1973 (with an old telephone)

You can find promotional photographs for other television shows at the MPTV website as well, including Bonanza, Star Trek, Batman, The Dick Van Dyke Show and I Love Lucy.

Interestingly, I couldn’t find the photograph of Harry Morgan, Loretta Swit and Jamie Farr that I mentioned earlier at the MPTV website.

In October of 1977, Prince Charles spent two weeks visiting the United States. On Thursday, October 27th, he attended a luncheon at the 20th-Century Fox studio in Hollywood, California. Among those in attendance were Cary Grant, Charlton Heston and Lauren Bacall as well as the cast of M*A*S*H, several of whom were still in costume [1]. He watched an episode of the series being filmed as well as an episode of Charlie’s Angels; according to an Associated Press article, he had “expressed an interest in seeing” both shows [2].

Here’s a press photograph of Prince Charles and Alan Alda:

Prince Charles/Alan Alda Press Photograph

The legible portion of the caption reads as follows:

Prince Charles of England, during his recent visit to the United States, chats with Alan Alda (right) on the set of “M*A*S*H,” one of his favorite television series, while Alda, who plays Hawkeye, was filming a two-part episode, the first half of which

The two-part episode in question can only be “Comrades In Arms, Part I” and “Comrades In Arms, Part II,” which aired in December of 1977.

Here’s a slightly larger version:

Prince Charles/Alan Alda Press Photograph

These images were offered on eBay in March of 2010 and January of 2005, respectively.

Works Cited:
1 Associated Press. 27 Oct. 1977: AM Cycle.
2 Ibid.

The 2010-2011 television starts tonight, making today the first day of “Premiere Week,” when the television networks roll out the bulk of their new and returning programs in the hopes of attracting the most viewers. The first week of the 1972-1973 season began 38 years ago on Monday, September 11th, 1972. Among the new shows making their debut that week was M*A*S*H, which aired its first episode on Sunday, September 17th, 1972 from 7:30-8PM on CBS. You can watch the CBS fall preview for M*A*S*H here and learn more about how CBS promoted the premiere here.

It seems like only yesterday that M*A*S*H was celebrating its 30th anniversary. Just think, in two years we’ll be at the 40th anniversary.

Here’s the summary for the fourth and final M*A*S*H “spec” script, courtesy of Eric. For more information about unfilmed/unproduced scripts for the series see this post.

Peace is Hell
November 1, 1981
First Draft
Daryl G. Nickens – WGAw
31 Pages

The episode opens with everyone listening to a baseball game over the P.A. and Potter and Klinger are listening in Potter’s office. Klinger is dishing on the latest rumor the war could be over by the All Star Break. Despite the fact there is a ceasefire, Potter is skeptical.

In the O.R., the nurses refuse to clean because of the ceasefire, but Margaret is not letting them get off easy.

Back in Potter’s office, Mulcahey discusses the fact that the 4077th needs something to do and he suggests a softball game. Potter thinks it is a great idea!

In the Swamp, Klinger is trying to persuade Charles to play the game, but he, naturally, thinks it is beneath him to “chase a small white ball around a hot dusty field.” Klinger persuades Charles to play by insinuating that Charles is embarrassed by his lack of skills with the game. Charles signs up.

Klinger goes after Hawkeye who is discussing his plans with a nurse, but strikes out. He follows the nurse back to the O.R. where she should be working. Klinger follows, desperate to find people for the softball game. Margaret is angered by Hawkeye’s presence and kicks him out.

Hawkeye goes to Potter, who is behind the main building practicing his pitch, to complain. Hawkeye complains about Margaret, but Potter does not see a problem with her making the nurses prepare the O.R. for casualties, despite the ceasefire. Potter assures Hawkeye he will handle the situation if it gets out of hand

Potter goes to the O.R. to find Margaret, in dress uniform, inspecting the nurses, who are also in Class As. Potter tells Margaret she is getting out of hand!! She is stubborn, but Potter dismisses the nurses and suggests they have a little R & R. He turns to Margaret and suggests she take some time off too and suggests they all play ball.

Margaret shouts “Play Ball” and the game begins. She is umpire with Potter pitching. Mulcahey pitches for the opposing team. Game plays out and when Charles comes to bat, Klinger (catcher) gives him a hard time. To Klinger’s surprise, he hits a home run!! Klinger bats later and hits a long one, but is beat to the plate. He argues with Margaret, but to no avail. Margaret calls BJ on strike three and he too argues and Potter breaks them up. Potter winds up to deliver the next pitch, but is hurt and unable to throw the ball. Margaret assists Potter and his sore shoulder off the field, but Klinger points out that she has to ump and she tells him to do it.

On the sideline Margaret explains to Potter why she has been such a bad mood. She does not want the war to end because she does not know what she will do. The Army is her life, but with the war coming to an end she is afraid of being alone. Potter confesses that there are times when he is home with Mildred that he constantly thinks of those he has served with and “for an old war-horse peace is hell.”

Once more, a big thank you to Eric for this summary.