M*A*S*H Headlines 5: Tears Flow as M*A*S*H Completes Filming

“M*A*S*H Headlines” is a new, limited series of posts that focuses on the press reaction to various events in the M*A*S*H timeline. The Press Pass posts focus on the press materials released by 20th Century Fox and CBS, but this series of posts focuses on the press coverage of M*A*S*H events including the release of Robert Altman’s film, the premiere of the M*A*S*H pilot episode on CBS, the death of Henry Blake, the M*A*S*H finale, and more! See the full series of Headlines posts here.

In early 1983, it was no secret that M*A*S*H was coming to end. Fox announced that season eleven would be M*A*S*H‘s last, and anticipation was building for the two major milestones to mark the end of the series. The first milestone occurred on January 14, 1983 when the final scene of the series was filmed on Stage 9. The last episode filmed was not the anticipated series finale, but it was the next to last episode of season eleven, “As Time Goes By” (11×15). To mark the historic moment, hundreds of members of the press, cast and crew families, and dignitaries gathered as the final scenes were filmed. In the scenes, the personnel of the 4077th bury a time capsule. As the actors performed their lines, they fought back tears knowing that each time someone yelled “CUT,” they were one scene closer to the end. Because there were so many members of the press on the set to witness the final scenes being filmed and attending press conference afterward, the newspapers the following days were filled with quotes and photos from the final day of M*A*S*H. This week, we look back at the final day of filming, and the reaction across the world.

Newspapers from across the country, and world, featured headlines, photos, and quotes from the final day of filming M*A*S*H. Most of the papers quoted Burt Metcalfe’s final “That’s a wrap,” noting the end of the series. The Carlsbad Current-Argus even included his words in its headline. All of the articles noted the tears, hugs, and moments that the cast shared in their final hours together on set. The Great Falls Tribune proclaimed, “M*A*S*H Cast Somber as Last Episode Filmed.” The Kitsap Sun stated, “M*A*S*H Films Final Scenes.” The News-Leader in Springfield, Missouri said, “Filming of Last M*A*S*H Show Leaves Cast Members Somber.” It was certainly a rough day for the cast and crew of the show. They were leaving behind their friends and working family after eleven years. While fans would remember the series finale as the end of the series, the cast and crew filmed that episode before filming of season eleven began. So for them, it was January 14 that truly marked the end of M*A*S*H.

After filming wrapped on Stage 9, all the cast and crew gathered for a press conference. There are too many memorable quotes to list, but there are some that were quoted often. Bruce R. Miller quoted Kellye Nakahara, an eleven year veteran of the series, in The Sioux City Journal saying, “How do you say goodbye to your family? This has been one of the most difficult weeks of my life.” The San Francisco Examiner quoted Metcalfe, “Today it’s really hitting me. I had so much to do in the past few weeks, I didn’t have to confront it. And I thought post production would keep my mind off of it. But I was wrong.” The Paducah Sun carried an AP story that quoted William Christopher saying, “We begin to feel we are making history. But we don’t want to get carried away. M*A*S*H is only a television show.” There were plenty of tears on set as well. Mike Farrell was quoted in The Burlington Free Press saying, “These days, I spent about half my time in tears.” The day was rough for Loretta Swit as well, but she was quoted in the Philadelphia Daily News thanking fans, “Thank you for allowing us to do what we tried to do for so long.” When asked what he would do next, Alan Alda said, “I’m going to go home and sleep for six months. Then I’m going to go to Europe, and I’m going to sleep there for a year.”

The reporting went beyond what happened that Friday in January on Stage 9. The sound stage would be deconstructed and prepared for the next show to be filmed there, and many of the sets from the series were donated to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. for the upcoming “Binding Up the Wounds” M*A*S*H exhibit. Then was the matter of M*A*S*H‘s outdoor sets. The series was filmed at the Fox Ranch, but the ranch became a state park during the show’s filming. Georgette G. Bremer wrote about the M*A*S*H set at Malibu Creek State Park for the Thousand Oaks Star. Visitors were flocking to the filming site to see where their favorite show was filmed, and she reported that the sets had been removed from the park, but they did leave behind one building: the latrine!

M*A*S*H wasn’t only popular in the United States. There were headlines from around the world about the end of the series, and the Manchester Evening News (England) reported the final day of filming with the headline “Goodbye to Hot Lips and Hawkeye.” The Sunday Mercury in Birmingham, England reported the telegram from President Ronald Reagan marking the occasion. The telegram read in part, “This is a special night for all of you, and we know how proud you must be of your success.” Other newspapers reporting the end of M*A*S*H include Canadian publications The Expositor from Ontario, The Province from British Columbia, and The Times-Transcript from New Brunswick. Several of the publications from across the United States and world pondered what was next for the series. “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” had been publicized, but even before it aired, there was speculation about a spinoff with The Arizona Daily Star headline proclaiming,” M*A*S*H Spinoff Planned by CBS.”

Series creator Larry Gelbart returned to Stage 9 for the final day of filming, and he was quoted by Jerry Buck in the Statesman-Journal with perhaps the best comment of the day. He said, “Truthfully, it’s not ending. Although they won’t be shooting new ones, with 250 shows it’s going to go on [in reruns] for a long, long time.” He was right. More than fifty years have passed since the show began, and more than forty since it ended, and M*A*S*H is airing somewhere in the world as you read this. It is available to stream online and on DVD, so M*A*S*H is truly available 24/7. With the final day of filming, M*A*S*H was not done. The final four half-hour episodes of season eleven still had to air, then there was the grand finale. “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” was the next anticipated event in the M*A*S*H saga. In the Asbury Park Press, the story about the last day of filming looked ahead saying, “Filming already has been completed for the two-hour TV movie in which the Korean War ends and the war-weary denizens of the 4077th MASH head home. The movie will be broadcast Feb. 28.” Would the final episode live up to the anticipation? Find out in the next Headlines post!

Newspaper Bibliography

• “Actors in Tears as Last Curtain Falls on M*A*S*H.” The Province. January 16, 1983, A5.
• The Associated Press. “Autograph-Signing, Tears at Final Filming of M*A*S*H.” The Expositor. January 15, 1983, 6.
• The Associated Press. “Cast Sad to see M*A*S*H come to End.” The Kansas City Times. January 15, 1983, C8. 
• The Associated Press. “Emotion Takes Over as M*A*S*H Filming Ends.” Daily Press. January 16, 1983, B8.
• The Associated Press. “Filming of Last M*A*S*H Show Leaves Cast Members Somber.” Springfield News-Leader. January 15, 1983, 5B.
• The Associated Press. “Final Filming of M*A*S*H is Somber Affair for Cast.” The La Crosse Tribune. January 15, 1983, 14.
• The Associated Press. “Final M*A*S*H Episode Taped.” The Albert Lea Tribune. January 16, 1983, 2.
• The Associated Press. “Incoming Wounded No More at M*A*S*H.” The San Francisco Examiner. January 14, 1983, B11.
• The Associated Press. “It’s Over.” The Buffalo News. January 15, 1983, C14.
• The Associated Press. “The Last Hurrah for M*A*S*H.” The Star-Ledger. January 15, 1983, 3.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Bugs Out. Grand Forks Herald. January 15, 1983, 1.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Cast Bids Farewell after Final Shot.” The Daily News. January 16, 1983, B8.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Cast Somber as Last Episode Filmed.” Great Falls Tribune. January 16, 1983, 2D.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Ends in Tears, Hugs.” Asbury Park Press. January 15, 1983, A8.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Ends on a Tearful Note.” The Standard. January 15, 1983, 17.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Ends…Sort Of.” The Times-Transcript. January 15, 1983, 3.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Ends War on War.” The Standard. January 14, 1983, 22.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Filming Ends.” The Clarksdale Press Register. January 15, 1983, 2A.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Films Last Show.” The Union. January 14, 1983, 8.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Goes Home.” The Pensacola Journal. January 15, 1983, 6C.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H: That’s a Wrap.” Carlsbad Current-Argus. January 16, 1983, 7.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Windup.” The Telegram-Tribune. January 15, 1983, B10.
• The Associated Press. “Newsmakers.” The Jackson Sun. January 16, 1983, 2A.
• The Associated Press. “No Medicine Could Stop Tears at the Last M*A*S*H Filming.” Palladium-Item. January 16, 1983, A8.
• The Associated Press. “Tears, Autographs and Hugs Mark Final M*A*S*H Filming.” Jackson County Floridan. January 16, 1983, 2.
• The Associated Press. “Tears Flow for Last Filming of M*A*S*H.” The Daily Item. January 15, 1983, 2.
• The Associated Press. “Tears and Hugs During Final Day of M*A*S*H.” The Belleville News-Democrat. January 16, 1983, 2A.
• The Associated Press. “Tears, Hugs Mark End of Filming for M*A*S*H.” Green Bag Press-Gazette. January 15, 1983, A8.
• The Associated Press. “Tears Mark M*A*S*H Ending.” Rocky Mount Telegram. January 15, 1983, 6.
• The Associated Press. “The War’s Over: M*A*S*H in the Can.” Daily News. January 15, 1983, 17.
• Bremer, Georgette G. “M*A*S*H: Las Virgenes Legacy is an Outhouse.” Thousand Oaks Star. January 14, 1983, 17.
• Buck, Jerry. “After 11 years, M*A*S*H Finally Decides to Pull the Plug.” The Times-Tribune. January 16, 1983, F5.
• Buck, Jerry. “Autographs, Tears, Hugs Mark the Last Filming of M*A*S*H.” The Charlotte Observer. January 15, 1983, 15A.
• Buck, Jerry. “Autographs, Tears Mark M*A*S*H End.” The Odessa American. January 16, 1983, 17C.
• Buck, Jerry. “Cast of M*A*S*H Drops Emotional Guard on Last Day of Filming.” The Sacramento Bee. January 15, 1983, A3.
• Buck, Jerry. “Curtain is Down on M*A*S*H Set.” The Paducah Sun. January 16, 1983, A12.
• Buck, Jerry. “Filming of Last M*A*S*H Show Scheduled for Completion Today.” The Paducah Sun. January 14, 1983, A2.
• Buck, Jerry. “Hawkeye, B.J. and the Other Denizens of 4077th Packing their Duffle Bags and Headed Stateside.” The Morning Union. January 14, 1983, 28.
• Buck, Jerry. “It’s a Wrap —M*A*S*H Ends.” Marshall News Messenger. January 16, 1983, 11B.
• Buck, Jerry. “Korean War Finally Ends for the M*A*S*H Cast.” Santa Cruz Sentinel. January 16, 1983, B11.
• Buck, Jerry. “Last Day of M*A*S*H Filmed Amid Tears, Autographs, Hugs.” Statesman Journal. January 15, 1983, 4D.
• Buck, Jerry. “Last Scene of M*A*S*H Filmed Amid Tears, Tension, Hugs on Set.” Pottsville Republican. January 15, 1983, 17.
• Buck, Jerry. “M*A*S*H Cast Says Goodbye after Last Episode Filmed.” The Sumter Daily Item. January 15, 1983, 1.
• Buck, Jerry. “M*A*S*H Crew Preparing to Head Stateside.” The Clarion-Ledger. January 15, 1983, 26.
• Buck, Jerry. “M*A*S*H Crew Says Bye for Last Time.” The Journal-News. January 16, 1983, A12.
• Buck, Jerry. “M*A*S*H Ends with Tears, Hugs.” The Sheboygan Press. January 15, 1983, 8.
• Buck, Jerry. “M*A*S*H Ends with Tension, Tears, Hugs.” The Californian. January 15, 1983, 2.
• Buck, Jerry. “M*A*S*H Filming Concludes with Tears, Memories.” The Capital Times. January 15, 1983, 2.
• Buck, Jerry. “M*A*S*H Hijinks in Final Shooting.” The Commercial Appeal. January 14, 1983, D5.
• Buck, Jerry. “M*A*S*H Hits the Dusty Trail.” The Daily Herald. January 15, 1983, 1C.
• Buck, Jerry. “M*A*S*H Incredibly Lucky and Unique Blend of Chemistry Ends.” The Rock Island Argus. January 15, 1983, 17.
• Buck, Jerry. “M*A*S*H Strikes Tent with Final Filming.” St. Petersburg Times. January 14, 1983, 11D.
• Buck, Jerry. “One Final b*a*s*h for Crew at M*A*S*H.” Roanoke Times. January 15, 1983, C2.
• Buck, Jerry. “A Sweet Warmth on the Final Set of M*A*S*H.” Record Searchlight. January 15, 1983, C4.
• Buck, Jerry. “Tears, Autographs and Hugs in Last M*A*S*H Filming.” The Gettysburg Times. January 15, 1983, 3.
• Buck, Jerry. “Tears, Hugs Mark Final Taping of M*A*S*H.” The Grand Rapids Press. January 15, 1983, 15A.
• Bykofsky, Stuart D. “The Tent is Folded at 4077 M*A*S*H.” Philadelphia Daily News. January 15, 1983, 15.
• “End of M*A*S*H — A Time for Tears.” The Miami Herald. January 16, 1983, 2A.
• “Final Chapter.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 15, 1983, 1.
• GNS. “So Long, 4077th, See you in the Reruns.” Poughkeepsie Journal. January 16, 1983, 8A.
• “A Fond Farewell.” The Spokesman-Review. January 15, 1983, 11.
• “Goodbye to Hot Lips and Hawkeye.” Manchester Evening News. January 15, 1983, 4.
• Harmetz, Aljean. “M*A*S*H Films Final Scenes.” Kitsap Sun. January 15, 1983, 19.
• Harmetz, Aljean. “M*A*S*H Wraps Up Final Episode.” Daily American Republic. January 15, 1983, 2.
• Hughes, Mike. “Last M*A*S*H Scripts Says, ‘Fade Out, End of Series’.” The Burlington Free Press. January 14, 1983, 1D.
• Hughes, Mike. “M*A*S*H: 11-Year War Packs its Bags after Finishing Last Episode.” The El Paso Times. January 16, 1983, 16D.
• “Last M*A*S*H.” The Commercial Appeal. January 15, 1983, B5.
• “M*A*S*H Filming at End; Cast Ready to Strike Tent.” The Tampa Tribune. January 15, 1983, 14A.
• “M*A*S*H Filming Ends.” Johnson City Press. January 15, 1983, 3.
• “M*A*S*H Spinoff Planned by CBS.” The Arizona Daily Star. January 15, 1983, D1.
• Miller, Bruce R. “M*A*S*H Ends with Tears.” The Sioux City Journal. January 16, 1983, A12.
• “Reagan Helps M*A*S*H Signs Off.” Sunday Mercury. January 16, 1983, 6.
• “Sad News for Some: War Comes to End.” The Journal Times. January 16, 1983, 6A.
• Scott, Vernon. “Tears, Laughter Mark the End of M*A*S*H.” Ventura County Star. January 15, 1983, A8.
• Scott, Vernon. “Tears, Laughter Mark the End of M*A*S*H.” The Waukesha County Freeman. January 15, 1983, 3.