56 Years Ago In Time

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Martin Scorsese's eagerly awaited film The Aviator depicts the early years of tycoon HOWARD HUGHES. Even before his reclusive old age, TIME was fascinated with the eccentric billionaire.

What manner of man is this Howard Hughes--this tall, gangling, aging and sick-looking man of 42 whose life and eccentricities have built a lurid legend? ... The private life of Howard Hughes might be described as a complete and carefully protected disorder. He has no interest in clothes, only the barest minimum of interest in food and sleep. He owns five suits, of which the newest is five years old; he is rumpled and disheveled most of the time, gets dressed up only for special occasions. He postpones haircuts as long as possible. "I used to be well-groomed," he says ... Since he sleeps only when he is sleepy, he calls up his lieutenants at all hours of the night. Sometimes he identifies himself as Mr. Hoyt. He has had a number of other aliases ... He likes to make business appointments in out-of-the-way spots, usually at night, and he is always 30 minutes to two hours late, if he shows up at all. --TIME, July 19, 1948