M E R C U R Y S U M M E R T H E A T E R ------------- ----------- ------------- 1946 First Show: Jun 07, 1946 Last Show: Sep 13, 1946 Number Shows: 15 Audition Show: none Series Description: Orson Welles made dramatic radio history with his MERCURY THEATER OF THE AIR, which started life as a Summer series in 1938. It continued into the Fall and ran until December 4, 1938. After that, Campbell's became sponsor, changing the name to THE CAMPBELL PLAYHOUSE, which ran from December 9, 1938 to June 2, 1939. All shows were one hour long. On September 15, 1941, THE MERCURY THEATER title again graced the airwaves, for a run of 20 shows. On June 7, 1946, The Mercury Theater made one last appearence on radio. This was for a Summer series, THE MERCURY SUMMER THEATER. Unlike the 1938 Summer series, these shows were only 30 minutes in length. Compare titles to the other Orson Welles series. Six shows were 30 minute versions of shows of 1938. "I'm a Fool", one story of two in the broadcast of August 23, was also used in 1938. A total of 15 shows were broadcast. You'll also find one of the best-remembered shows in this series, "The Hitchhiker". First done in 1941 in the Mercury Theater series, this show appeared in SUSPENSE, on September 2, 1942 and even stared Orsen Welles. It appears in many OTR "must-have" lists. Log Comments: The full run is available but, for some odd reason, these shows are hard to find. I found only 3 sources that offered copies of the shows (the Lilly Library at Indianna University does not offer them). Chronological Log: Date Day Num Title Avail ------------ --- --- --------------------------------- ----- Jun 07, 1946 Fri 1 "Around The World In Eighty Days" yes Jun 14, 1946 Fri 2 "The Count of Monte Cristo" yes Jun 21, 1946 Fri 3 "The Hitchhiker" yes Jun 28, 1946 Fri 4 "Jane Eyre" yes Jul 05, 1946 Fri 5 "A Passenger To Bali" yes Jul 12, 1946 Fri 6 "Search For Henri Le Fevre" yes Jul 19, 1946 Fri 7 "Life with Adam" yes Jul 26, 1946 Fri 8 "The Moat Farm Murder" yes Aug 02, 1946 Fri 9 "Golden Honeymoon", "Romeo and yes Juliet Selections" Aug 09, 1946 Fri 10 "Hell on Ice" yes Aug 16, 1946 Fri 11 "Abednego, the Slave" yes Aug 23, 1946 Fri 12 Two Stories: "I'm a Fool" and yes & "Tell Tale Heart" Aug 30, 1946 Fri 13 "Moby Dick" yes Sep 06, 1946 Fri 14 "The Apple Tree" yes Sep 13, 1946 Fri 15 "King Lear" yes (last show) References: * "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, 27436 Desert Rose Ct., Leesburg, FL 34748 * Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Lilly Library web site (http://www.indiana.edu). * OTR club and vendor catalogs or web sites: * Jerry Haendiges Productions, Jerry Haendiges, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 * Radio Showcase, Steve Kelez, PO Box 4357, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 * The Sci-Fi Guy, Gordon R. Payton, 118 E. Palmer Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108 (no longer sells shows) Other Logs or Books: * MERCURY THEATER OF THE AIR log, Jay Hickerson, 27436 Desert Rose Ct., Leesburg, FL 34748 * MERCURY THEATER log, Jerry Haendiges Productions, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com) Last Update: Jul 25, 2007 This log is informational only. It does not imply that I or my references have these shows for trade or sale. The shows may still be protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from authorized dealers. The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis. Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M. Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).