M E R C U R Y T H E A T E R O N T H E A I R ------------- ------------- --- ----- ----- 1938 First Show: Jul 11, 1938 Last Show: Dec 04, 1938 Number Shows: 22 Audition Show: none Series Description: THE MERCURY THEATER ON THE AIR was first heard as a Summer series of nine shows, on CBS affiliated stations and in Canada on the CBC. It was the first time a theater company brought drama to the radio. The shows featured hour-long dramatizations of classic books. It was produced and directed by Orson Welles, who also acted in the main roles, probably one of the most versatile and creative talents in the history of entertainment. When the Summer series ended with "The Man Who Was Thursday" on Sept. 5, 1938, CBS continued to sustain the series, until Dec. 4 of that year. It was during this time that the best known show from this series, in fact, the best known radio show in radio's history, was broadcast, the radio adaptation of H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds". The series didn't end on Dec. 4. At the conclusion of the Nov. 6 show, Mr. Welles announced that the Campbell's Soup Company would become sponsor. The series changed its name to THE CAMPBELL PLAYHOUSE and moved from Sunday to Friday. On December 9, 1938, the first show of the new series aired on Friday at 8:00 PM. Log Comments: Not many vendors seem to carry this series. The Lilly Library at Indiana University had the most complete listing, but the shows are not available from them. The most complete listing available to collectors was Jerry Haendiges', followed by Ted Davenport's Radio Memories and then by Steve Kelez' Radio Showcase. All three offered a number of rehearsals for the shows. These typically run slightly longer than the broadcast version. The rehearsals are included in the log. Those shows for which I could not find a catalog entry are listed as "possibly lost". The Lilly Library also maintains scripts of the series. These are noted in the log. An interesting web site to visted for those who would like to sample the shows is at http://www.unknown.nu/mercury. Chronological Log: Date Day Num Title Avail ------------ --- --- -------------------------------------- ----- ...... "First Person Singular" ....... ....... series of 9 shows ........ Jul 11, 1938 Mon 1 "Dracula" yes Jul ??, 1938 ??? - "Treasure Island" (rehearsal) yes Jul 18, 1938 Mon 2 "Treasure Island" yes Jul ??, 1938 ??? - "A Tale Of Two Cities" (rehearsal) yes Jul 25, 1938 Mon 3 "A Tale Of Two Cities" yes (Script at Lilly Library) Aug 01, 1938 Mon - "The Thirty Nine Steps" (rehearsal) yes Aug 01, 1938 Mon 4 "The Thirty Nine Steps" yes Aug 08, 1938 Mon 5 Three Short Stories: "I'm A Fool", yes "Open Window", "My Little Boy" Aug 15, 1938 Mon 6 "Abraham Lincoln" yes Aug 22, 1938 Mon 7 "The Affairs of Anatole" yes Aug 29, 1938 Mon 8 "The Count of Monte Cristo" yes Sep 04, 1938 Sun - "The Man Who Was Thursday" (rehearsal) yes Sep 05, 1938 Mon 9 "The Man Who Was Thursday" yes (last show of the Summer series) ...... start of regular season ....... Sep 11, 1938 Sun -- "Julius Caesar" (rehearsal) yes Sep 11, 1938 Sun 10 "Julius Caesar" (possibly lost) Sep 18, 1938 Sun 11 "Jane Eyre" (possibly lost) Sep 25, 1938 Sun 12 "Immortal Sherlock Holmes" yes Oct 02, 1938 Sun 13 "Oliver Twist" (possibly lost) (Script at Lilly Library) Oct 09, 1938 Sun 14 "Hell On Ice" yes Oct 16, 1938 Sun 15 "Seventeen" yes Oct 23, 1938 Sun 16 "Around The World In Eighty Days" yes (Script at Lilly Library) Oct 30, 1938 Sun 17 "The War of the Worlds" yes Nov 06, 1938 Sun -- "Life with Father" (22 minute yes rehearsal) Nov 06, 1938 Sun 18 Two Stories: "Heart of Darkness" / yes "Life with Father" (Campbell's Soup Company future sponsorship announced) Nov 13, 1938 Sun 19 "Passenger To Bali" yes Nov 20, 1938 Sun 20 "The Pickwick Papers" yes Nov 27, 1938 Sun 21 "Clarence" (possibly lost) Dec 04, 1938 Sun 22 "Bridge of San Luis Rey" (possibly lost) (last Mercury Theater 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: * The Sci-Fi Guy, Gordon R. Payton, 118 E. Palmer Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108 (no longer sells shows) * Edward J. Carr, 216 Shaner Street, Boyertown, PA 19512 * Radio Showcase, Steve Kelez, PO Box 4357, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 * Radio Historical Association of Colorado, PO Box 1908, Englewood, CO 80150 * Crabapple Sound, Henry Hinkel, 254 Florida Ave., Amsterdam, NY 12010 * Jerry Haendiges Productions, Jerry Haendiges, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 * Radio Memories, Ted Davenport, 1600 Wewoka St., North Little Rock, AR 72116 * Vintage Broadcasts, Andy Blatt, PO Box 50065, Staten Island, NY 10305 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).