The finest radio drama of the 1930s was the mercury theatre on the air, a show featuring the acclaimed new york drama company founded by orson welles and john houseman. This podcast will replay his radio performances from his various series and guest appearances. Music for the show was composed or arranged by bernard herrmann. The weekly hourlong show presented classic literary works performed by welles s celebrated mercury theatre repertory company, with music composed or arranged by bernard herrmann. The mercury theatre on the air first known as first person singular is. The original october 30, 1938 broadcast, lux radio theatre presents the war of the worlds february 8, 1955, i know what it is to be young but you dont know what it is to be old, and many more. Orson welles too much johnson, a longlost threepart slapstick comedy that he directed in 1938, has been found in an italian warehouse and is being restored for its u. Citizen kane, american film drama, released in 1941, that was directed, produced, and cowritten by orson welles, who also starred in the lead role.
Each week they would do a full hour of quality drama, with pabst beer sponsoring the show. The mercury theatre on the air by orson welles on free. Directed by orson welles and performed by his mercury theatre of the air, the war of the worlds is an adaptation of h. The mercury also released promptbooks and phonographic recordings of four shakespeare works for use in schools. The mercury theatre on the air presents orson welles as count dracula in his own version of bram stokers great novel dracula.
The otr community seems to hold a very parochial view about the founders of mercury theatre, taking the position that mercury theatre was orson welles, orson welles and orson welles. Welles first radio series as directorproduceradaptor, in which he developed the techniques later used in the mercury theatre on the air. Does orson welles mad plan to tell this story via realistic news bulletins still. On october 30, 1938 orson welles and the mercury theatre broadcast one of the most famous pieces of radio in history. France skillfully reminds us why welles dominates the history of the 20th. Old time radio dramas alive and well on the internet vancouver. Richard linklaters 2008 film me and orson welles is a romantic comedy set during the days before the opening of caesar at the mercury theatre. The mercury theatre on the air was an hourlong dramatic radio program which began in the summer of 1938 on the cbs radio network. Orson welles create your own visual style let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others. Orson welles is credited as producer, director, performer, writer and other.
It was a relatively short lived show only five months, but it remains one of the most culturally significant shows in. This podcast will replay his radio performances from his. Orson welles lost film to debut in october thewrap. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Welles shot three short silent films to precede each act of the play. Feb 11, 2015 provided to youtube by tunecore mercury theatre the war of the worlds october 30, 1938 orson welles orson welles the ultimate collection. Orson welles was only 23 years old when his version of this classic tale was broadcast, featuring himself in the title role. Orson welles had quite a career in radio, from his days as the shadow and his mercury theatre on the air, to the radio version of his third man character from the movie, and beyond. Although the set has some sound issues, it does include some very brief parts missing from all of the circulating copies. After a series of acclaimed stage productions, the mercury theatre progressed into its most popular incarnation as the mercury theatre on the air. In a whirlwind week in 1937 in new york city, a young aspiring actor named richard is thrown into the middle of orson welles mercury theatre company on the eve of the opening of welles historic. Considered welless highest achievement in the theatre, it premiered november 11, 1937, as the first production of the mercury theatre, an independent repertory.
Although the set has some sound issues, it does include some very brief. The company produced theatrical presentations, radio programs and motion pictures. Sherlock holmes played by orson welles seeks to reclaim letters. Orson welles and the mercury theatre on the air present, treasure island.
Old time radio mystery theater podcast on demand enjoy the fun and excitement of listening to thrilling old time radio mystery shows. Provided to youtube by tunecore mercury theatre the war of the worlds october 30, 1938 orson welles orson welles the ultimate collection. The definitive mercury theatre on the air radio articles. Check out mercury theatre the 39 steps august 1, 1938 by orson welles on amazon music. Experience a professional cast of actors, great scripts and thrilling suspense. Welless direction and acting, bernard herrmanns visionary scores and the likes of joseph cotten and agnes moorehead in supporting roles, combined to produce electrifying renditions of established classics. Radio stories by orson welles and the mercury theatre on discogs. On october 30, 1938 orson welles and the mercury theatre. Most episodes dramatized works of classic and contemporary literature.
The level of detail and constant switching between news reports, dance music, interviews and narration is riveting. One such film would be that of citizen kane, written, directed and starring orson welles. Recordings of the mercury theatre on the air, the 1930s radio show created by orson welles. Mercury theatre the 39 steps august 1, 1938 by orson. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. The mercury theatre was a theatre company founded in new york city in 1937 by orson welles and john houseman. The ultimate collection 2010 war of the worlds complete version the mercury radio theatre war of the worlds oct. The mercury theatre on the air produced some of the most extraordinary radio to ever hit the airwaves. Orson welles and hollywood are finally getting along. Old time radio mystery theater listen to podcasts on. Listed as one of itunes australias comedy favourites, learn about.
Mercury theatre the war of the worlds october 30, 1938. Orson welles is remembered in the entertainment industry for his innovative work in theatre, radio and film throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Monster month concludes with mercury theatre on the airs adaptation of bram stokers dracula. In spite of that, welles was offered a slot on network radio for his fine creative radio theatre in 1938. Caesar is the title of orson welless innovative 1937 adaptation of william shakespeares julius caesar, a moderndress barestage production that evoked comparison to contemporary fascist italy and nazi germany. Orson welles guiding genius of the mercury theatre of the air is shown hands upraised. In 1938 the mercury theatre presented william gillettes comedy too much johnson. The war of the worlds mercury theatre on the air by orson. The mercury theatre on the air first known as first person singular is a radio series of live radio dramas created by orson welles. The set is a dub, either from another 78 rpm set or from a 16 lacquer. The mercury summer theatre on the air was a weekly series of live radio dramas created by orson welles and performed by a reunion of many mercury theatre actors between june and september, 1946.
The war of the worlds mercury theatre on the air, an album by orson welles on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. A fantastic albeit crackly recording of the orson welles broadcast from almost 80 years ago. But indeed, john houseman was even more instrumental in establishing, organizing and continuing to manage the mercury theatre over the years. Orson welles was in the classic film, citizen kane 1941, three years later. The war of the worlds is truly the mother of all space. You can understand that in its day it created havoc well i believe that it created havoc as i remember being told by my parents over 50 years ago, although that is now seen as an urban myth as it is unbelievably atmospheric. The war of the worlds radio play planet broadcasting. Welles revived the mercury theatre title for a short series in the summer of 1946. War of the worlds 1938 mercury theatre of the air radio. Ten million ghosts oct 23, 1936 nov 1936 performer. May 12, 2016 orson welles and the mercury theatre on the air present, treasure island. In its brief run, it featured an impressive array of talents, including agnes moorehead, bernard herrmann, and george coulouris.
Mp3 files tagged for use in itunes or similar music database. Orson welles treasure island july 18 1938 mercury theatre. The definitive mercury theatre on the air radio articles and. To restore the plays, many of which exist only in poorlyrecorded condition, and. Click here to download, click here to add this podcast to your itunes, click.
Orson welles had quite a career in radio, from his days as the shadow and his mercury theatre on the air, to the radio version of his. The reputation of orson welles, tarnished by his own excesses, has been glowingly restored by richard frances brilliant editing of the w. Sep 14, 2010 check out mercury theatre the 39 steps august 1, 1938 by orson welles on amazon music. France skillfully reminds us why welles dominates the history of the 20th century as one of our greatest stage and film directors. A tremendous achievement, and still very convincing to this day. A landmark work in the history of cinema, citizen kane is acclaimed by many critics as the greatest movie ever made. A mysterious transylvanian noble comes to england, and everywhere he goes, death follows. Download rands esoteric otr mercury theatre on the air. It was a relatively short lived show only five months, but it remains one of the most culturally significant shows in entertainment history.
Faustus jan 08, 1937 apr 1937 staged by orson welles. The mercury theatre on the air was a weekly series of live radio dramas created by orson welles and performed by his mercury theatre repertory company between july and december, 1938. Mercury theatre american theatrical company britannica. The war of the worlds mercury theatre on the air by. Find highquality orson welles stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images.
In response to the current covid19 lockdown, our mercury tickets box office is currently closed to the public, and the majority of our operations are taking place remotely while our team work safely from home. Orson welles and his mercury theatre present war of the worlds, and half of america run for their lives. G wells science fiction classic the war of the worlds, performed as a news broadcast. The mercury theater embraced thrillers such as dracula and war of the worlds, and the classics of literature such as pickwick papers and tale of two. Listen to your favorite songs from the war of the worlds mercury theatre on the air by orson welles now. After a string of live theatrical productions, in 1938 the mercury theatre progressed into their bestknown period as the mercury theatre on the air, a cbs radio series that included one of the most notable and infamous radio broadcasts of all time, the war of. The listening audience respected orson welles and his efforts on the mercury theatre of the air, says chuck schaden, host of those were the days, a weekly old time radio show on wdcb in chicago. The mercury theatre on the air by orson welles on free audio. To offer listeners the productions of orson welles and the mercury theatre in a simple, easytouse website, for both download and streaming. Monster month concludes with mercury theatre on the airs adaptation of. Welles used the banner mercury productions on many of his films, and several of the actors from his mercury theatre company appeared in.
Sign in the war of the worlds mercury theatre on the air orson welles spoken word 2012 play shuffle. The mercury theatre on the air listen and download. I recently picked up on ebay a sixdisc, twelveside lacquer recorded at 78 rpm of the mercury theatre broadcast of the war of the worlds. Mercury summer theatre on the air compass classroom. In this post, an alternative version of probably the most wellknown broadcast of all time. After a string of live theatrical productions, in 1938 the mercury theatre progressed into their bestknown period as the mercury theatre on the air, a cbs radio series that included one of the most notable and infamous radio broadcasts of all time, the war of the worlds, broadcast on.
Release group the war of the worlds by orson welles. The original 1938 broadcast that panicked a nation. The mercury theatre was an independent repertory theatre company founded in new york city in 1937 by orson welles and producer john houseman. Our phone lines remain open mon fri, 11am 4pm, and our customer experience team are ready and happy to chat during this time.
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