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. Mercury theatre american theatrical company britannica. Subscribe for more orson welles mercury theatre broadcasts. Wells and orson welles was double feature mercury theater. Welles used the banner mercury productions on many of his films, and several of the actors from his mercury theatre company appeared in them, notably in citizen. Music for the show was composed or arranged by bernard herrmann. The mercury theatre was a theatre company founded in new york city by orson welles and john houseman. It was a relatively short lived show only five months, but it remains one of the most culturally significant shows in entertainment history. The mercury theatre was an independent repertory theatre company founded in new york city in 1937 by orson welles and producer john houseman. They had initial success in the theatre, then went to radio, and one of the most notable radio broadcasts of all time, the war of the worlds. France skillfully reminds us why welles dominates the history of the 20th century as one of our greatest stage and film directors.
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. Orson welles and the mercury theatre on the air music. I have included two versions here at multiple bitrates and filetypes. Considered welless highest achievement in the theatre, it premiered november 11, 1937, as the first production of the mercury theatre, an independent repertory theatre company that. The company produced theatrical presentations, radio programs and motion pictures. The mercury theatre was a theatre company founded in new york city in 1937 by orson welles and john houseman. Texts for the voodoo macbeth and the modern dress julius caesar are stage managers working copies used by the federal theatre project of the works progress administration w. Orson welles is remembered in the entertainment industry for his innovative work in theatre, radio and film throughout the 1930s and 1940s. 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. All the mercury offerings bore the credit line, production by orson welles, wrote critic richard france, implying that he functioned not only as. Professor richard pierson, dan seymour announcer, paul stewart associate producer, adaptor, performer. English assignment 8 nicole keeney ac160162 c02 business.
The war of the worlds audiobook free download one of the bestloved works by mercury theatre on the air, this popular, renowned radio audiobook is now available for free download from spotify, deezer, and in high quality from audible as well. The mercury theatre on the air by orson welles on free. The mercury theatre on the air first known as first person singular is a. The war of the worlds orson welles tells reporters that no one connected with the broadcast had any idea it would cause panic sunday, october 30, 1938 genre radio drama, science fiction running time 60 minutes home station cbs radio from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for the 1968 remake, see the war of the worlds radio 1968. The mercury theatre series was scheduled for a nineweek run over cbs, but the favorable critical buzz. The mercury theatre on the air made its debut on cbs on july 11, 1938 with an. The mercury players, with enthusiastic direction from orson welles, perform the war of. In its brief run, it featured an impressive array of talents, including agnes moorehead, bernard herrmann, and george coulouris. With his flair for the sensational and innovative, welles captured audiences attention with his 1930s cbs weekly drama series the mercury theatre on the air, later renamed the campbell playhouse. The mercury theatre on the air produced some of the most extraordinary radio to ever hit the airwaves. Audio download online audio free 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. 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.
Welles s 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. Adapted and scripted by howard koch, with considerable input from orson welles and members of the mercury theatre, the setting for the radio broadcast switched from the victorian england of the. Orson welles and the mercury theatre on the air present, treasure island. The mercury theatre on the air by orson welles on free audio. Orson welless mercury theater radio broadcast of the war of the worlds caused mass panic and hysteria on. Welles used the banner mercury productions on many of his films, and several of the actors from his mercury theatre company appeared in them, notably in citizen kane, the magnificent ambersons and macbeth. On 30 october 1938, as a halloween special, orson welles and the mercury theatre broadcast an adaptation of hg wells classic novel war of the worlds. Watch orson welles the stranger free online, where 1940s film noir meets real horrors of wwii. 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 radio series that included one of the most notable and infamous radio broadcasts of all time, the war of the worlds, broadcast on. Listen to orson welles on the air episodes free, on demand. Welles shot three short silent films to precede each act of the play. The night that panicked america 1975 tv movie docudrama on 1938 war of the worlds radio drama broadcast by orson welles and the mercury theatre ontheair.
Suspense starring orson welles in the hitchhiker a story doesnt have to appeal to the heart, it can appeal to the spine orson welles in the shadow death house rescue this meeting between h. The mercury theatre on the air presents orson welles as count dracula in his own version of bram stokers great novel dracula. The columbia broadcasting system and its affiliated stations present orson welles and the mercury theatre on the air in the war of the worlds by h. Orson welles heart of darkness and life with father. Orson welles the war of the worlds mercury theatre on. The definitive mercury theatre on the air radio articles. If you are a lover of oldtime radio and a fan of orson welles, you wont want to miss this treasure chest of legendary orson welles radio broadcasts. 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 war of the worlds is an episode of the american radio drama anthology series the mercury theatre on the air. The mercury theatre was an independent repertory theatre company founded in new york city. Stream 61 hours of orson welles classic 1930s radio plays. The weekly hourlong show presented classic literary works. The series began july 11, 1938, as a sustaining program on the cbs radio network.
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. The mercury theatre on the air audiobook free download. These productions ensured welles enormous success and have earned him an important niche in american social and cultural history. Orson welles create your own visual style let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others. In 1938 the mercury theatre presented william gillettes comedy too much johnson. Studio announcer, third studio announcer, frank readick reporter carl phillips, radio operator 2x2l, kenny delmar policeman at farm, captain lansing, secretary of the interior, bayonne radio operator, ray collins farmer. The mercury theatre on the air, volume 1 by hollywood 360. Welles revived the mercury theatre title for a short series in the summer of 1946. 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 was an independent repertory company founded in new york city in 1937 by orson welles and producer john houseman, who is best known for his oscarwinning performance as professor charles kingsfield in the the paper chase. Best known for his stage productions of voodoo macbeth, cradle will rock and julius caesar. Stream the war of the worlds mercury theatre on the air. Welles was also an accomplished magician, starring in troop variety spectacles in the war years.
And if you need spotifys free software, download it here. Welless direction and acting, bernard herrmanns visionary scores and the likes of joseph cotten and agnes moorehead in supporting roles, combined to produce. In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of this radio broadcast and halloween, i present this vinyl rip ive made of the war of the worlds, as done in 1938 by orson welles and the mercury theatre. Mercury theater 17 war of the worlds mercury theater. In his first outing as a writerdirector for radio, orson welles, 22, adapted les. The broadcast captured the drama and terror of an emerging calamity all. The mercury theatre on the air is a radio series of live radio dramas created by orson welles. Radio stories by orson welles and the mercury theatre on discogs. Each week they would do a full hour of quality drama, with pabst beer sponsoring the show. The easiest way to listen to podcasts on your iphone, ipad. This podcast will replay his radio performances from his various series and guest appearances. But indeed, john houseman was even more instrumental in establishing, organizing and continuing to manage the mercury theatre over the years.
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. Noted for his innovative dramatic productions as well as his distinctive. Orson welles legendary radio productions, remastered and 100% free. The mercury also released promptbooks and phonographic recordings of four shakespeare works for use in schools. War of the worlds 1938 radio broadcast with orson welles. Internet archive welles first radio series as directorproduceradaptor, in which he developed the techniques later used in the mercury theatre on the air. Wellesnet is dedicated to the memory of orson welles may 6, 1915october 10, 1985.
Recordings of the mercury theatre on the air, the 1930s radio show created by orson welles. Welles first radio series as directorproduceradaptor, in which he developed the techniques later used in the mercury theatre on the air. Correct capitalization for the following sentences. Mercury theatre on the air orson welles on the air, 19381946.
Orson welles on the air listen via stitcher for podcasts. Cbs was well pleased with the first set of orson welles productions, and the company engaged welles and his troupe for another set of broadcast dramas. The war of the worlds the mercury theatre on the air. Orson welles and the mercury theatre on the air broadcast from november 6th 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. The mercury theatre on the air listen and download. The reputation of orson welles, tarnished by his own excesses, has been glowingly restored by richard frances brilliant editing of the w. George orson welles may 6, 1915 october 10, 1985, better known as orson welles, was an academy awardwinning american director, writer, actor and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television, and radio. When orson welles burst onto the hollywood scene in 1941 with citizen kane it was the. Since we cant go back in time to see the orson welles theatre productions of note, we can at least read the scripts to see how he cut them and read the insightful notes by richard france about the productions. Listen to your favorite songs from the war of the worlds mercury theatre on the air by orson welles now. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and.
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