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Mercury Theater and Lady Esther Presents Orson Welles and Mercury Summer Theater

Orson Welles' Popular Dramatic Anthology of short stories, as well as comedy and variety abound, with a sprinkling of popular singers.

Mercury Theater

41 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 27 hours, 49 min)
available in the following formats:

2 MP3 CDs
or
29 Audio CDs


Choose your CD format
or order disks individually: Add to Cart
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Play a sample episode from June 21, 1946:

"Hitch Hiker"



... or click here to save the Mp3 file to your computer
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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Orson WellesHe was slugged, clubbed, chloroformed, gassed, knifed, dynamited, run down, gunned down, injected with poison, ejected from planes, hurled from cliffs, pushed in front of trains, almost devoured by man-eating plants, virtually sucked dry of his 'life essence,' nearly shot to the Moon in a rocket--and the number of times the floor suddenly dropped from beneath him must run into four figures.

Eye equals i Orson WellesActor and director Orson Welles along with John Houseman was responsible for the creation and popularity of Mercury Theater with $110 for production costs. 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 Theater on the Air concentrated on classic literature such as "Treasure Island," "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "Dracula. Radio listeners knew that the show was unique and the acting of Virginia Welles (Mrs. Orson Welles), Agnes Moorehead, Joseph Cotten, and Everett Sloane and others as well as the musical compositions by Bernard Herrmann was exceptional.

Orson Welles with a pipeOne of most famous of all old time radio show, which aired on October 30th, 1937, was the "War of the Worlds. Orson Welles and writer Howard Koch converted the well know H.G. Wells story into a seemingly live new broadcast; this episode of Mercury Theater terrified the nation into believing that the Martians were attacking Earth.

The popularity and the press that this show received earned it a sponsorship from Campbell's Soup and the name of the show was soon changed to The Campbell's Playhouse.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    23
    21     2


    COMMENTS

    I really have enjoyed listening to it so far. Great for a snow night in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, a fire with friends. Naturally, a few beverage to be enjoyed as well.

    Max Verified Purchase

    My order arrived today and many many thanks to you. They look just great and know I will enjoy each very much.

    Larry Verified Purchase

    I am enjoying all including programs I’ve heard many times, but the new copies have a much finer sound quality. The copy of Dracula from Mercury Theater now includes the intro prior to the program. Pretty interesting from a Welles nut point of view. That is an amazing program as the sound effects and music productions are magnificent. Ditto for Christmas Carol. The programs have a seamless quality regarding speech, sound effects, and music. Way to go Welles, Ora Nichols, and Bernard Herrmann!

    Debra Verified Purchase

    This is the ultimate high point of classic Radio. An amazing actor bringing together one the best collections of actors to present first class stories. Why listen to books on tape when you can have a full cast telling classic stories. By far one of my favorite cd's from OTR. One of my best thoughts on stormy nights is this is when I like to listen to Dracula or War of the Worlds. Two amazing dramatizations that is helped by a moody night. The imagination goes crazy.

    Joe Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    41 recordings on 2 MP3 CDs for just $10.00. Total playtime 27 hours, 49 min
    41 recordings on 2 MP3 CDs for just $10.00
    total playtime 27 hours, 49 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. Volume 1 - 23 shows - total playtime 10 hours 17 minutes
      MP3 CD
      Volume 1: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Lady Esther Presents 410915 01 Shredni Vashtar.mp3
    3. Lady Esther Presents 411006 04 Black Pearlanabel Lee.mp3
    4. Lady Esther Presents 411013 05 Years To Come Poetry Drama.mp3
    5. Lady Esther Presents 411103 07 Wild Oranges.mp3
    6. Lady Esther Presents 411201 11 Wilber Brown Habitat Brklyn.mp3
    7. Lady Esther Presents 411222 13 Happy Prince.mp3
    8. Lady Esther Presents 420112 16 Apple Tree.mp3
    9. Lady Esther Presents 420119 17 My Little Boy.mp3
    10. Mercury Summer Theater 460607 01 Around World In Eighty Days.mp3
    11. Mercury Summer Theater 460614 02 Count Of Monte Cristo.mp3
    12. Mercury Summer Theater 460621 03 Hitchhiker.mp3
    13. Mercury Summer Theater 460628 04 Jane Eyre.mp3
    14. Mercury Summer Theater 460705 05 Passenger To Bali.mp3
    15. Mercury Summer Theater 460712 06 Search For Henri Lefevre.mp3
    16. Mercury Summer Theater 460719 07 Life With Adam.mp3
    17. Mercury Summer Theater 460726 08 Moat Farm Murder.mp3
    18. Mercury Summer Theater 460802 09 Golden Honeymoon.mp3
    19. Mercury Summer Theater 460811 10 Hell On Ice.mp3
    20. Mercury Summer Theater 460816 11 Abednego, Slave.mp3
    21. Mercury Summer Theater 460823 12 Two Stories.mp3
    22. Mercury Summer Theater 460830 13 Moby Dick.mp3
    23. Mercury Summer Theater 460906 14 Apple Tree.mp3
    24. Mercury Summer Theater 460913 15 King Lear.mp3

    1. Volume 2 - 18 shows - total playtime 17 hours 32 minutes
      MP3 CD
      Volume 2: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Mercury Theater 380711 01 Dracula.mp3
    3. Mercury Theater 380718 02 Treasure Island.mp3
    4. Mercury Theater 380725 03 Tale Of Two Cities.mp3
    5. Mercury Theater 380801 04 Thirty Nine Steps.mp3
    6. Mercury Theater 380808 05 Im Fool My Little Boy Open Window.mp3
    7. Mercury Theater 380815 06 Abraham Lincoln.mp3
    8. Mercury Theater 380822 07 Affairs Of Anatole.mp3
    9. Mercury Theater 380829 08 Count Of Monte Cristo.mp3
    10. Mercury Theater 380905 09 Man Who Was Thursday.mp3
    11. Mercury Theater 380911 10 Julius Caesar.mp3
    12. Mercury Theater 380925 12 Immortal Sherlock Holmes.mp3
    13. Mercury Theater 381009 14 Hell On Ice.mp3
    14. Mercury Theater 381016 15 Seventeen.mp3
    15. Mercury Theater 381023 16 Around World In Eighty Days.mp3
    16. Mercury Theater 381030 17 War Of Worlds.mp3
    17. Mercury Theater 381106 18 2 Complete Stories.mp3
    18. Mercury Theater 381113 19 Passenger To Bali.mp3
    19. Mercury Theater 381120 20 Pickwick Papers.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    41 recordings on 2 MP3 Collection Downloads for just $10.00. Total playtime 27 hours, 49 min
    41 recordings on 2 MP3 Collection Downloads for just $10.00
    total playtime 27 hours, 49 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. Volume 1 - 23 shows - total playtime 10 hours 17 minutes
      Instant Download
      Volume 1: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Lady Esther Presents 410915 01 Shredni Vashtar.mp3
    3. Lady Esther Presents 411006 04 Black Pearlanabel Lee.mp3
    4. Lady Esther Presents 411013 05 Years To Come Poetry Drama.mp3
    5. Lady Esther Presents 411103 07 Wild Oranges.mp3
    6. Lady Esther Presents 411201 11 Wilber Brown Habitat Brklyn.mp3
    7. Lady Esther Presents 411222 13 Happy Prince.mp3
    8. Lady Esther Presents 420112 16 Apple Tree.mp3
    9. Lady Esther Presents 420119 17 My Little Boy.mp3
    10. Mercury Summer Theater 460607 01 Around World In Eighty Days.mp3
    11. Mercury Summer Theater 460614 02 Count Of Monte Cristo.mp3
    12. Mercury Summer Theater 460621 03 Hitchhiker.mp3
    13. Mercury Summer Theater 460628 04 Jane Eyre.mp3
    14. Mercury Summer Theater 460705 05 Passenger To Bali.mp3
    15. Mercury Summer Theater 460712 06 Search For Henri Lefevre.mp3
    16. Mercury Summer Theater 460719 07 Life With Adam.mp3
    17. Mercury Summer Theater 460726 08 Moat Farm Murder.mp3
    18. Mercury Summer Theater 460802 09 Golden Honeymoon.mp3
    19. Mercury Summer Theater 460811 10 Hell On Ice.mp3
    20. Mercury Summer Theater 460816 11 Abednego, Slave.mp3
    21. Mercury Summer Theater 460823 12 Two Stories.mp3
    22. Mercury Summer Theater 460830 13 Moby Dick.mp3
    23. Mercury Summer Theater 460906 14 Apple Tree.mp3
    24. Mercury Summer Theater 460913 15 King Lear.mp3

    1. Volume 2 - 18 shows - total playtime 17 hours 32 minutes
      Instant Download
      Volume 2: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Mercury Theater 380711 01 Dracula.mp3
    3. Mercury Theater 380718 02 Treasure Island.mp3
    4. Mercury Theater 380725 03 Tale Of Two Cities.mp3
    5. Mercury Theater 380801 04 Thirty Nine Steps.mp3
    6. Mercury Theater 380808 05 Im Fool My Little Boy Open Window.mp3
    7. Mercury Theater 380815 06 Abraham Lincoln.mp3
    8. Mercury Theater 380822 07 Affairs Of Anatole.mp3
    9. Mercury Theater 380829 08 Count Of Monte Cristo.mp3
    10. Mercury Theater 380905 09 Man Who Was Thursday.mp3
    11. Mercury Theater 380911 10 Julius Caesar.mp3
    12. Mercury Theater 380925 12 Immortal Sherlock Holmes.mp3
    13. Mercury Theater 381009 14 Hell On Ice.mp3
    14. Mercury Theater 381016 15 Seventeen.mp3
    15. Mercury Theater 381023 16 Around World In Eighty Days.mp3
    16. Mercury Theater 381030 17 War Of Worlds.mp3
    17. Mercury Theater 381106 18 2 Complete Stories.mp3
    18. Mercury Theater 381113 19 Passenger To Bali.mp3
    19. Mercury Theater 381120 20 Pickwick Papers.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    41 recordings on 29 Audio CDs. Total playtime 27 hours, 49 min
    41 recordings on 29 Audio CDs
    total playtime 27 hours, 49 min

    Mercury Theater Disc A001

    1. Mercury Theater 380711 01 Dracula

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A002

    1. Mercury Theater 380718 02 Treasure Island

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A003

    1. Mercury Theater 380725 03 Tale Of Two Cities

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A004

    1. Mercury Theater 380801 04 Thirty Nine Steps

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A005

    1. Mercury Theater 380808 05 Im Fool My Little Boy Open Window

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A006

    1. Mercury Theater 380815 06 Abraham Lincoln

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A007

    1. Mercury Theater 380822 07 Affairs Of Anatole

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A008

    1. Mercury Theater 380829 08 Count Of Monte Cristo

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A009

    1. Mercury Theater 380905 09 Man Who Was Thursday

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A010

    1. Mercury Theater 380911 10 Julius Caesar

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A011

    1. Mercury Theater 380925 12 Immortal Sherlock Holmes

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A012

    1. Mercury Theater 381009 14 Hell On Ice

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A013

    1. Mercury Theater 381016 15 Seventeen

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A014

    1. Mercury Theater 381023 16 Around World In Eighty Days

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A015

    1. Mercury Theater 381030 17 War Of Worlds

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A016

    1. Mercury Theater 381106 18 2 Complete Stories

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A017

    1. Mercury Theater 381113 19 Passenger To Bali

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A018

    1. Mercury Theater 381120 20 Pickwick Papers

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A019

    1. Lady Esther Presents 410915 01 Shredni Vashtar
    2. Lady Esther Presents 411006 04 Black Pearlanabel Lee
    3. Lady Esther Presents 411013 05 Years To Come Poetry Drama
    4. Lady Esther Presents 411103 07 Wild Oranges

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A020

    1. Lady Esther Presents 411201 11 Wilber Brown Habitat Brklyn
    2. Lady Esther Presents 411222 13 Happy Prince

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A021

    1. Lady Esther Presents 420112 16 Apple Tree
    2. Lady Esther Presents 420119 17 My Little Boy

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A022

    1. Mercury Summer Theater 460607 01 Around World In Eighty Days
    2. Mercury Summer Theater 460614 02 Count Of Monte Cristo

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A023

    1. Mercury Summer Theater 460621 03 Hitchhiker
    2. Mercury Summer Theater 460628 04 Jane Eyre

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A024

    1. Mercury Summer Theater 460705 05 Passenger To Bali
    2. Mercury Summer Theater 460712 06 Search For Henri Lefevre

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A025

    1. Mercury Summer Theater 460719 07 Life With Adam
    2. Mercury Summer Theater 460726 08 Moat Farm Murder

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A026

    1. Mercury Summer Theater 460802 09 Golden Honeymoon
    2. Mercury Summer Theater 460811 10 Hell On Ice

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A027

    1. Mercury Summer Theater 460816 11 Abednego, Slave
    2. Mercury Summer Theater 460823 12 Two Stories

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A028

    1. Mercury Summer Theater 460830 13 Moby Dick
    2. Mercury Summer Theater 460906 14 Apple Tree

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Mercury Theater Disc A029

    1. Mercury Summer Theater 460913 15 King Lear

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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