Mercury Theatre on the Air is a radio series that features live radio dramas created and hosted by Orson Welles. The show, which runs for 60 minutes, showcases classic literary works performed by Welles's Mercury Theatre repertory company. The show's tone exhibits a unique and exceptional style through the acting of various performers and the compositions of Bernard Herrmann. The format of the show focuses on classic literature, such as "Treasure Island," "The Count of Monte Cristo," and "Dracula."
The series premiered on July 11, 1938, and aired for a total of 22 episodes. It was broadcast on the CBS Radio network, airing on Mondays at 9 pm ET before moving to Sundays at 8 pm. The show made headlines with its "The War of the Worlds" broadcast on October 30, which caused panic among listeners, leading Campbell Soup Company to sign on as a sponsor. Mercury Theatre on the Air made its last broadcast on December 4, and The Campbell Playhouse took its place on December 9. The show starred numerous notable actors such as Virginia Welles, Agnes Moorehead, Joseph Cotten, and Everett Sloane.
Sources: wikipedia.org, otrcat.com