The Mercury Theatre and The War of the Worlds

The Mercury Theatre started as a theatrical production company in New York City. The company started in August of 1937 and with a budget of $100, produced a successful adaptation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar set in then Fascist Italy. The play was the brainchild of Orson Welles, who at the age of 21, was already a radio theatre veteran. Along with John Houseman, Welles had been responsible for the formation of the Mercury Theatre. Welles had been given his own radio program, which he originally had titled First Person Singular; he wanted to use this platform to showcase the talents of his Mercury players. On July 11,1938, the Mercury Theatre of the Air first broadcast from New York City on the CBS network. It was from the innovative Mercury Theatre and the minds of Orson Welles and John Houseman that one of the most important events in broadcast history resulted. (Scarborough, Mercury Theatre of the Air)

Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, May 6,1915, George Orson Welles was quickly considered a prodigy. He was reported to be reading Shakespeare at the age of three. At five he was performing with the Chicago Opera. Welles was orphaned at age 15 and was soon enrolled in the Todd School for Boys. Upon graduation, Welles found Broadway work scarce and took to performing in Europe until a meeting at a party in Chicago got him a job working with a traveling acting troop. He soon found his way to Broadway, but work was scarce even though he had broken into such a prestigious acting arena. Welles also soon found himself with a wife, and in order to support her Welles began to act on radio. With his powerful voice Welles found his first radio work on The March of Time where he narrated the show from 1935 to 1937. In 1937 Welles got what would be considered his first break portraying "the Shadow" for the Mutual Broadcasting System.("Orson Welles") Shortly after, Welles and John Houseman, with only $100 started the Mercury Theatre.