The Mercury Theatre on the Air

The Mercury Theatre on the Air was a pioneering radio drama series created by Orson Welles and John Houseman in the late 1930s. It produced high-quality adaptations of classic literature and original stories, featuring talented actors and innovative sound design. The show gained fame for its dramatic storytelling and realism, notably its 1938 broadcast of "The War of the Worlds," which caused public panic by simulating a Martian invasion as if it were real news. The Mercury Theatre on the Air helped elevate radio drama as an art form and showcased Welles' emerging talent in entertainment.