The Mercury Wonder Show
by
The Mercury Wonder Show was a live stage production created by Orson Welles and presented in Los Angeles during World War II. Welles performed as a magician and master of ceremonies, with actress Rita Hayworth among the performers. The title also names the show’s wartime radio broadcast featuring Welles and Lucille Ball.
Its appeal lies in the blend of theatrical spectacle and radio performance: magic, comedy, and show-business presentation brought together under Welles’s flamboyant direction. On radio, the visual tricks become part of the atmosphere rather than something listeners can see, while the performers’ voices and the show’s lively presentation carry the entertainment.
Expect an unusual variety-show experience rather than a conventional dramatic series. Welles’s commanding presence and the contrast between theatrical illusion and radio’s sound-only medium give the program its distinctive character.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.