Orson Welles’ Mercury Theater on the Air | Old Time Radio
https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com
Orson Welles’ Mercury Theater on the Air stands as one of the most groundbreaking achievements of the golden age of radio. Featuring bold dramatizations, cinematic soundscapes, and Welles’ unmistakable voice, each restored episode showcases the creativity and power of the legendary Mercury players. From classic literature to gripping adventure tales, the series brought stories to life with unmatched intensity, atmosphere, and innovation—laying the foundation for modern audio drama and forever changing the medium.
🎧 Fully restored and professionally remastered with enhanced audio.
Source: OTRR.org – Certified Public Domain Collection.
Restoration and curation by Old Time Retro Radio.
🎧 Listen to Orson Welles’ Mercury Theater on the Air and all our restored shows on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection.
#OldTimeRadio #MercuryTheater #OrsonWelles #GoldenAgeBroadcast #VintageDrama
Episodes

Friday Jan 30, 2026
Friday Jan 30, 2026
https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com
A powerful radio adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s timeless novel, The Count of Monte Cristo aired as part of The Mercury Theatre on the Air, the groundbreaking series produced and directed by Orson Welles. This episode brings the epic tale of betrayal, imprisonment, and calculated revenge to life through dramatic narration and immersive performances that defined radio’s golden age.
The story follows Edmond Dantès, a young sailor falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned, who reemerges years later under a new identity to execute a meticulously planned reckoning against those who destroyed his life. Condensed for radio yet rich in atmosphere and emotion, this broadcast captures the moral complexity and dramatic intensity that made the novel a literary classic.
🎧 Fully restored and professionally remastered with enhanced audio.Source: OTRR.org – Certified Public Domain Collection.Curated by Old Time Retro Radio.
🎧 Listen to Old Time Retro Radio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection.
#OldTimeRadio #GoldenAgeBroadcast #MercuryTheatre #RadioDrama #VintageAudio

Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com
A classic old time radio broadcast from the golden age of radio, featuring a dramatic adaptation from the renowned Mercury Theatre on the Air. This episode, “The Affairs of Anatole,” originally aired on August twenty-second, nineteen thirty-eight, and showcases the sharp dialogue, theatrical storytelling, and sophisticated performances that defined the series.
Mercury Theatre on the Air was famous for bringing literary works and original dramas to life through powerful narration, atmospheric sound design, and compelling voice performances. This episode blends intrigue, wit, and dramatic tension, reflecting the experimental and ambitious spirit that made the program one of the most influential radio series of its era.
Source: OTRR.org – Certified Public Domain Collection.Curated by Old Time Retro Radio.
🎧 Listen to Old Time Retro Radio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection.
#OldTimeRadio #GoldenAgeBroadcast #RadioDrama #ClassicRadio #VintageAudio

Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com
A powerful radio dramatization from Mercury Theatre on the Air, presenting a dramatic portrait of Abraham Lincoln during one of the most defining periods in American history. Performed with the intensity and theatrical precision that made the series famous, this episode blends historical reflection with compelling dramatic storytelling, capturing the moral weight, leadership struggles, and human depth of one of the nation’s most enduring figures.
Originally broadcast in nineteen thirty-eight, this production reflects the golden age of radio at its finest, when history, literature, and performance merged to create unforgettable audio experiences. The episode showcases the bold narrative style and immersive performances that would soon make the Mercury Theatre a cultural phenomenon.
🎧 Fully restored and professionally remastered with enhanced audio.Source: OTRR.org – Certified Public Domain Collection.Curated by Old Time Retro Radio.
🎧 Listen to Old Time Retro Radio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection.
#OldTimeRadio #GoldenAgeBroadcast #RadioDrama #HistoricalDrama #VintageAudio

Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com
A classic broadcast from Mercury Theatre on the Air, originally aired in August of nineteen thirty-eight. This episode features a trio of dramatic adaptations—I’m a Fool, My Little Boy, and Open Window—presented in the bold, experimental style that made the Mercury Theatre one of the most influential programs of radio’s golden age. Known for its innovative storytelling and theatrical intensity, the series brought sophisticated drama and literary adaptations to life through sound alone.
Source: OTRR.org – Certified Public Domain Collection.Curated by Old Time Retro Radio.
🎧 Listen to Old Time Retro Radio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection.
#OldTimeRadio #MercuryTheatre #GoldenAgeBroadcast #RadioDrama #VintageAudio

Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com
A classic old time radio broadcast from the golden age of radio, presented by Mercury Theatre on the Air. This episode features “The Thirty Nine Steps,” a suspenseful radio adaptation of the famous espionage thriller, originally broadcast on August first, nineteen thirty-eight. Starring Orson Welles, this dramatic production delivers intrigue, danger, and international conspiracy through powerful performances and atmospheric storytelling.
Mercury Theatre on the Air was known for its bold adaptations of literary classics and its innovative approach to radio drama. This episode showcases the tension, pacing, and cinematic imagination that made the series one of the most influential programs of its era.
Source: OTRR.org – Certified Public Domain Collection.Curated by Old Time Retro Radio.
🎧 Listen to Old Time Retro Radio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection.
#OldTimeRadio #GoldenAgeBroadcast #RadioDrama #ClassicRadio #VintageAudio

Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com
Orson Welles presents Charles Dickens’ sweeping story of sacrifice and revolution in this unforgettable dramatization of A Tale of Two Cities. Broadcast in July of nineteen thirty-eight, this episode blends historical drama with haunting emotion, capturing the turmoil of the French Revolution through unforgettable characters and powerful narration.
🎧 Fully restored and professionally remastered with enhanced audio.Source: OTRR.org – Certified Public Domain Collection.Restoration and curation by Old Time Retro Radio.
🎧 Listen to The Mercury Theatre on the Air and all our restored shows on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection.
#OldTimeRadio, #OrsonWelles, #MercuryTheatre, #HistoricalDrama, #ClassicRadioPlays

Monday Dec 08, 2025
Monday Dec 08, 2025
https://www.oldtimeretroradio.comSet sail with one of radio’s greatest live broadcasts as the Mercury Theatre brings Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure to life. Orson Welles leads a masterful cast through a tale of danger, buried treasure, mutiny, and mystery on the open sea. This legendary 1938 production remains one of the finest examples of dramatic radio storytelling from the golden age of broadcasting.
🎧 Fully restored and professionally remastered with enhanced audio.Source: Archive.org – Public Domain Audiobook Collection.All works are verified public domain recordings.Restoration and curation by Old Time Retro Radio.
🎧 Listen to The Mercury Theatre on the Air and all our restored shows on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection.
#OldTimeRadio, #GoldenAgeBroadcast, #MercuryTheatre, #OrsonWelles, #ClassicDrama

Wednesday Dec 03, 2025
Wednesday Dec 03, 2025
https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com
An unforgettable broadcast that changed radio forever. This chilling adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic unfolds through haunting performances, atmospheric sound design, and the unmistakable tension that made the Mercury Theatre legendary. First aired in July nineteen thirty-eight, this dramatic retelling draws listeners into the shadow of Count Dracula as he journeys from Transylvania to England, leaving fear and mystery in his wake.
🎧 Fully restored and professionally remastered with enhanced audio.Source: OTRR.org – Certified Public Domain Collection.Restoration and curation by Old Time Retro Radio.
🎧 Listen to Mercury Theatre on the Air and all our restored shows on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection.
#OldTimeRadio, #GoldenAgeBroadcast, #RadioHorror, #MercuryTheatre, #VintageDrama







