Streaming Radio Start listening Pick a show to begin

The Campbell Playhouse

Description

At the end of the eighteenth show of THE MERCURY THEATER OF THE AIR, Orson Welles announced that Campbell's Soup Company was to sponsor the series. After four more shows, the series moved from Sunday to Friday and changed its name to THE CAMPBELL PLAYHOUSE. The first show of the new series aired December 9, 1938, at 8:00 PM. The new series retained the hallmarks of the old: Orson Welles was still active and shows were still sixty minutes long. Some stories were based on classic books, and popular movies were also done. The listening audience was treated to 56 shows featuring the genius of Orson Welles.

The Campbell Playhouse (1938–1940) was a live CBS radio drama series directed by and starring Orson Welles. Produced by Welles and John Houseman, it was a sponsored continuation of The Mercury Theatre on the Air. The series offered hour-long adaptations of classic plays and novels, as well as adaptations of popular motion pictures.

Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0. Updated Jul 17, 2026.

Showtimes

Original schedule

1938–19399:00 PM ET
CBS Radio Network · night
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1939–19408:00 PM ET
CBS Radio Network · night
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1940–19419:30 PM ET
CBS Radio Network · night
SuMoTuWeThFrSa

Cast & Crew

A

Anna May Wong

Cast

B

Brenda Forbes

Cast

Burgess Meredith

Elizabeth Morgan

Ernest Chappell

H

Helen Twelvetrees

Cast

R

Rhoda Williams

Cast

R

Richard Baer

Cast

Alexander Semmler

Bernard Herrmann

Jeanette MacDonald

W

Walter Huston

Cast

Daphne du Maurier

P

Philip Duffield 'Phil' Stong

Writer

Audio Clips

Audio Clip 10m40s

References

“Radio Drama - A Comprehensive Chronicle of American Network Programs, 1932-1962.” Grams Jr., Martin, n.d.

Hickerson, Jay. The 4th Revised Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide to ALL Circulating Shows.

Paulson, Roger C. Archives of the Airwaves (7 Volumes). The Old Radio Times.

Dunning, John. On the Air : The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Sperdvac Radiogram.

“RADIO PROGRAMS SCHEDULED FOR THE CURRENT WEEK New York.” New York Times, October 6, 1929.

Grams Jr., Martin. Radio Drama - A Comprehensive Chronicle of American Network Programs, 1932-1962.

“THE MICROPHONE WILL PRESENT.” New York Times, November 24, 1929.

“Today's Radio Program.” New York Times, January 1, 1927.

Links

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS REVISITED: ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE by Martin Grams, Jr.Tracy and Hepburn on the Radio Old Time Radio Program Logs By Frank Passage and Others Theme - Introduction Introduction/Theme Song Audio Classics Archive Library Files Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs The Mercury Theatre on the Air Entering The Mind's Eye

Broadcasts