Plays on the Radio The prestige plays of the 1930s and 1940s often involved acting from some of the most famous actors and actresses of their time. They were either plays adapted from Hollywood films or Broadway or they were written especially for the radio.

As the table shows there were a number of different theater groups broadcasting on the radio. Orson Welles’ Mercury Theater on the Air was probably the most famous because of the War of the Worlds production, on 30th October 1938, which caused mass panic across America.

However the Lux Radio Theater is also well known, its host was Cecil B. De Mille from 1936 - 45, and it was broadcast on the NBC blue network. This radio show was one of the most expensive ever with single programs often costing more than 20 000 dollars. Generally there would be at least 2 big movie stars in each show, but a special show could have 3 or 4 big stars. Originally it was broadcast on a Sunday afternoon but then moved to a Monday at 9pm. It would perform hour long productions of movies with the movie stars in it.

The Cavalcade of America dramatized aspects of American life or historical incidents in the lives of great Americans.

For more information on these prestige plays see Jennie Bass's work.