The Campbell Playhouse - "Showboat" (03-31-39)

Showboat (Aired March 31, 1939)

The Campbell Playhouse was a sponsored continuation of the Mercury Theater on the Air, a direct result of the instant publicity from the War of the Worlds panic. The switch occurred on December 9, 1938. In spite of using the same creative staff, the show had a different flavor under sponsorship, partially attributed to a guest star policy in place, which relegated the rest of the Mercury Players to supporting cast for Orson Welles and the Hollywood guest of the week. There was a growing schism between Welles, still reaping the rewards of his Halloween night notoriety, and his collaborator John Houseman, still in the producer's chair but feeling more like an employee than a partner. The writer, as during the unsponsored run, was Howard Koch.

THIS EPISODE:

March 31, 1939. CBS network. "Show Boat". Sponsored by: Campbell's Soup. Edna Ferber, the author, also makes her acting debut in the story and speaks about her novel after the drama. The classic about love on the Mississippi features Helen Morgan in the role she made famous (and that made her famous). Edna Ferber (author), Ernest Chappell (announcer), Everett Sloane, Grace Cotten, Helen Morgan, Margaret Sullavan, Orson Welles (host), Ray Collins (narrator), William Johnstone. 58:42. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.