The Mercury Theatre on the Air gained a sponsor in the Campbell Soup Company, and changed its name to the Campbell Playhouse. The sensation created by the War of the Worlds broadcast convinced Campbell’s that Welles could garner continued attention and great ratings. The introduction to the first episode, an adaptation of a bestselling novel of 1938, Rebecca, describes Welles as a genius and gives him a platform to describe his philosophy of radio drama as something different from motion pictures and the stage.
Welles produced 56 episodes of Campbell Playhouse; 48 are presented here.