$800
Welles, Orson. The Mercury Wonder Show. For. Service Men. [Los Angeles], 1943. Broadside (6 x 22”) advertising the magic and variety show Orson Welles starred in and produced during WWII. Chips and minor soiling; B+. Welles staged this morale-boosting show – based on his experience with the Mercury Theatre – in a gigantic Downie Brothers circus tent on a lot provided by MGM Studios. Co-starring with Welles were Rita Hayworth, Agnes Moorehead, and Joseph Cotten. Hayworth left the show after the claim was made that Columbia executives were worried she might be harmed when Welles sawed her in half. In fact, she had a prior film obligation. Marlene Dietrich was her replacement. The tent seated 2000; 1500 tickets were given away to servicemen every night. In 1944, the magic portion of the show was included in the film Follow the Boys. Many of the illusions used in the show were built by Thayer.
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2014-04-26
