Orson Welles Welles had not been drafted. "The Mercury Wonder Show" ran August 3 – September 9, 1943, in an 80-by-120-foot tent located at 9000 Cahuenga Boulevard, in the heart of Hollywood. At intermission September 7, 1943, KMPC radio interviewed audience and cast members of "The Mercury Wonder Show"—including Welles and Rita Hayworth, who were married earlier that day. Welles remarked that "The Mercury Wonder Show" had been performed for approximately 48,000 members of the U.S. armed forces. The idea of doing a radio variety show occurred to Welles after his success as substitute host of four consecutive episodes (March 14 –
Me and Orson Welles going to the DIY route, if it proves successful, it's going to be done a lot more in the future." During its theatrical release (November 25, 2009 – February 25, 2010), "Me and Orson Welles" grossed a total of $1,190,003 in the United States and $2,336,172 worldwide. The film has received positive reviews from critics. It currently holds an 86% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 154 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads, ""Me and Orson Welles" boasts a breakout performance by Christian McKay and an infectious love of the backstage drama