On June 12, 1944, Orson Welles and the traveling Mercury Wonder Show present "Texarkana", a radio play written by Welles
about a fish peddler who causes a war between Texas and Arkansas. The play was part of Welles' contribution to mark the
start of the 5th War Loan Drive.

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War loan drives - eight were conducted during World War II - were sponsored by the US government to raise money for war by
selling war bonds. The total raised by all eight WWII campaigns was $185.7 billion from 85 million Americans. In the 3rd
Drive, "singer Kate Smith raised $39 million during a September 21 CBS broadcast, part of the $600 million she raised on a
series of one day broadcasts throughout the war." (Wiki)

"Orson Welles was placed on the U.S. Treasury payroll as an expert consultant for the duration of the war with a retainer
of $1 a year... On FDR's recommendation, [Secretary of the Treasury] Morgenthau asked Welles to lead the Fifth War Loan
Drive, which opened June 12 [following a speech by FDR] with a one-hour radio show on all four networks, broadcast from
Texarkana, Texas..." (Wiki) Two more broadcasts followed, the first on June 14 from the Hollywood Bowl and a second June
16 from Soldier Field, Chicago. "Americans purchased $20.6 billion ($276.9 billion today) in War Bonds during the Fifth
War Loan Drive." (Wiki)

This transcription was probably broadcast on June 14th. It was recorded on June 12th at the Paramount Theatre, now the
Perot Theatre, in Texarkana.

In addition to the play, Lud Gluskin and His Orchestra performed Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse" and Welles read Stephen
Vincent Benét's A Prayer for the United Nations.

FDR's radio "fireside chat" of June 12, 1944: http://millercenter.org/president/fdroosevelt/speeches/speech-3335

Photo: "Orson Welles Radio Drama being recorded at the Paramount Theatre, June 1944," Texarkana Museums System Archives,
http://tmsarchives.omeka.net/items/show/107