Mercedes McCambridge
Recorded October 29th, 1976 - 30 min
Actress who appeared on hundreds of radio dramas in a career that spanned the radio days. She was heard on programs created by Orson Welles, Carlton E. Morse, Arch Oboler and Himan Brown. Her broadcast work led her to the movies and the theater. She was born March 17, 1918 and was 58 at the time of our visit backstage at the Drury Lane Theatre in Evergreen Park, a Chicago suburb. She died March 2, 2004 at age 87.
I Love A Mystery - 11/14/49 - The thing that cries in the night (Chapter 11)
Did you enjoy the interview? Listen to Mercedes McCambridge as "Cherry" in "The Thing that Cries in the Night" (Chapter 11), an I Love A Mystery adventure from November 14th, 1949.
July 30, 2011 at 7:06 pm
I have enjoyed Mercedes McCambridge for many years and do remember her many appearances on Mystery Theater. I do agree, Imagination is a special part of radio. I really enjoy the radio programs of the past. Thank You.
December 28, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Boy! When McCambridge explains how using her voice in radio is different than in film or television by performing the voice she used in the film The Exorcist my hair stood up! Excellent actress!
April 12, 2012 at 2:05 am
Loved her voice projection in, I believe, only one episode of Bewitched, playing Carlotta in 1969, the witch who was determined her son was going to marry Darrin, from an old promise of Endora’s centuries earlier. Although she might not be too proud of that, as career and her alcoholism I think were at a bad time and she couldn’t be all that choosy in what she did. I know she admired Agnes Moorehead, and they had worked together before. If you’ve never seen it, the episode is worth a look at.
June 19, 2014 at 4:15 am
I knew Mecy as a young actor in University when she was artists in residence. I loved this wonderful interview and have sent it to my son who is a professional actor in NY.
February 7, 2016 at 8:01 pm
Mercedes MacCambridge made a public appearance at Miami University of Ohio, near my home, before a group of college students. She talked about her book and her battles with alcoholism, but inquired why there weren’t many students in attendance. It was on a Wednesday, but she asked if they were all in the bars. This was funny, considering college students do like to drink, but usually on Saturday nights. The people there knew her mainly as the voice of the Devil in the Exorcist. She explained that she had had bronchitis as a child and simply imitated that husky voice. When she asked for questions, I stood up in the back and commented that I remembered her from the Inner Sanctum and I Love A Mystery programs which the other people were too young to remember. She blew me a kiss from the stage and later gave me an autograph. Charming lady. You could always tell it was her on radio as her voice had a certain timbre to it when she was getting excited. In a contest between her and Agnes Moorehead, it would be a very close tie as to whom should be the First Lady of Dramatic Radio.