The War of the Worlds

In 1938, on Halloween night, the sensational radio broadcast of War of the Worlds caused listeners to tremble and panic. Orson Welles, the mastermind behind this electrifying adaptation of the H.G. Wells timeless classic, sent shockwaves through America.

To many radio listeners, this gripping radio play sounded like a real news story about a Martian invasion - starting with a space ship landing in New Jersey, and followed by a ground invasion making its way to New York city.  The play used immersive sound effects, such as terrified bystanders, a skittish news reporter, alien weaponry, and the destruction of buildings and infrastructure. 

The reaction to  War of the Worlds was as legendary as the broadcast itself. The public's response bordered on hysteria - the telephone network was swamped with calls, and the police surrounded and entered the CBS Radio Network in an attempt to stop the broadcast.  Once it was clear that the story was just a story, the event sparked a national conversation about media responsibility and the power of storytelling. Orson Welles, initially interrogated by the police, was later hailed as a genius for his exceptional voice acting work.

Listen to what Mary Labrie and Greg Flynn discovered in their research into the story, the controversy, the actors and what many consider the first instance of 'fake news.'  

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