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War of the Worlds Broadcast
Season 2 · Episode 108

War of the Worlds Broadcast

Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre send the nation into a panic - or not

History Dispatches

March 11, 202621m 17s

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Show Notes

For the Halloween special of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre on the Air, in 1938, they performed a radio adaptation of HG Wells’ landmark science fiction novel 'War of the Worlds.' The only problem is that it was so realistic, it caused panic amongst listeners, who thought a Martian invasion was imminent. At least, allegedly. This is the story of the 'War of the Worlds' broadcast.


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Sources


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q7tN7MhQ4I

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Worlds_(1938_radio_drama)

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/infamous-war-worlds-radio-broadcast-was-magnificent-fluke-180955180/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orson-Welles-Studio-1938.jpg


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