Who read War of the Worlds on radio?

Orson Welles
The War of the Worlds (1938 radio drama)

Orson Welles tells reporters that no one connected with the broadcast had any idea that it would cause panic (October 31, 1938).
Genre	Radio drama, science fiction
Narrated by	Orson Welles
Recording studio	Columbia Broadcasting Building, 485 Madison Avenue, New York

When did Orson Wells broadcast War of the Worlds?

Oct. 30, 1938
Almost 85 years ago – Oct. 30, 1938 – “War of the Worlds” was broadcast on CBS Radio, including KNX (1070 AM) here in Los Angeles. In his radio adaption of H. G. Wells’ book for his program “Mercury Theater on the Air,” Orson Welles scared the nation into believing that Earth was being taken over by Martians.

Is Orson Wells related to H.G. Wells?

On Oct. 30, 1938, the Mercury Theatre on the Air went on the air with a broadcast called “The War of the Worlds.” The show was the brainchild of Orson Wells, based on the 1898 novel by his near namesake, H.G. Wells (second image).

Was the alien invasion on Star Trek real?

Though the program was peppered with reminders that it was theatrical, many people who tuned in thought that the alien invasion was real, and breathless newspaper headlines later described widespread panic caused by the prospect of an alien invasion.

What happened in the war of the Worlds radio show?

Broadcast Hysteria: Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds and the Art of Fake News. On the evening of October 30, 1938, radio listeners across the U.S. heard a startling report of mysterious creatures and terrifying war machines moving toward New York City.

What is the frequency range selected for listening?

The frequency selected for listening was 1420.4057 52 megacycles per second, or a wave length of 21 cm.

What would a militaristic alien attack look like?

A militaristic alien attack would involve extraterrestrials that are not only intelligent and technically advanced, but who also know that humans exist and can travel to our solar system, Wall told Live Science. An improbable number of variables would have to fall into place for that to happen.

Can you listen to the War of the Worlds radio broadcast?

Stream “War Of The Worlds” Radio Broadcast 1938, Orson Welles by tp_arg_okindermann | Listen online for free on SoundCloud.

Why didn’t Orson Welles read the novel as it was written?

For the radio broadcast War of the Worlds, why didn’t Orson Welles read the novel as it was written? He wanted to create suspense by making the story feel more immediate and real. Read this passage: Good heavens, something’s wriggling out of the shadow like a gray snake.

Why did War of the Worlds cause panic?

The massive hysteria was caused by the confusion of some listeners who tuned in to the broadcast of the play late and missed the introduction which provided the context for the broadcast. ”War of the worlds” was not planned as a radio hoax, and Welles had little idea of the chaos it would cause.

What happened in The War of the Worlds radio broadcast?

… Orson Welles’s radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds was mistaken by the gullible for actual news reportage of marauding Martians sacking and looting New Jersey. The episode provoked a famous attack of mass panic, making it perhaps the most famous radio drama of all time.

What happened October 30th 1938?

“The War of the Worlds” radio broadcast happened October 30, 1938. “The War of the Worlds,” Orson Welles’ realistic radio dramatization of a Martian invasion of Earth, was broadcast on the radio on this day in 1938. Welles was only 23 years old when his Mercury Theater…

Are there still radio dramas?

Radio drama remains popular in much of the world, though most material is now available through internet download rather than heard over terrestrial or satellite radio. Stations producing radio drama often commission a large number of scripts.

Why was radio so powerful to people in the 1930s?

For the radio, the 1930s was a golden age. Radio may have had such mass appeal because it was an excellent way of uniting communities of people, if only virtually. It provided a great source of entertainment with much loved comedians such as Jack Benny and Fred Allen making their names on the wireless.

Who is the most famous radio drama actor?

On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre panicked millions of radio listeners with their inventive production of War of the Worlds. It’s the most famous radio drama of all time, and it made the news by pretending to be the news.

How did Welles react to the panic caused by his radio broadcast The War of the Worlds apex?

What was Welles’s reaction to the public panic caused by his radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds? He could not believe that so many listeners had thought the events described in the broadcast were real.

Is War of the Worlds based on a true story?

The film bases its documentary approach on the 1938 Orson Welles CBS radio broadcast of War of the Worlds, by presenting itself as a true account of actual events. We are approaching the story in the same way, as if it were an actual news documentary”.

Where did the aliens land in War of the Worlds?

Much of The War of the Worlds takes place around Woking and the surrounding area. The initial landing site of the Martian invasion force, Horsell Common, was an open area close to Wells’ home.

Who made The War of the Worlds radio broadcast?

Orson Welles causes a nationwide panic with his broadcast of “War of the Worlds”—a realistic radio dramatization of a Martian invasion of Earth. Orson Welles was only 23 years old when his Mercury Theater company decided to update H.G. Wells’ 19th-century science fiction novel War of the Worlds for national radio.

What was the first radio broadcast?

First Wireless Radio Broadcast by Reginald A. Fessenden, 1906. On 24 December 1906, the first radio broadcast for entertainment and music was transmitted from Brant Rock , Massachusetts to the general public.

What is War of the Worlds radio?

The War of the Worlds (radio drama) The one-hour program began with the theme music for the Mercury Theatre on the Air and an announcement that the evening’s show was an adaption of The War of the Worlds. This was followed by a prologue read by Orson Welles which was closely based on the opening of H.G. Wells’ novel.