Do you remember this one?

@celticeagle (189951)
Boise, Idaho
October 31, 2015 9:17am CST
On October,30,1938 a broadcast of H.G.Wells' 1898 War of the World done by Orson Wells took place on the CBS radio station. It put some areas of the U.S. into a long period of panic and fear. In those days people listened to the radio as their main form of entertainment. This was a time just after The Depression and Hitler was foaming at the mouth. It was three days after a article had run in the newspaper where a scientist confirmed life on Mars. People were used to having radio programs continually interrupted with news flashes and emergency news broadcasts about a speech Hitler had done some other thing like the Hindenburg going down in 1937. People were paranoid and unsure of what was to come in the world. It was after 8p. and people across the nation had just listened to Edgar Bergen's Charlie McCarthy puppet show, which was very popular on the radio at that time. and people were "dial twisting" and came across this radio play that was being done in a newscaster minute-by-minute type programming. The prelude that Orson Wells had done that this was a radio show and not really happening had already been done. So people tuned in to hear a news caster aghast at the strange creatures that had come out of a presumed meteor explosion on a farm in Grover Hills, New Jersey. Nearby there was a less that timely black out. Panic built up all over the country. People actually loaded up their belongings and fled their homes afraid that these martians would surely eat them! It wasn't until about 11p. that Orson Wells was made to make another announcement that this was just a radio play. Three hours after the beginning of the show. Three hours after many Americans had been scared that it was surely the end of the world. I remember in about 1965 or so the local radio station where I lived ran this entire program on Halloween night. I, like the radio viewers back in 1937, had come into the radio broadcast a few minutes into the play. Luckily the local broadcaster did come in every few minutes and let listeners know that this was just a play and nothing was really happening. I will tell you I fully understand how the listeners back then had felt for I was beginning to wonder if I should go tell my parents what was going on. Did you remember this? Did you hear it at some point and were you scared by it?
4 people like this
4 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
31 Oct 15
The situation was made to appear worse by the newspapers, who made a real big scene of how irresponsibly it had been presented. It did wonders for the career of Orson Wells, who was relatively unknown until this became big news.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
31 Oct 15
@celticeagle That was what the criticism was about. The whole program was presented as a series of news flashes.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189951)
• Boise, Idaho
31 Oct 15
Yes, there was a lot of mania that went on over it. Welles. should have announced it as being a play more but he wanted to get the full affect.
@celticeagle (189951)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Nov 15
@Asylum ....Yes, that was Orson's idea and it sure went over well.
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
31 Oct 15
In 1938 I was not yet born but I have read and seen so much about this event that I believe I know everything.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189951)
• Boise, Idaho
31 Oct 15
Well, it has been re-played many times.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189951)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Nov 15
@LadyDuck ...It was for the youngster, like me, who didn't know and were hearing it for the first time. Those first few minutes were scary.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
31 Oct 15
@celticeagle Yes, but everybody knew, so it was not as the first time.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Oct 15
I dont remember it Celtic, but I have read so much about it. It must have been really quite something at that time. I do not think anyone could get away with this in this time.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189951)
• Boise, Idaho
31 Oct 15
Not for long.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
31 Oct 15
I head about it in school and my grandma told me about this. But that is basically all I know about this one not much more.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189951)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Nov 15
It was quite a deal. In all the papers. Orsons got in trouble yet because famous because of it. I think it was great. Sorry it scared folks.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
1 Nov 15
@celticeagle It did make a great story and my grandma told it so well and had a good laugh over this one.