History That Doesn't Suck 191: Halloween Special V: “The War of the Worlds” on the Radio
Oct 20, 2025
Acclaimed actor and director Orson Welles reflects on his iconic 1938 radio dramatization of The War of the Worlds, which famously sparked mass panic among listeners. The discussion dives into the show’s realistic format and the contemporary anxieties that made it so believable, with Welles recounting the story’s adaptation to a 1938 American setting. They explore real-life reactions, including harrowing escape stories, and the aftermath of the broadcast, revealing the powerful impact this radio play had on American culture and the legacy it left behind.
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A Couple's Flight From A Radio 'Invasion'
- John and Estelle Paltz panicked after tuning into The War of the Worlds and fled New York with their last six dollars.
- They believed the radio bulletins were real and bought train tickets to Hartford seeking safety.
Radio's Blur Between News And Drama
- Radio in the 1930s delivered live-feeling news and reenactments that blurred fact and fiction for listeners.
- That blurred line made a realistic drama like War of the Worlds able to convince some listeners it was actual breaking news.
Orson Welles' Rapid Rise To Radio Fame
- Orson Welles brought his Mercury Theatre to radio after theatrical success and formed the Mercury Theater on the Air.
- At 23 he adapted classic literature for radio and prepared the War of the Worlds broadcast with Howard Koch's script.
