War of the Worlds: Orson Welles' Alien Invasion Hoax

Jul 22, 2025

Join A. Brad Schwartz, a writer and historian known for his book on Orson Welles, as he delves into the 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast. He uncovers the reality behind the panic, revealing that only a small fraction of listeners were truly alarmed by the staged alien invasion. Schwartz discusses the powerful role of media in shaping public perception and fear, and how the broadcast remains a watershed moment in media history. Expect insights on the intertwining of fiction and societal anxieties, and a reflection on today's misinformation landscape.

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INSIGHT

Wells' Groundbreaking Sci-Fi Context

H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds pioneered the alien invasion genre and reflected scientific ideas about Mars.
It encapsulated political anxiety of empires fearing their own decline and foreshadowed war horrors.

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INSIGHT

Alien Invasion as Empire Reversal

The story's setting in idyllic Surrey symbolizes the pinnacle and vulnerability of British Empire.
The alien invasion reverses colonial domination fears, making the powerful suddenly powerless.

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INSIGHT

Early Science in Sci-Fi

Wells integrated cutting-edge science like evolution and planetary aging into his story.
Ideas like planetary resource depletion and ecological colonization anticipated modern scientific concepts.

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H.G. Wells' 'War of the Worlds': Cultural Reflections

05:16 • 14min

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The Panic of 'The War of the Worlds'

19:30 • 12min

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Exploring the Reality Behind 'War of the Worlds' Panic

31:46 • 4min

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Cultural Reactions to an Alien Invasion: Fear and Media Influence

36:09 • 4min

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Media Mayhem: The 'War of the Worlds' Panic

40:15 • 7min

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Exploring 'War of the Worlds' Archives and Exciting New Podcast Format

47:21 • 2min

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Broadcast hysteria

A. Brad Schwartz

In 1938, Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds radio broadcast stunned America. It was a defining moment in broadcast history - reports claimed it caused mass panic, with listeners believing Martians had truly invaded, and fleeing their homes in terror. But how much of that panic was real, and how much was media hype?

In this episode we're joined by A. Brad Schwartz, author of 'Broadcast Hysteria: Orson Welles's War of the Worlds and the Art of Fake News'. He helps us to separate fact from fiction, and explains what this story tells us about the power of mass media and the spread of misinformation.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Tim Arstall.

You can read the letters written to Orson Welles about his famous broadcast here -https://quod.lib.umich.edu/w/wow/.

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