Witness History Orson Welles broadcasts The War of the Worlds
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Oct 30, 2025 
Orson Welles, an iconic American actor and director, recounts the chilling night in 1938 when his Mercury Theatre broadcast The War of the Worlds. He shares how the adaptation transformed a seemingly dull show into a gripping tale of Martian invasion, complete with realistic news interruptions. This innovation sparked widespread panic, with listeners fleeing in fear. Welles humorously recalls the chaos, highlighting the power of radio to unite and terrify audiences. The discussion touches on the lasting impact and subsequent regulations on broadcasting that followed.
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Random Map Pick Became A Real Panic
- Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre rehearsed and chose Grover's Mills randomly on a map as the landing site for the Martians.
- Welles deliberately updated the 1897 story to a modern US setting to make the broadcast feel real and immediate.
Radio Created Shared Instant Drama
- Radio created a shared, synchronous experience that magnified drama for millions at once.
- That collective immediacy made broadcasts uniquely powerful and potentially unsettling.
Realistic Newsflashes Triggered Belief
- The play interrupted music with realistic newsflashes and silence to mimic live reporting and amateur radio chatter.
- Those techniques provoked many listeners to believe an actual invasion was unfolding.
