The War of the Worlds

William J. Palmer, English professor at Purdue University, said the cultural fascination with the apocalypse in America dates back to 1938 with Orson Welles' famous Halloween radio broadcast of H.G. Wells' novel "The War of the Worlds."

In this article: Purdue University, Ideology, Halloween, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Roland Emmerich

...production of Julius Caesar set in fascist Italy, had electrified the New York theatre scene in the late 1930s, while his infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast had sounded so realistic it had sparked a mass exodus in New Jersey.

In this article: Orson Welles, Herman J Mankiewicz, Pauline Kael, Citizen Kane, William Randolph Hearst, RKO, John Dillinger, Hollywood, and Macbeth

...Oct. 30, the 303rd day of 2009. There are 62 days left in the year. On Oct. 30, 1938, the radio play "The War of the Worlds," starring Orson Welles, aired on CBS. (The live drama, which employed fake breaking news reports, panicked some...

In this article: Martha Graham, Orson Welles, Department of Education, Appalachian Spring, New York Daily News, Sherman Silver Purchase Act, and World Series

...of the Munich Agreement on September 29. October 30 - Orson Welles's radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds is broadcast on CBS, causing panic in various parts of the United States. November 10 - Kate Smith sings "God Bless...

In this article: CBS, Armistice Day, BBC Empire Service, Nazi Party, God Bless America, Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, Orson Welles, and Kate Smith

...a golden age and reminders of how rich that age was. Roberts announced famous shows like "The Shadow" and "Radio Mercury Theater," where Orson Welles performed "The War of the Worlds. He also announced "Ellery Queen," Fred Allen, "Baby...

In this article: Broadway, Real Housewives of New Jersey, World War II, DeWitt Clinton High School, and Henry VIII

...- unwittingly aroused high anxiety. In October 1938, Orson Wells presented an adaptation of H.G. Wells's novel, The War of the Worlds, on his hugely popular radio program, listened to avidly by millions. Applying what, at the time, was an...

In this article: Orson Wells, Phobia, Hysteria, Anxiety, Second Authority, YouTube, H.G. Wells, Jay Leno, and The Tonight Show

...the first head of UFO investigatory Project Blue Book wrote, "The [U.S. government's] UFO files are full of references to the near mass panic of October 30, 1938, when Orson Welles presented his now famous The War of the Worlds broadcast."

In this article: Orson Welles, UFO, War of the Worlds, Cracker Jack, Holy Spirit, Mercury Theatre, The Century of the Self, and Edward Bernays

...related note, it is amusing how NJ seems to attract the UFO nuts. Just think, had Orson Welles broadcast "The War of The Worlds" today, he'd probably be in jail for terrorism. On a related note, it is amusing how NJ seems to attract the UFO...

In this article: Orson Welles, Morris County, New Jersey, and Chad

...the plot hinges around an alien race of Red Lectroids whose arrival on earth in Grover's Mill, New Jersey instigates Orson Welles' The War of the Worlds radio broadcast, with the aliens hypnotizing Welles and causing him to pass the...

In this article: Orson Welles, Mercury Theatre, Earth, War of the Worlds, Halloween, Ronald Knox, Bart, and H. G. Wells