War of the Worlds. A Halloween Eve (October 30/1938) CBS live broadcast radio drama, played out for a prank. Produced and directed by Orson Welles of the Mercury Theatre Players and based upon the 1898 H.G. Wells novel. The radio airing terrified many of its listeners, especially the ones who tuned into the broadcast late, and thought it was a live news broadcast of a real alien invasion from outer space.
A Princeton psychologist of the day, found in his study of the mass hysteria, that 2 million people were alarmed into thinking the alien attack was legitimate.
The short audio portion in this video is of the specific section of the 60 minute radio play that prompted most of the listening audience to believe it an actual attack.
The day after the radio airing, Orson Welles apologized to the public for the panic he had ‘created’.
Welles later said:
“Radio in those days, before the tube and the transistor, wasn’t just a noise in somebody’s pocket – it was the voice of authority. Too much so. At least, I thought so. It was time for someone to take the starch out of some of that authority: hence my broadcast.”
(*Note* This is the year that marks the 70th Halloween, since that newsworthy event took place.)
Happy Halloween 2008, everyone.
Video created October 29/2008 by MisterCanning.
Duration : 0:2:19
[youtube YTvU9j3og5k]
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
1:50 rofl. love it.
1:50 rofl. love it.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I can see why they …
I can see why they panicked.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
hell yeaaaaaa
yeaaaaaa
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
very creepy
-annie …
very creepy
-annie
(”I” is dotted with hear)
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
kinda spooky
- …
kinda spooky
-griffin
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
dude you think …
dude you think around 20 is a lot?
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
no lot of ppl died …
no lot of ppl died so yea
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Happy Halloween …
Happy Halloween everyone. It’s the 71st anniversary of this classic radio broadcast.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
A humped shape is …
A humped shape is rising out of the pit. I can make out a small beam of light against a mirror. What’s that? There’s a jet of flame springing from that mirror, and it leaps right at the advancing men. It strikes them head on! Good Lord, they’re turning into flame!
Now the whole field’s caught fire.
The woods… the barns… the gas tanks of automobiles… it’s spreading everywhere. It’s coming this way. About twenty yards to my right…
(ABRUPT DEAD SILENCE)
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
The captain is …
The captain is conferring with someone. We can’t quite see who. Oh yes, I believe it’s Professor Pierson. Yes, it is. Now they’ve parted and the Professor moves around one side, studying the object, while the captain and two policemen advance with something in their hands.
I can see it now. It’s a white handkerchief tied to a pole… a flag of truce. If those creatures know what that means… what ANYTHING means…
Wait a minute! Something’s happening…
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Ladies and gent… …
Ladies and gent… Am I on? Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, here I am, back of a stone wall that adjoins Mr. Wilmuth’s garden. From here I get a sweep of the whole scene. I’ll give you every detail as long as I can talk and as long as I can see.
More state police have arrived They’re drawing up a cordon in front of the pit, about thirty of them. No need to push the crowd back now. They’re willing to keep their distance.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
ANNOUNCER
We …
ANNOUNCER
We are bringing you an eyewitness account of what’s happening on the Wilmuth farm, Grovers Mill, New Jersey.
(MORE PIANO)
ANNOUNCER
We now return you to Carl Phillips at Grovers Mill.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Primera vez quer …
Primera vez quer oigo esta grabacion, muy buena ambientacion, una demostracion de ingenio y de imaginacion, solo utilizando una radio de 1938, que lo pario…
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
before this was …
before this was broadcast the people playing the prank told the audience it was a joke so I’m not really feeling sorry for the people who believed this unless they tuned in during the middle
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
all yall foos …
all yall foos talkin bout that ballon boy head hoax
need to go to another video with that bullshit
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
idiot
your should …
idiot
your should be “you’re stupid”, which you are
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
you lmao!!!!!! …
you lmao!!!!!!!!!
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
its so funny that …
its so funny that people died over this i mean death is not funny but in this situation is hilarious
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
you fuck
you fuck
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
lol…. your …
lol…. your stupid. That ballon could hold 90 pounds… that kid was 40. Dumb fuck
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
yeah nowadays …
yeah nowadays people are so smart they believe a boy can fly in a balloon shaped like a spaceship
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
people were alot …
people were alot more supersticious and stupid back in those days so it wasnt hard to fool them and this is pretty realistic.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
This is bullshit
… 
you make it sound like some bunch of suicidal afghans gathering..
This is bullshit
Some people however did try to evacuate, arm themselves, or hide – in other words: Panic.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
dam, this is pretty …
dam, this is pretty realistic, i can see why people in those days reacted in such a way
November 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
800 families …
800 families commited suicide because of this…..