Don't Panic

In 1897, H.G. Wells published his short story The War of the Worlds. It is considered to be the first narrative of a conflict between humans and aliens and was very popular at the time of publication all the way up until today. In fact, in 1938, it was an extremely influential radio broadcast. 

Photo: biography.com

Actor Orson Welles worked with the Columbia Broadcasting System to put on a radio drama of The War of the Worlds. Welles and the Mercury Theatre on Air collaborated to update the 40 year old short story and make it sound plausible. 

Photo: war-ofthe-worlds.co.uk

Despite an intro that stated it was a dramatization of the story, panic ensued because many listeners missed the intro. Plus, it was performed to sound very much like a real news broadcast interrupting a program of music. As RadioLab hosts pointed out, this style had become commonplace due to the rise of the Nazi party in Germany.

Photo: people.ku.edu

At the end of the broadcast, Welles came on the air to inform listeners that it was a Halloween trick, but the story of a Martian invasion was picked up by newspapers and the hysteria continued. People made inquiries into where they should go to be safe from a Martian invasion or, rather, a German invasion. Some listeners believed that the Germans had attacked New Jersey and New York and that the radio host was simply confused. 

Photo: authorama.com

The truth eventually came out and the nation returned to normal. However, the story has been performed since the original broadcast and it caused panic again, especially in Quito, Ecuador. Happy Halloween!

Photo: telegraph.co.uk