War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast
On October 30, 1938 over 6 million listeners tuned in for Mercury Theater on the Air's adaptation of "The War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells.
Writers Howard Koch and John Houseman were tasked with creating the radio play in less then a week. With only a hasty rehearsal and a substantial rewrite just days before, the theater group was only hoping to get through the night without a major flop.
The breaking news format where a reporter interrupted the regular programming at intervals until taking over the airwaves with the panic and confusion of a Martian invasion proved to be incredibly realistic. So realistic, a reported 1 million listeners actually believed an invasion was occurring.
At the conclusion of the broadcast, the police stormed the broadcast booth, confiscated scripts and interviewed the players.
Orson Welles, already a Broadway theater favorite, had notched an incredible success and furthered his legendary status. He wanted to demonstrate to America through this Halloween hoax that you shouldn't take everything you hear as the truth. A message that, unfortunately, needs to be repeated from time to time.
The Complete War of the Worlds
A coffee table book telling the story behind one of the most notorious radio broadcasts in history Orson Welles' 1938 adaptation of The War of the Worlds . With a foreword by Ray Bradbury, the work includes a full script of the radio play as well as the text of H.G. Wells' original novel (the accompanying audio CD enables readers to hear the broadcast). It also discusses imitators, precursors, and the reasons the prospect of life on Mars has fascinated and frightened generations. Lavishly illustrated with photos, drawings, and reproductions of lurid science- fiction dust jackets. Oversize: 9.75x10.75
Contains the original story by H.G. Wells, and describes how Orson Welles was inspired by the tale of Martian invasion to create the radio broadcast in 1938 which frightenend over one million people. Beautiful 200 page hardback plus a Audio Compact Disc.
Includes the full text & original illustrations of H.G. Wells' Classic
Hear the actual, terror-inspiring broadcast and more on Audio CD. Foreward by Ray Bradbury and Afterword by Ben Bova.
The War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast
Starring Orson Welles in the most famous radio broadcast of all time that sent the country into a frenzy and a panic. Howard Kotch wrote the script for this dramatization of H.G. Wells's thrilling novel of the same name.
Strange energies are seen emanating from the planet Mars which are passed off by the world's leading scientists as natural phenomena on Mars. However, as soon after these energies are seen, the Earth is subjugated by an invading army of three-legged machines of destruction and heat rays that burn their victims aliave. An astronomer who survives has hope for the future.
One is easily taken in by the broadcast. DON'T PANIC! It's just a radio show
More Old Radio Shows available on CD and Cassettes.
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