Orson Welles - War Of The Worlds - Radio Broadcast 1938 - Complete Broadcast.

Orson Welles - War Of The Worlds - Radio Broadcast 1938 - Complete Broadcast.
The War of the Worlds was an episode of the American radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air. It was performed as a Halloween episode of the series on October 30, 1938 and aired over the Columbia Broadcasting System radio network. Directed and narrated by Orson Welles, the episode was an adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds.
The first two thirds of the 60-minute broadcast were presented as a series of simulated "news bulletins", which suggested to many listeners that an actual alien invasion by Martians was currently in progress. Compounding the issue was the fact that the Mercury Theatre on the Air was a 'sustaining show' (it ran without commercial breaks), thus adding to the program's quality of realism. Although there were sensationalist accounts in the press about a supposed panic in response to the broadcast, the precise extent of listener response has been debated. In the days following the adaptation, however, there was widespread outrage. The program's news-bulletin format was decried as cruelly deceptive by some newspapers and public figures, leading to an outcry against the perpetrators of the broadcast, but the episode secured Orson Welles' fame.

[@therubbercop4590]

The “reporter” saying “Am I on?” just adds to the realism

[@tim3854]

that was probably a clever gag 80 yrs ago

[@stetsongray5355]

Number link to when he said it?

[@stevenorourke9395]

@@stetsongray5355 16:37

[@sesqu7270]

People on zoom calls

[@willtheprodigy3819]

The idea that thousands panicked because of this is a myth spun by journalists to discredit news broadcasting, a growing industry hurting newspaper profits.

[@Diraphe]

Damn Martians keep interrupting my orchestra listening.

[@stelleldir]

hahahahaha XD

[@unklewink]

Diraphe I know, right? That Ramone Rochello band really rocks.

[@MerleOberon]

+MikeJames6 I'm a big Bobby Millette fan myself.

[@thebammer5166]

+Diraphe If you're a Martian, you interrupt Ramon Raquello and his Orchestra. Its what you do.

[@stevemercure902]

+Paul Foor Man I wanted to hear Stardust....

[@MyNameIsGhost]

The fact that this was performed and broadcasted live rather than pre recorded is really insane to think

[@nobodynever4326]

Most of the music and soundtracks, as well as some of Wells broadcasts were prerecorded and cut together a few days ahead...

[@DeamonthePrincess]

Fun fact, the very first episodes of Doctor who were also broadcasted live and you can even see the actors fumble lines and looking confused or stepping in for others to keep the ball rolling

[@TiroDvD]

Not quite. They had about 200 years practice of only plays, chamber music, ballets, and opera that had to be live performances. No phonograph yet.

[@emw2708]

@@DeamonthePrincess I don't think that's true. The original pilot of DW was indeed awful and needed to be redone entirely but the original was never aired as far as I know.

[@DeamonthePrincess]

@@emw2708 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qojKc319YpWJl9Esi=Ll2-gusPpctq0ELG I found this on the subject, I agree I may have misremembered. Thank you for correcting

[@tryingtomatch1059]

My 5th grade teacher showed the whole class this broadcast but before he put it on he asked us, a class of 5th graders in 2002; “did you guys know that aliens invaded us in 1939 and we have the whole thing recorded on radio?” As if we fought off invading aliens in 1939 and everything was normal again by now. Totally fooled us

[@rnjrgreen8723]

I believe the aliens went by as hydra.

[@starmnsixty1209]

You had a cool teacher, trying to match!

[@indy_go_blue6048]

Gentle correction: October 30,1938.

[@tryingtomatch1059]

@@indy_go_blue6048 respectful acceptance of correction, much appreciated.

[@nephicus339]

Aliens invade Earth. - 1938 Aliens are fought off successfully by Earthlings. - 1938 Earthlings proceed to start a world war for the second time. - 1939 I'm now wondering how much this broadcast affected those responsible for WW2.

[@NJNinni]

I was 12 years old listening to this with my Mother and Father and 2 brothers from Morristown New Jersey we were all scared to death except my Dad who kept saying screw those damn Martians.

[@negralopez5025]

Tony N your dad is awesome

[@NJNinni]

@@negralopez5025 Yes, He was. Thanks !

[@johncaulfield8935]

You really expect us to believe your a 94 year old man on KZbin

[@NJNinni]

@@johncaulfield8935 First there are many people well into their 100's that still watch TV, read books, newspaper, and watch KZbin video. Even Ron Paul has a daily radio show at 85. Come on get your head out of your ass. People in their 100's can't do what they did at 50 but many still do everyday things. Now, I don't believe you'll make it to 90 because you probably never had your face out of a cellphone and never walked a total of 50 miles total in your whole life

[@mclovin9578]

@@johncaulfield8935 Who cares if he's telling the truth? The visual of that story is awesome! Thanks, Tony. 👍✌

[@tommccarthy562]

This will forever be the greatest prank of all time

[@thebattalion8938]

It's just a social experiment bro

[@chaosmorris5865]

it's neither, just a radio show that was a bit to realistic.

[@Garother]

It actually was not a prank. It was one of his many shows. The press most likely made this "terror" thing up.

[@IFZEX09]

+Garother that why he apologised for it

[@jaydjaydnb9829]

It has been widely speculated that the "panic" was largely over-exaggerated as this particular show was not exactly extremely popular and the fact this was 1938 and not everyone had access to a radio

[@TickleSalty]

After the initial scare, my father quickly figured out it wasn’t real while the rest of the family panicked. He started going around the radio dial to see what other stations were reporting, and discovered no other station was reporting it. If the Martians had invaded, every station would have broadcast it. He calmed everyone down and they finally believed him. Him spinning around the radio dial continued with television. He was a world champion channel surfer.

[@Bandboxxer-v3n]

I bet he had quick remote control finger.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

​@@Bandboxxer-v3n In 1938?

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

If you've ever seen Dr. Strangelove Peter Sellers brings a radio to Sterling Hayden playing music stating that if the rooskies had really nuked the U.S. it wouldn't be playing music.

[@Praktical_]

The fastest channel change in the West (or where ever you were lol)

[@nightmare_gacha5341]

@@rudolphguarnacci197I love that movie!

[@RCAvhstape]

17:45 that part where the reporter is describing the heat ray attack and people are screaming followed by the transmission suddenly cutting off is legitimately scary.

[@ApartmentKing66]

Indeed...the remote feed from the scene suddenly cuts off WHILE THE REPORTER WAS MID-SENTENCE...followed immediately by several seconds of silence, making it sound like the network was having to scramble to continue generating audio in the form of the announcer...a staged "emergency" expertly, realistically pulled off.

[@TheGrant59]

Yes, it was very well done

[@j4r3d29]

Just the audio of the reporter’s narration of the heat ray assault is more terrifying than visuals of the big screen version with Tom Cruise

[@shortyfoden]

Yes kinda like solar flares today😉

[@KrinX-n1l]

I thought it was the black gas. Cause of the guy scream in the background sounds like screaming in pain than in fear lol

[@christophercandy6244]

My late Grandfather, Robert Earle, was a Cast member of this broadcast!

[@yastreb.]

Whose voice was he?

[@ramadhyaru8373]

Amazing! Nice one 👍

[@christophercandy6244]

@@yastreb. .. we are really sure, but there is proof because his name is listed as on of the original cast members.

[@bobbybroone1818]

You ballin mang. 👍

[@Smeegle653]

That’s just awesome 👏

[@ronaldstrange8981]

Always wondered about this. Now, aged 83, my curiosity is about to be satisfied.

[@user-cp9id1mj8b]

It fills me with great pleasure that 83 year olds are on youtube and commenting as well. Cheers to you Ronald.

[@TheKonga88]

@@user-cp9id1mj8b Ronald is a Martian and he is infiltrating you dumbass humans.. 👽👽👽👽👽👽💀💀💀💀🎃🎃😀😀🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🌕🌙🌍

[@bean7039]

Hey is my profile name cool?

[@Fyodor48]

Ronald Strange dude back in the day you shoulda checked online for news on Martian attack.

[@Frankincensedjb123]

@@user-cp9id1mj8b Wasnt aware there was an age limit.

[@robertfolkner9253]

My late mother heard this in 1938. Oddly, the children back then were the group LEAST likely to believe this was real. The action was happening too rapidly to be realistic and, most importantly, they recognized the voice of “Professor Pierson” as being the same as that of Lamont Cranston, the protagonist of the popular “The Shadow” crime-fighter show.

[@ApartmentKing66]

Not to mention all the *other* characters Welles played in all the *other* literary works the Mercury Theatre On The Air dramatized every Sunday night on CBS Radio. "The War of the Worlds" by no means the only piece they did.

[@BeeBumper]

The shadow knows!

[@MichaelBoyce-tm2vw]

When The dummy Charlie McCarthy toolk a break that was when the martians landed.

[@tilasole3252]

​@@BeeBumpermy dad used to say that... "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"

[@jsl151850b]

After the opening comedy skit and some guy started singing, some of the audience channel surfed over to CBS, just in time to hear about Martians in New Jersey.@@MichaelBoyce-tm2vw

[@robertdona8076]

I listen to this every October 30th at 6:30 P.M. as a tradition to be apart of this historic event.

[@rubenskiii]

On what FM frequency?

[@robertdona8076]

@@rubenskiii only on KZbin. Full version.

[@rubenskiii]

@@robertdona8076 ah oke, i read somewhere online that a San Francisco radio station did a yearly broadcast of it around Halloween but the web page that said so was ancient(2000's webpage that barely worked on my phone) and didn't mention which station it was. So thought you where maybe listening to it that way.

[@edwardwilson7858]

When you listen to Welles narration, it is astonishing to realize he was 23 years old!

[@top10isee3]

Once upon a time, 23 year olds were grown ups. Most weren't pampered and babied all their lives.

[@skorgezagreat2462]

@@top10isee3 that’s not what he meant you absolute neet! He’s talking about his voice, it’s deep and smooth, what kind of brain dead are you?

[@skorgezagreat2462]

@@AS-lk8sb oh definitely

[@user-jk7yz3xs8z]

@@skorgezagreat2462 it is what he meant. Spoiled person

[@skorgezagreat2462]

@@user-jk7yz3xs8z you must be EXTREMELY old, go dig your grave my friend.

[@bryanf6638]

Skip to about 7:30 before you start listening and you'll get the real experience that most listeners had when they tuned in late

[@Sprinkle_sprankle98]

Thanks

[@squirleyspitmonkey3926]

Hardly anybody was listening at all though. The media greatly exaggerated what happened. Because they're the media. They lie. They always have lied. Since abraham lincoln shut down newspapers for speaking against him, it's been propaganda ever since.

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

Indeed. And it's easy for us to say 'i wouldn't be fooled ' , when there was no way to fact check anything they heard in 38'

[@jasonfaber1463]

@@squirleyspitmonkey3926 with all the libel the Fake News did to President Trump he should’ve done just as President Lincoln did to the press.

[@jasonfaber1463]

They attempted a nuclear bomb incident back in The mid 80s but they constantly had at the bottom of the screen THIS IS A DRAMATIZATION. But some people missed those few words and still freaked out. But not to the scale back then. But do take in account on that fake missile heading to Hawaii from North Korea about a year or so ago.

[@calebstevens7487]

If you were alive then and tuned in at 2:20 you wouldn’t even think anything was amiss. Weather report then live music, pretty standard. Then the “breaking news” from Mars. You’d think it was weird they cut in for it but ok, back to the music. The second news break and you’re thinking “ok, this is kinda interesting. Must really be something unusual.” At this point your family is gathered around and speculating. The third break comes almost immediately and now everyone is really paying attention. You don’t even care about the music, you want to know about the asteroid. After that it’s just one thing to the next and the panic sets in. The attention to detail right down to production difficulties and background noise is astounding.

[@tylerchambliss8379]

The engineering on this is absolutely insane.

[@cinerama62]

Aliens from the Planet Mars have just wiped out New Jersey. We now return you to the music of Ramon Raquello and his orchestra.

[@ludwigmonch-tegeder5753]

😂😂😂😂😂😂❤

[@clamagoredon1]

9 years old at the time living in South New Jersey, my Dad was prepared to go to the cellar and dig the family a shelter.

[@sythlorde]

+Don Ulmer smh you know damn well you all were sitting by the radio laughing and enjoying your cocaine flavored soda, telling your black maid to go to bed so that she could get up by 6 in the morning and have the dinner ready XD

[@clamagoredon1]

South Jersey is not that far south.

[@sythlorde]

Don Ulmer its a young, internet joke, dont read too much into it

[@-_M-_]

Don Ulmer I bet you were terrified. I would too If I was little during that time

[@psyke_out]

Don Ulmer 79 years today, how fresh is that memory of that night for you?

[@Nero-ox5tw]

Reporter obviously straight up dies Man in studio: "Well there is clearly something wrong with our transmission."

[@JuanIgnacioAzpiazu]

That is genius.

[@RoundenBrown]

Actually happened IRL, reporter got shot on live TV in Virginia a few years back.

[@yastreb.]

"We are having some problems with our reporter, who just obviously straight up died. Here's some music."

[@AsianTheDomination]

there was also an anchorwoman who shot herself on air

[@sillybirdy1994]

That is *exactly* how it would happen though. Especially back then. A real reporter broadcaster would have been instructed not to alarm listeners with stuff like that.

[@robinemery]

I was born 1962, long after this production. I remember my parents talking about it. I had heard about it my whole life. At the age of 52, I finally borrowed this from the library on CD, I went home popped it in and sat down to listen. To my surprise the broadcast sounded so real, I was amazed! After listening, I understood why it caused such a response! I am now 58yrs old and about to share this with my 77 yr old mother. Very well done broadcast!!

[@bladegriggs4090]

Yeah it really does sound real so like you said, it's understandable why people started panicking

[@user-yc8ym4er8y]

Over 80 years and still a true masterpiece, nothing will ever come close to this and it will still be a masterpiece in the next 80 years (^+^)

[@tambrosia9316]

When we think back look at the radio actors and shows like Gunsmoke, etc. These men and women and their team brought to life the stories without pictures, color or black and white. Just their voices, and creativity. These men and women have gone to their reward, but they have left one of the biggest legacies ever. Orson Welles pulled this off when he was just 23 yrs old, 23 yrs old! OW knew how to bring a great team of actors to pull this off. OW did scare the crap out of everyone listening. Thank Mr W for your talents and the best dang prank ever oh correction 2nd greatest prank on the USA 1st greatest prank is Biden wining more votes than any other potus...

[@moldytales]

"It was just a prank, bro!" - Orson Welles

[@isaacpeachey8609]

Martian invasion prank in the hood

[@cf1934]

It wasn't a prank. Some people turned it on after it had started. They thought it was really happening.

[@sorenpx]

That just makes it a more epic prank.

[@ThePiquedPigeon]

"T'was but a jape, boss!"

[@cadillacal915]

It wasn't a "prank, bro!" It was a radio show, which was common in those days. Because television did not exist. They only had radio. People gathered around the radio to listen to the broadcasts back then. Some tuned in while the show was already playing out, which caused many to think it was a real emergency broadcast.

[@samanthajordan4017]

I love how realistic this is. I know throughout it all that it is fake, but the genuine acting throws me through a loop. The silence thats falls after a transmition is cut, it feels like that once it is cut the person actually dies. This story is PERFECT for radio. I applaud everyone who worked on this masterpeice

[@willnichlas6317]

Samantha Jordan If you haven't seen "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension" then I recommend it. This radio broadcast figures heavily in the plot of the movie.--from Hank Eason on a borrowed keyboard.

[@dennisstaser4122]

will nichlas ,What is the title of the classical song as the radio show opens?

[@willnichlas6317]

@Dennis Staser It's an adaptation of Tchaichovsky's Piano Concerto no. 1 in B-flat major, and often called "Tonight We Love".

[@dennisstaser4122]

will nichlas ,Thanks for reply. I had heard that classical song many times, though could not recall the composer and popular title. Truly a beautiful melody.

[@connorharrison1753]

Twat

[@ijb7511]

Orson was a production genius. The pacing, the gravitas; it's brilliant.

[@paulgolden8811]

Been listening to this every year since 2001, when my wife at the time realized there were no kids to trick or treat, and was a sad ghost on the porch. Now I listen on the 30th, but sometimes I listen again on the 31st. What an amazing event

[@thewkovacs316]

ive been listening to this broadcast since 1968...it's a halloween eve tradition

[@mattkillam2033]

This is like the radio version of a found footage movie

[@alperdue2704]

I also thought of that when The Blair Witch Project was released.

[@johnoram8619]

Yes . I've just seen this version kzbin.info/door/5AcumTTb_oYQulrg6bQzFw its actually as good if not better

[@gatheringleaves]

Oh that actually makes sense!

[@jonathanjonnylightning718]

@@alperdue2704 they kept that movie as real lost footage for 2 weeks while it was in theatres

[@jenncollins3255]

Interesting way of putting it, nice

[@sharpshooter740]

"1939, the war scare was over" If only Wells, if only.

[@BenHopkins1000]

Pretty sure he died just after WWII. Sucks to be him...

[@Montw]

He was referring to the present time when he says the "39th year of the twentieth century" which was 1938, just as 2014 is the 15th year of the twenty-first century. He was referring the belief in 1938 that "Peace in Our Time" had been achieved. Of course not everyone agreed.

[@GideonGleeful95]

BenHopkins1000 He died in 1985...

[@BenHopkins1000]

Randygandalf95 I meant HG Wells...

[@GideonGleeful95]

BenHopkins1000 Oh.

[@SheilaLS]

When I was little kid always going to the local library with my mom and younger brother I was thrilled when I was finally deemed responsible enough for the librarian to allow me to check out this LP. It enthralled me and I listened a number of times. Now at age 60 I realize the utter brilliance of normalizing the increasingly alarming news reports by continuing to play the scheduled dance music. I imagine in depression era 1938 with only radio and newspapers to rely upon, world tensions were on everyone's minds then suddenly martians are landing. It must have been shocking for those who missed the radio program disclaimer. The fear of the unknown is a most powerful thing.

[@revelationakagoldeneagle8045]

I love these old radio broadcasts. Growing up on my grandparents farm, the radio was all the entertainment we had , that, and our imagination.

[@hopelessromantic8682]

Reporter: *10:00** minutes in and the world is ending* Also: “Here’s some dance music.”

[@marksinclair5927]

Lmfao

[@pinkbeatle2012]

the dance music is to make is feel better

[@rustykoenig3566]

The chamber orchestra group abord the Titanic continued to perform for a long while as the panic spread through the ship b4 it sank.

[@davidbruce5524]

first thing my Grandpa did was switch the radio station. This was not being covered on any other station and he told my mom (8 y.o.) not to worry, it was all a joke. I wonder why so any people didn't just change the station and check?

[@amylouise3242]

david Bruce for the same reason there are warning labels on cleaning supplies 😂

[@ksol1460tv]

Many people did.

[@louisedwards4023]

The Dimacrats did not😃

[@louisedwards4023]

@mister kluge that's MR FLAMING ASSHOLE TO YOU. mister Kurd🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐔🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘

[@louisedwards4023]

@mister kluge TRUMP 2020🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘wake up BOY !

[@Bostonterrierslol]

I can see how so many people thought the world was coming to an end. This should’ve been a movie at the time, but a radio broadcast where we only have audio to go by makes it all the more effective

[@WalkerRileyMC]

At the time radio was far wider reaching. But anyways, the actual panic was exaggerated by newspapers of the time, seeking to discredit radio as a source of news and information.

[@lw3646]

This is great, I love the realism, the way the broadcasters make mistakes when interviewing, how interviews are interupted, the cuts away to musical parts as they switch between locations, the initial denial of intelligent life on Mars.

[@carolsceniak9673]

What a great voice Orson Wells had.

[@averagejoe6617]

The voice of unicron himself. Bitch

[@jooleebilly]

Voice porn at its best.

[@joshuagraham7646]

Average Joe wtf

[@cashwat210]

And he was only 23 at the time

[@getreal4real169]

I agree

[@zadotterazo690]

The acting in this is greater than anything today. The little cutoffs, distracting noises in the background, and the lack of information is probably why it made it seem so real.

[@beatlejim64]

It's so good because the people had talent...something that's missing today!!!

[@johnoconnor1927]

Ya I’d go with that

[@centralcontrol6359]

Shut up

[@valeriataylor8337]

they were actors that worked on radio theater. so they had the talent to make the scene real only by their voices. It is great

[@Dravianpn02]

Orson welles created amazing things.

[@Frankcastlepunisher74]

Those last lines. Orson as himself......still sends chills down my spine. Happy Halloween to all, From Castle Dracula!

[@Stevie-hn7mp]

Happy Halloween 🎃

[@charliebrant1]

we don't care... not even Halloween

[@kassyyar97]

Not gonna lie, I got goosebumps every once in a while, this was so good! 100% sure I would’ve fallen for this broadcast back then.

[@PCCphoenix]

55:35--"This is Orson Welles, ladies and gentlemen, out of character, to assure you that 'The War of the Worlds' has no further significance than as the holiday offering it was intended to be: the Mercury Theater's own radio version of dressing up in a sheet and jumping out of a bush and saying 'Boo!' "

[@MrMech_]

so stop acting like kids now

[@brycevo]

This is an amazing radio drama. It's so entertaining, even all these years later

[@turkeygod6665]

Damn, you all over the place aren't ya? Kinda impressed.

[@mclovin9578]

@@turkeygod6665.....I don't get it? 🤷‍♂️🤨✌

[@turkeygod6665]

@@mclovin9578 Bryce here, always see this lad everywhere I go, guess we enjoy similar videos. Kinda like a smaller Justin Y, at least for me.

[@mclovin9578]

Turkey God ....That’s funny. I’ll keep my eyes open for you guys. I’ve run outta stuff to watch so I’m going old school and checking out old radio dramas. 👍

[@turkeygod6665]

@@mclovin9578 Heh, Well I'll keep my eyes peeled for you as well. See ya around!

[@danawalsh247]

My grandmother told us about the night she listened to this broadcast. My mother was 10 months old at the time. My grandmother was very shaken up, her heart in her throat hoping this invasion wasn't true. She sat there in her living room, protecting her children. It wasn't until later that she heard the end of the broadcast that it all was a Halloween prank from Orson Welles. I couldn't imagine the fear she must of felt😢

[@joshlaverick2002]

It wasn’t a prank they just did a reading of the book, he did others as well they weren’t a prank

[@pablobarosa27]

Orson Welles was a national treasure and an absolute master of media, particularly the spoken word. He spoke with an eloquence and integrity we lack in modern English. Many of his broadcasts are available as podcasts. Treat yourself to several. I recommend his broadcast of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It’s become a yearly tradition for my wife and I. Thank you, Orson.

[@lisaheisey6168]

My dad was 6 years old and living in Philadelphia, when he and my grandparents listened to this, on the radio. My dad said, that he remembered how the neighbors were all coming out of their houses, and looking up at the sky, to see if it was all really happening. P.S. It's kind of ironic, that I came upon this video, on October 8th, and it was something my dad had told me about. Today just happens to be the 10th anniversary of the day my dad died.

[@lenardosbornsjustice5948]

Lisa Heisey thank you for sharing

[@lisaheisey6168]

@@lenardosbornsjustice5948 Thanks, for reading it.

[@koolgame224]

Lisa Heisey I hope he’s having fun in heaven/whatever afterlife you believe in.

[@lisaheisey6168]

@@koolgame224 Thank you.

[@louisedwards4023]

Thanks man sorry for your loss😪

[@jackodenthal2392]

Imagine listening to this back then and missing the intro. It would be terrifying! Edit: Wow, how'd I get so many likes!?

[@kathylovespogo]

I was in Houston ,Texas in the 70's and the radio station played it I thought it was real. Scared me to death. I called people to turn on the radio we are being invaded. LOL I am so embarrassed about it now.

[@CelonixCleaningServicesLLC]

It’s already happening now. The Coronavirus is the upgraded version of this prank.

[@freshlybakedsadness9251]

It was. Many people were very scared, then *VERY* mad

[@henryfranqui7236]

....mannnny people did kill them self....

[@willtheprodigy3819]

The idea that thousands panicked because of this is a myth spun by journalists to discredit news broadcasting, a growing industry hurting newspaper profits.

[@mikepointer5067]

That music at 39:14 is so hauntingly brilliant. Truly a special kind of 20th century desolation

[@KeithNashRealtor]

Totally agree.

[@michaelgalea5148]

Love this episode. Orson Wells was a genius.

[@tararedstar9408]

I love at the end where he says, "If something rings your doorbell and nobody's there, it's not Martians. It's Halloween." Sassy Orson XD

[@asafisher5202]

Tara Redstar from the man who would give us Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil and F for Fake

[@M-Z-E-U-J-HB]

I imagine a lot of people panicked because they tuned in at the wrong time

[@conspiracytheorista8988]

..as was the plan.

[@musiccollector]

And committed suicide!

[@conspiracytheorista8988]

@@musiccollector - Did you know they're trying to cover that up now? Trying to say it didn't happen that way? This was very valuable information to the Rockefellers. The power that media could have over the actions of the populace was duly noted... Today, the TV tells people what to do, how to feel, and 99% of the public falls right in line. Pretty scary, actually...

[@TheGreenTaco999]

@paul w "If you listen to the broadcast from the beginning" do you know how radios work? and that there was a time that the radio was all anyone had? you seem very content to call people you disagree with "dumb fucks" and anyone who's evidence to your opponents argument an "uneducated American", I'll bet you're the only one you've never insulted lol

[@arturocordova2354]

Ya stop trying to get a attention loser you know that's why they panicked

[@Damaged262]

As a child, this was recreated every Halloween on WKBW with the actual news people of Channel 7 on a local channel, I’m assuming it was their affiliate, but who cares. It made my year, every year. Even after I’d reached puberty and girls meant more to me than nutrition, I never missed the replayed version of this. Hell, every time we go camping, I bring this cd and it never fails that there’s 30 people around our fire pit every time. Just good, GOOD sh*t!

[@Kbarrgamer87]

All it took was to miss the first few minutes for this to seem like an actual radio broadcast of that time. Brilliantly done beginning to end.

[@valles_marineris8955]

Listening to it right now, October 30, 2019. Legendary Edit: I came back a year later. October 30, 2020. A lot has change.. wish you all the best

[@MidnightRangeTM]

armin lt impossible because I’m listening to it right now, and it’s nov 1, 2019

[@Gj_ow]

nov 3, 2019

[@Paradiselost69]

I'm listening to it right now on the 18th June 1939

[@MidnightRangeTM]

Dark Farang u got one of those fancy deloreans?

[@AdamBorseti]

Listening November 12th, 2019.

[@andreavasquez4355]

I love how authentic this broadcast feels, with the characters asking and doing things that are exactly what happens in real broadcasts, further tricking you into believing its real. Though this broadcast is probably more well known for the panic that followed because of it, it's still a very entertaining and great story.

[@sjaool]

It's better than the Tom Cruise movie... 😉

[@andreavasquez4355]

@@sjaool Yeah, but things with Orson Wells are better than most things.

[@andreavasquez4355]

@@sjaool Yeah, but things with Orson Wells are better than most things.

[@Cali225]

@@sjaool that was a good movie 🍿

[@tomiyu2297]

@@Cali225 I agree, it was a good movie

[@Biffting93]

A masterpiece. Thank you so much for giving us the chance to enjoy it ❤

[@gabrielshear4298]

As a kid I used to listen to these old mysteries on my radio at night going to sleep .. What was even better was that I listened to them on an old Hallicrafters radio I had set up next to my bed .. I’d listen to shortwave stations from around the world and then switch over to the radio station that carried these old radio shows to go to sleep by .. At the time I listened to a radio station out of L.A. that broadcast them .. I’m looking to buy that same model radio once again .. Great memories .. I love those old tube radios ..

[@clairewyndham1971]

This is the recording that hooked me into discovering old time radio programs. I am addicted to them. There is very little on TV today that can frighten me like some of those programs can. No matter how often I listen to this one, I can still find an inflection, nuance or a phrase that still excites. Orson Wells rocked this in a way no one else could have.

[@kingofrapture]

Couldn't have said it better myself, I love the old radio programs myself. They're a lot more entertaining to me. :)

[@kingofrapture]

***** Listen to the 1930s Dick Tracey radio programs, they're great. Found them on Spotify.

[@jonahdrake5885]

+poorestrichman Anything with Orson Welles as The Shadow is superlative, especially "The Silent Avenger."

[@dennispetroni1021]

Go to your local library. They usually have a collection of old radio programs. The detective broadcasts are, IMO, they best.

[@Joe_Panes]

If you're looking for old time radio programs I'd suggest X-1 which is a collection of stories with a wide variety of writers.

[@Charliecomet82]

My grandmother always hated Orson Welles for scaring the bejeezus out her with this broadcast.

[@Natalia-jy8nm]

Charliecomet82 loll

[@royborrill2711]

Your grandmother must have been a half-witted moron to fall for it then.

[@frank_does_sing]

@tan j maz u deaf

[@alicehudson8079]

@tan j maz Thank you for that. I've watched a bit of it, and will watch it all, only wanted to say thanks. Interesting that people were so outraged at the studio and Wells for making something that could frighten people.

[@alperdue2704]

@@royborrill2711 You should consider the circumstances. Radio was the only broadcast media. News was considered reliable. They had announced a different play in this timeslot. The country ( and the world) were emerging from the Great Depression and it was becoming evident that WWII was coming. If someone tuned in already in progress, it's easy to see why they might be frightened for a bit.

[@Ccc35712]

My mother told me about this. She was born in 1932, she was only 6 years old when hearing this on the radio. She said it didn't scare her. She knew Orson Welles' voice from other radio programs she listened to. Interesting. Lol

[@davidmende4438]

Now we hear this type of thing on the internet everyday. No biggee.

[@Ccc35712]

@@davidmende4438 it's fake anyway

[@jordanwardle11]

It sounds like that kids of that era were less scared than the adults

[@AlexSykes1]

I remember listening to this in middle school and easily able to visualize the world that HG Wells created and how well Orson Welles did of making this all sound so real.

[@fflambeauutube]

"Interrupting" the music of Ramond Raquel playing in the Meridian Room in Downtown New York was genius. This is one of the reasons people thought this was real: it was made to sound it.

[@jcee6886]

Holy shit. I'm not sticking around. I knew this day would come. Head for the hills people!

[@Brianna-gr2he]

Hey maybe you should keep your language down people are watching this for school

[@djo5773]

Listening on Halloween night, 2023. Still amazing.

[@heathersimmonsen]

Thanks so much for uploading this. My dad had this recording on a record that I listened to as a child. It’s such a great original story, great radio adaptation, and phenomenally effective prank that terrified a nation.

[@jmcquown]

I took radio broadcasting classes when I was in high school in the 1970's. Of course I'd already heard of Welles 'War of the Worlds'. Our instructor turned off the lights, had us lay our heads down on our desks and close our eyes. He told us to just listen, to simply IMAGINE radio is the only communication a small town could get... Happy Halloween! Kudos to Orson Welles for scaring half of America in 1938 telling this HG Wells story.

[@HelloooThere]

Your teacher was a moron.

[@fry_3313]

Orson Welles, an absolute madlad.

[@MegaJustGeorge]

My friend, it was this broadcast that earned Orson Welles the sobriquet, "The Man Who Scared America To Death". Well earned, I say. Thank you, Mr. George Orson Welles.

[@GTA5Player1]

Tbh, it's not his fault people got it wrong

[@raymondhopwood9393]

@@GTA5Player1 All they had to do was turn the dial. After all, there were three other networks. They could have been convinced after listening to Mutual, NBC Red, and NBC Blue, that what was going on on CBS was just a show.

[@preposteroussongs5572]

This is one of the most incredible works of art I've ever experienced.

[@johnpulaski6725]

One of the greatest stories of all time! 👍🏻🇺🇸👽

[@cyrusjohnson6050]

The fact that he’s playing Chopin in between the broadcasts just makes this so much better

[@brian30wicca]

Sounds like clock tower 3 song lol

[@AreGeeBee]

@@brian30wicca Alyssa, where are you...

[@olivercromwell7937]

I lay here in May of 2020 in Grover's Mill, NJ listening to this. ♥️

[@UnfamiliarEyes]

Watch for martians.

[@hollybishop484]

I learned about this when I was in my teens so I bought this on cassette and brought it camping with me. One rainy day when everyone went to town I decided to listen to it in my tent. Alone. Bad idea... Lol In that type of environment you can understand why everyone panicked!

[@GICrazyJoe]

I Must Admit That The Voices In This Broadcast Were Amazing, It Wasn't Just Welles They All Did A Great Job ,No Wonder People SOME PEOPLE Got Tricked And Fooled Into Thinking It Was Real!!!

[@cerealbowl7038]

Orsen Welles: Three years after I made the greatest radio play of all time, I made the greatest movie of all time.

[@leemay4769]

Hate to tell you but Orson didn't write war of the workds it was H G Wells.....a different Wells and no relation

[@IAMHAPPY5290]

@@leemay4769 he never said orson wells made the original story, he said he made the radio play, which is true

[@jonduke4079]

My bro has the same profile pic

[@jonathanbishop7342]

Citizen kane

[@jerkchickenblog]

and stole the oscar from the guy who actually wrote it

[@bobhingst65]

I had talked to my mom about this and the original broadcast. Even in a small town in northern KS, they were scared to death. Men jumping in trucks forming militias to protect their town. The mothers and children gathered food and water and headed to the tornado storm shelters. It was a very real deal to them.

[@godfreypigott]

Except it was only broadcast in New York. So your mother is BSing.

[@metalreignz6557]

😮

[@marcusblackwell2372]

Wait, this wasn't the original?

[@allthenamesiwantedweretaken]

What a revolutionary radio broadcast for immersive horror..

[@chrismoody1342]

This broadcast absolutely made my paternal grandmother freak out so bad. She had no idea it was a radio show and not real news.

[@Mikeanglo]

Troll Level legendary

[@Dill_Pickle1997]

Damn straight bro! High five!

[@versaillestheband5178]

WHA-PISH

[@TheHaloGamer]

Love how humanity managed to defeat the martians in less than an hour of their arrival. Of that's not realistic, I don't know what it.

[@Mikeanglo]

SH4D0WXR33CONt1 Humanity didn't do shit. The Martians all got flu and fucked off forever. All humans had to do was live in disease and squalor. Which makes me wonder why the Martians wanted to come here in the first place.

[@yolosock4459]

Mike Zilla guess they didn't study earth before they came

[@willywhitten4918]

How fun!! I am glad this program was archived for the sake of radio history. Orson really rocked his world!! \\][//

[@matthewperrin6517]

Willy Whitten ~ I agree this was & IS the best type of entertainment !

[@KL-bi2un]

I grew up in the 80's when the re-released this on tape. I always wanted to listen to it but never got around to buying it (I was a kid then). Thanks for posting this.

[@DelinkventeN]

I've just finished listening to this awesome clip and realized I started to read the comments in Orson Welles' voice.. and I'm not complaining.

[@geneva760]

About 25 years ago this was played on one of the radio stations when I was living with my family in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. I had an old valve radio and it was early evening and I sat with my wife and four kids listening to this - it was fantastic fun and the old radio and overcast late evening sky provided a perfect backdrop.

[@alperdue2704]

I bet that was fantastic. I remember listening to Mystery Theater radio plays when I was a kid. During the summer, a bunch of us boys would sleep in a tent in the backyard. Creepy fun!

[@_pricey_7122]

I’m just honored that I have found a fellow Bendigonian!

[@davidstover5651]

My dad was listening to this when he was 3 yrs old in 1938, what a prank.

[@patrickgriffiths8238]

I also live in Bendigo, and had the album played to use by Grade 6 teacher at Gravel Hill Primary School. Just now introducing it to my son :)

[@johnoconnor1927]

Have you still got radio ... of corse you say all the best digger

[@Sephirothskr]

"we continue now with our piano interlude!~"

[@TheKonga88]

We continue now with some advertisements about moon pies and Bazooka Joe bubble gum.. 🏃🏃🏃🏃🌙🌜🌛🚀🚀🌕🌕🌕🌕🎑🎑🛀😘😘🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍌

[@glennso47]

Norma Bates The Hotel Sheets. There’s music, gaiety and laughter in the Hotel Sheets every morning.

[@marishort6871]

The ultimate “Oh no! Anyways.”

[@jonduke4079]

Haah

[@austinchaseofficial]

Orson Welles was incredible.

[@g_force3857]

Absolutely fantastic…. Nothing like it before or since…. The guys in the studio wouldn’t have any idea what apart of history they’d be 90 odd years later

[@anitaross5478]

My mom told me about this when I was a kid; she heard the original broadcast, but she wasn’t fooled...don’t believe everything you hear on the radio. RADIO...the internet of her day! RIP Mom, your generation WAS indeed the greatest!

[@sharonballantyne1735]

I love Orson Wells...He is probably one of the finest actors of his time And Had such a commanding voice!

[@skorgezagreat2462]

Be careful-there’s a ton of conspiracy theorists here...and they fucking hate opinions

[@megatron8449]

@@skorgezagreat2462 buddy, this caused a conspiracy theory when it came out.

[@ericmatthews2313]

*Welles

[@nerissacrawford8017]

I am 25, many come back here to recall memories of hearing the record sometime in their life. I come here to hear it for the first time in my life. Very entertaining. Whilst the reaction to this being reported may have been a bit overblown, I must admit the work is very well acted and executed. Orson Welles was quite the radio impressario! Many thanks for uploading the broadcast!

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

Finally sat and listened to this masterpiece, I've so much over the years about this broadcast, I've done all the movies and loved Jeff Wayne's version, his live show too and the VR experience, and now started reading the HG wells book .the whole story is just awesome.

[@macgruber8876]

"war of the worlds" is the greatest radio broadcast in the history of the universe.

[@yukadoo]

At least.... in the history of this Solar System.

[@JLKDOOM]

Now how could you possibly know that? Lol

[@warriorchild]

Yet

[@chinookvalley]

And the Martians are still laughing.

[@nirv]

Well, Phil Hendrie is better, but this was pretty good.

[@TopDog69]

Orson Welles has THE best voice.

[@klyzn]

+TopDog69 *Had since he is RIP.

[@andresacosta4832]

+klyzn His last role was Unicron in the Transformers movie.

[@loxthehood]

Burton was THE MAN!! OW sounds like beginner

[@UltimateThanos]

TopDog69 "YES! Always!"

[@RA-dm1yn]

TopDog69 I agree.

[@the1darknight]

"If you doorbell rings and nobody's there, That was no martian! It's Halloween!" One of the greatest lines on the radio broadcast that frightened a nation. lol

[@utetrahemicon]

Or it could be the land shark!

[@mlp4apc]

Very well done radio. I used to be in radio long ago and this is the best I have heard. Thank you for sharing this classic.

[@danmax67]

Listening to this in 2020 just to make sure it's not actually occurring

[@retnavybrat]

With everything else that's happened this year, I don't think I would've been too surprised if Martians had landed on Halloween.

[@shayZero]

Listening in 2021 when it actually IS occurring

[@MD_the_MC]

@@shayZero yeah I'm freaking out a little

[@shayZero]

@@MD_the_MC they could have blown us all up years ago and didn't, so I guess thats encouraging

[@maroonpug7]

This is incredible, a serious work of art. Orson Welles was before his time. The realism in this from 1938 is better than majority of the stuff we have here in 2021. Amazing

[@mr.x2567]

You should watch an EAS scenario video

[@jaszjsz]

because its prob real and covered up.

[@39franklin]

Oct 31, 2021 and listening to it now..At one time I had the recording but got lost in a move…My folks use to talk about this show..When I moved to NJ WE ACTUALLY took a trip to Grovers Mill..a radio program that will live forever..just love it..

[@danielleangland2457]

It is no wonder people freaked out... it was so well done!

[@williampaulbeaugruendler7901]

Classic. Here it is 81 years later and this thing STILL packs a punch!

[@charliebrant1]

shut UP!!!!!!!

[@fflambeauutube]

Still very realistic sounding even almost a century later. Orson Welles was one of a kind. Pure genius. All of those "bulletins" from very scientific sounding people and institutions, including "world famous astronomer, Prof. Pearson (Orson Welles). The touches of the common man, like the farmer where the Martians landed, is amazing. Great dialogue ("I was listening to the radio halfway, and I heard something, a hissing sound, like this....")

[@alperdue2704]

I liked how they picked the target city. Supposedly, Wells threw a dart at a map.

[@RE4Maverick]

People flipped because of Orson's masterful convincing voice no one else could pull this off

[@TheHornet1fan]

the sense of realness with which those actors brought to this minute by minute broadcast is nothing short of mind-boggling. I can easily see how so many people apparently somehow missing the hourly disclaimer that this was only a dramatization would have believed this to the bone was happening.

[@Kardall]

Still amazing to listen to even in 2015.

[@jungkyujin935]

Yes, indeed. I felt myself drawing into this. I felt as if I was part of it. I did feel the relaxing of the music, the exciting news and the scared emotions. I loved it. Just a brilliant hoax.

[@5641616341485]

Jung Kyu Jin listen to the opening he says its a theatre presentation just like that stupid mermaids are real fakumentory in the opening of that they said this is all bulshit and then everyone who listened to it went oh my god mermaids are real

[@maccyknife1]

+buzz lightyear Do you have to be such an ass? it was just a great broadcast, of course mermaid mockumentary was fake, but just think, what if you were leaving home from work in 1938 and heard this broadcast, missing the beginning, on the radio in your car, assuming you were lucky enough to own a car radio then... it was kinda realistic for the time, also it is hotly debated of the actual impact on listeners of the time, probably didn't cause that much panic after all, but I too was told it caused a lot of panic, but I think it that who told me that was misinformed... just read the description...

[@patrickambrose5372]

+buzz lightyear People switched maybe ten minutes into it, hence the panic.

[@colinswain9235]

+Patrick Ambrose How do you explain the people who listened to the beginning of the Broadcast, and Still panicked?

[@DARKHUNTER130]

I think the most disturbing thing about this is that when someone dies there isn't a loud scream, or explosion or burning. It's just... silence.

[@TheMercyah]

damn

[@MaskedMan66]

+Stax Maye Well, except for that first attack with the heat ray.

[@firefliesecho186]

That's what modern day movies miss

[@nathansleight412]

Stax Maye ❤️

[@glencadieux886]

UR watching too many movies - In IRL, When some ody gets shot, they DON'T SCREAM FIRST ???

[@ryanfreeborn4252]

Before I went through divorce, like 10 yrs ago, I used to drive down by a river and just park because I didn't wanna go home. I randomly got my hands on a cassette with this on it(It had The Return of the Living Dead soundtrack on the other side). I would sit and listen to this over and over. Brings back very vivid memories. All those days I sat there thinking, and thinking .

[@theDOHN]

I love this series of plays, so well written and never before have I heard 5 plays so beautifully intertwined ❤ Ty for sharing