Orson Welles Sketchbook - Episode 5: The War Of The Worlds

This is the fifth and penultimate episode of "Orson Welles' Sketchbook" in which he discusses the effects of his "War Of The Worlds" radio broadcast in America. Originally Aired: June 19, 1955.

[@spockboy]

I wish Orson made a hundred of these Sketchbook shows. Thanks VERY MUCH for posting these!

[@chasr7860]

If you watched this to the end, it's a perfect example of what great story teller Orson was. I have never been disappointed by any of his interviews.

[@animalmother5287]

That's how and why the herd fell for it so hard

[@ferabra8939]

I love his wicked sense of humor...He was still laughing 20 years after the fact, like a child after a prank. He was always a child playing with toys and having fun, and that's why he was such a genius. He did not listen to adults and just did things to amuse himself.

[@MarkTheBattler]

Fer Abra nobody ever took away his rosebud sleigh :)

[@AnnaLVajda]

Yeah he's a little naughty.

[@spactick]

Orson could have been a great stand-up comedian. He had it all. Timing, the accents, the recall, the sense of humor. We're all so lucky that he wasn't an intravert, ha!

[@nativevirginian8344]

I heard “war of the worlds” broadcast on the radio on the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast. I was driving home, alone late at night; still freaked me out. 😎

[@WintersWar]

fearless, brilliant.

[@charleshonig7080]

The Great Raconteur and irreplaceable and sorely missed.

[@goodboybuddy1]

This is priceless. Thanks

[@alanwylie7207]

I feel like I’m going back in a time capsule this is a treasure

[@Cinefan1958]

Throughout the history of this radio broadcast, most people think it was done on Halloween in 1938. But, with hearing his own words, Orson Welles said: "On the eve of Halloween....". So, with that, he proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that the broadcast was on October 30, 1938. And 20 years later, I was born on that very night in 1958.

[@orbyfan]

People were probably scared by that, too. ;)

[@TrainerCTZ]

Orson Welles welcome to the list! Thank you for sharing this

[@dalebaker9109]

Had an amazing speaking voice. No small wonder, he was great at shakespeare.

[@sepiae]

His warning about people swallowing everything coming from this relatively young medium, the radio, rings relevant today. As for the effect of his production of The War of the Worlds - in 1949 a similar broadcast of the same source material in Quito, driving the realism farther, actually did result in a genuine panic, with the military moving out to fight the Martians, and leaving the public so angry after it was revealed that it had merely been a radio show, that they descended upon the broadcasting house and set it on fire. Several people died.

[@stephanelauzon15]

I love Orson Welles I am very thankful that you put these up

[@up2now]

'I believe it's interplanetary Sir' Orson Welles was mesmerising, a true raconteur, as was Peter Ustinov

[@shadowmixx]

I was always fascinated by this story, and how despite announcing throughout the broadcast the show was a live adaptation, people still somehow managed to miss the announcements and panicked. This says a lot about human nature and the underlying fears that exist within us. I have often said that if someone were to stand in the middle of a populated area, and convince enough people that they saw something, it would eventually spread like wildfire. The statements made between 12:03 and 13:00 are some of the most powerful, as they still have relevance in this day and age. We are now fed by way of the 'internet tap' and sadly people are drinking the social media Kool-Aid at an alarming rate, as they pass the cup around. I would imagine Mr. Wells is turning over in his grave with a classic smirk. 😏

[@clicheguevara5282]

I laughed so hard at the end. 😆

[@jackieestacado5651]

Such an interesting talker, was only gonna listen for a minute, when the video ended I wanted more :/ R.I.P

[@edoedo8686]

I so adore him....👌✊

[@mikemorgan7893]

8 15pm on the day it was first broadcast on BBC TV when it was still the UKs only TV channel. ITV began 3 months later.

[@Gioagla]

He was too good for this world full of evil.....

[@victoriawittelsbach5808]

He paid attention which singled him out in an ocean of "ig nore ance."

[@montauk6]

IMHO, the closest real-life similar experience is the full aircheck broadcast recording of Dallas radio station KLIF-AM from Nov 22, 1963. The upbeat, jovial disc jockey; the top 40 tunes, the cheery commercials interrupted with bulletins that shots were fired at the motorcade of President Kennedy, and you hear the tone go downhill as further news is released until the reporters take over. The flow is very reminiscent of WOTW.

[@eduardo_corrochio]

We have some good storytellers in America, and this fellow was one of them. Here he is so entertaining and bemusing, just sitting there regaling me with anecdotes (be they truth or lawn fertilizer; doesn't matter to me).

[@juliaread8980]

Priceless

[@PogieJoe]

This is like KZbin 50 years before the fact!

[@davidgerald133]

I watched movie once...its was about the war ofnthe world broadcast but ive never been able to find it. Bit they showed the orchestra in the studio and how they did the special effetcts etc

[@BillSmith-ed4jg]

WOW just think what he would say about the publics gullibility in the age of the internet and social media

[@victoriawittelsbach5808]

Oh Well es!

[@jasminespencer3992]

Podcasts before there were podcasts.

[@cookmoore3736]

he he he :)))) Great stuff!

[@kriegerarmy-jori9407]

Bruh i have to watch this fro the school lmao pls help

[@meg2231]

"anyone who can stop a football match in Italian must be a little stronger than an optical illusion

[@raginald7mars408]

Super Human

[@huddunlap3999]

Today " if it is on the Internet it's true."

[@cinexeon]

A TRUE GENIUS AND PROPHET, in every sense of the word, not the imagined or crafted sorts adored by the ignorant throughout history....

[@chasr7860]

Well said.

[@theflorgeormix]

Andy Kaufman like genius, on the side of the people. But not commercial - makes you think instead of re-story telling. Huge hero. Shaped Hollywood and loved even though the executives didn't realize that til later

[@boncawillywonka8626]

1:50

[@t0asterbra1n]

uh oh

[@TomMcRand]

this is when he left the USA i reckon.

[@aviationshorts4333]

i hate school

[@markkazanski6552]

The stories of hysteria are exaggerated. I suspect Welles himself encouraged these stories to brag about his broadcasting talent.

[@mrfixxxer118]

Uh, sir there is footage of about 30 to 40 journalists questioning him the morning after the event, I assure you its not as exaggerated as you suspect. The event landed him the contract with RKO that gave him absolute control over his next picture, which turned out to be Citizen Kane, the greatest film ever made.

[@tupactip]

Mark Kazanski check out at&t operator s recall war of​the world​ here on​ KZbin

[@animalmother5287]

What do you think of your exaggerated hysteria now you blind fool

[@MariaT6317]

They aren't exaggerated. I've read front page news reports from the time and spoken to family who know about it as well