‘War of the Worlds’ Anniversary: Listen to ’War of the Worlds’ on 75th Anniversary

On the 75th “War of the Worlds” anniversary, reports are reflecting on the panic the radio broadcast brought to the United States.
‘War of the Worlds’ Anniversary: Listen to ’War of the Worlds’ on 75th Anniversary
Orson Welles broadcasts "The War of the Worlds" in a New York studio at 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 30, 1938. The realistic account of an invasion from Mars caused thousands of listeners who had missed the beginning of the broadcast to panic (AP Photo)
Jack Phillips
10/30/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

On the 75th “War of the Worlds” anniversary, reports are reflecting on the panic the radio broadcast brought to the United States.

Director and actor Orson Welles interrupted the Columbia Broadcasting System’s normal programming to say that Earth was being invaded by aliens.

The New York Daily News published front-page story of the broadcast and alleged mass hysteria surrounding it.

“Without waiting for further details, thousands of listeners rushed from their homes in New York and New Jersey, many with towels across their faces to protect themselves from ‘gas’ which the invader was supposed to be spewing forth,” reads an excerpt.

Bob Sanders, 81, recalls when the broadcast was carried out.

“William Dock saw the water tower in the moonlight, thought it was a spacecraft,” he told NJ.com from his home in West Windsor, N.J. “He took a couple shots at it with his double-barreled shotgun.”

Sanders recalls that “we sat down and listened to it on the radio” on Oct. 30, 1938, and “some of the local people put their families in their cars and drove out of town.”

NPR points out that around 12 million people were listening to the broadcast when “War of the Worlds” came on the air. Around one in 12 million people believed that it was true. However, it cites another report from Slate.com saying that the “supposed panic was so tiny as to be practically immeasurable on the night of the broadcast.”

PBS’s American Experience, however, echoed NPR’s claims.

“This is the most famous media event in history,” American Experience Executive Producer Mark Samel told Mashable.com. “It showed us that fear can overcome even the most rational parts of our brains.”

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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