Orson Welles Original 'WAR OF THE WORLDS' broadcast

War of the Worlds (Oct 30,1938)

Their October 30 broadcast, H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds, brought Welles notoriety and instant fame on both a national and international level. The fortuitous mixture of news bulletin format with the between-breaks dial spinning habits of listeners from the rival and far more popular Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy program, created widespread confusion among late tuners. Panic spread among many listeners who believed the news reports of an actual Martian invasion. The resulting panic was duly reported around the world, Welles's growing fame soon drew Hollywood offers, lures which the independent-minded Welles resisted at first.