The War of the Worlds (Dramatized)

By: Mercury Theatre on the Air

Narrated by: Orson Welles

One of the most memorable programs in broadcast history, the Halloween Eve 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds set off a nationwide panic that's almost unimaginable today. Presented by the Mercury Theatre on the Air and its creative genius, Orson Welles, the drama based on H.G. Wells' classic novel tells the story of a Martian invasion of Earth. As written by Howard Koch, the play unfolds in a realistic documentary style, complete with simulated news broadcasts of aliens landing in Grover's Mill, New Jersey.

Whether they weren't quite paying attention, tuned in late, or simply misunderstood what they heard, legions of listeners thought an actual invasion was underway. The front-page headline in the October 31, 1938, New York Times told the whole story: "Radio Listeners in Panic, Taking War Drama as Fact/Many Flee Homes to Escape 'Gas Raid From Mars'/Phone Calls Swamp Police at Broadcast of Wells Fantasy".

Hear more collections of radio movie dramatizations, or listen to all of the individual programs by themselves!©2006 Radio Spirits, Inc. (P)2006 Radio Spirits, Inc.

Science fiction makes history

Would you consider the audio edition of The War of the Worlds (Dramatized) to be better than the print version?

Classic apples to oranges question. The written story is an amazing piece of vintage science fiction while the audio version is the actual broadcast played over the radio intended as a Halloween prank on the listeners. This prank had scary consequences that made actual history. I feel each version has its own distinct personality and as such for me to pick a favorite would feel unfair.

What other book might you compare The War of the Worlds (Dramatized) to and why?

With the Star Force series by B.V. Larson fresh in my mind some obvious parallels present themselves, however that would be like comparing the 1963 Doctor who series to the present day installment of the good doctor.

Have you listened to any of Orson Welles’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The only other performance I have heard from Mr. Wells was his portrayal of the Transformer planet in the cartoon movie by the same name. The quality of this recording was poor due to the inferior recording equipment of the time however would you really want a better track to take away from the old radio show feel?

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I wanted to listen with my kids and explain a couple things as we went along.

Any additional comments?

Great fun for the whole family if this is correctly appreciated for what it is.

thoroughly impressive for it's time

What made the experience of listening to The War of the Worlds (Dramatized) the most enjoyable?

I can understand how tuning into the first half of this radio drama
could have freaked some people out back in 1938.
It was really well produced.
The voices are great.

Any additional comments?

I'm sure I will listen to it again at some point.

wow

amazing performance. I can see why people were fooled when this broadcast originally came out.

Well this is new for me...

I have never listened to something like this, and now that I have im kinda kicking myself in the rear for just NOW finding something like this. Absolutely amazing performance even though it was on the radio Halloween eve 1938. Alot of people during that time actually got scared because they thought it was real! Let me tell you if I was a youngling and i just came across this I would have too.

Short and so bittersweet. Such a horrifying tale, perfect for the eve of ghosts, goblins and well ALIENS!!!

"That was no Martian, it's Halloween"

It's a masterful radio dramatization dating back to 1938. The radio play allegedly "stirred terror through the U.S." and "terrified the nation". The broadcast started with the introduction by Orson Welles: "We know now that in the early years of the twentieth century this world was being watched closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own." The broadcast went on followed by a weather report and interviews that were meant to make the dramatization sound realistic. Then there was a special news bulletin announcing that an object about 30 yards wide had fallen on a farm at Grovers Mill.
What the news reporter saw next he described as "the most terrifying thing" he had ever witnessed...
I was hooked by this true-to-life radio adaptation. The way the Martian invasion and its aftermath were reported, and the enactment of one of the few survivors were brilliant.