On this day in 1938, a dramatization of The War of the Worlds was broadcast on the radio. Some listeners were so convinced by the radio show that they called the police thinking Martians were taking over the planet.
Then just 29 years old, Orson Welles’ radio play played shortly after a comedy sketch, catching many by surprise. The story began in the middle of a fictional weather report before cutting to the openings of a supposed Martian invasion of Earth.
First, a professor discovered explosions on Mars. Then, a meteor landed in a New Jersey farmer’s field—which turned out to be a vessel. A broadcaster described the invaders, their vehicles, and the destruction that ensued.
The show caused such concern that the Federal Communications Commission reviewed it to see if it broke any laws. It didn’t, though broadcasters agreed to tone it down. Welles went on to be a very famous author, even today.
You can read more about the broadcast at the Smithsonian Magazine website.
