war of the worlds day that panicked america

ladies and gentlemen i have a grave announcement to make those strange beings who landed in jersey farmlands tonight are the vanguard of an invading army from the planet mars our army is wiped out everything wiped out this may be the last broadcast we ll stay here to the end on october 30 1938 normally discerning americans became so totally captivated by orson welles dramatic radio show that they forgot that it was the night before halloween listeners were moved to hastily get into their cars and try to escape throughout new york families left their homes in a panic thousands called the police radio stations and newspapers this programe examines the frailty of the world in 1938 its real horrors and the fallout of welles popularity in which he never recovered this program explains much of the hysteria caused by this broadcast the scandal that followed and the question of whether it could ever happen again