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Skeptoid

Skeptoid #438: The War of the Worlds Panic Broadcast

Skeptoid

Brian Dunning

Skeptic, Social Sciences, Skepticism, Paranormal, Conspiracy Theories, Urban Legends, Science, History

4.63K Ratings

🗓️ 28 October 2014

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles panicked a nation with a single broadcast. Or did he?

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

In 1938, Orson Wells aired his famous radio broadcast that was a mock news report about

0:10.2

aliens invading the Earth.

0:12.4

Although intended as theater, many listeners believed it was real, and the nation went

0:17.2

into a mass panic.

0:19.0

Right?

0:20.0

Well, that's what we've all heard about that infamous broadcast.

0:23.7

But how much of that is true?

0:26.2

We're going to find out.

0:27.7

Today on Skeptoid.

0:34.9

You're listening to Skeptoid.

0:35.9

I'm Allison Hudson from Skeptoid.com.

0:40.1

The War of the World's Panic Broadcast.

0:43.9

We know now that in the early years of the 20th century, this world was being watched closely

0:50.2

by intelligences greater than man's, yet as mortal as his own.

0:56.8

So began one of the most famous radio broadcasts of all time, the October 30th, 1938 adaptation

1:03.3

of H.G. Wells, the War of the Worlds.

1:06.0

Whenever Halloween rolls around, I always get in the mood to listen to the so-called panic

1:10.1

broadcast.

1:11.1

It's one of my favorite radio shows.

1:13.3

Not only is it a great program by itself, but I'm also fascinated by the story around

1:17.7

it.

1:18.7

Not the story that's usually told, however, but the far more interesting truth behind what

...

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