War of the Worlds – 1938 Radio Drama

The 1938 radio drama War of the Worlds, directed and narrated by Orson Welles, is one of the most famous broadcasts in American history. Based on H.G. Wells’ novel of the same name, it was performed by Welles’ Mercury Theatre on the Air and aired on CBS on October 30, 1938. Presented as a series of simulated news bulletins, the broadcast depicted a Martian invasion of Earth, creating panic among listeners who believed the fictional reports were real. Although the degree of the panic has been debated, the broadcast remains a landmark in media history for its innovative use of radio and its impact on public perception of the power of the medium.