Editor’s note: The hacking of our website in late April cost us several articles. Among the losses was a look at the book “When Mars Attacked,” which examines the legacy of Orson Welles’ “The War of the Worlds” radio broadcast. Author David Acord was kind enough to help us recreate the interview as it appeared. […]
Orson Welles’ infamous radio broadcast of “The War of the Worlds” will be recalled this fall on PBS. PBS announced its fall programming on Thursday. Among the highlights is an “American Experience” look at “The War of the Worlds.” It will air on Tuesday, October 29, at 9 p.m. ET – a day before the […]
Rich Phoenix, president of the New Jersey Radio Museum, will discuss “The War of the Worlds” radio broadcast at the Wyckoff Free Public Library in New Jersey next week. “The Radio Broadcast That Terrorized America,” Orson Welles’ radio dramatization of H. G. Wells’ science fiction novel “War of the Worlds,” will be the subject of […]
By RAY KELLY Wellesnet.com is now home to more than 30 radio shows featuring Orson Welles. The new radio pages span his career from “Les Misérables” in 1937 for the Mutual Network to “The Adventures of Harry Lime” in 1952 on BBC. The programs selected for inclusion are a mix of dramatic presentations, variety shows, […]
By RAY KELLY Recently, we looked at the impressive Library of Congress online collection related to the Federal Theatre Project. However, it is not the only government website that allows us to revisit Orson Welles’ work in the 1930s. The National Archives offers online visitors a glimpse into two of the more than 600 letters […]
By RAY KELLY Nearly 75 years later, the “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast continues to inspire. Last year, the faux documentary “War of the Worlds: The True Story” was released to movie theaters. Now, a one-act play based on the 1938 broadcast has won an Oregon competition for playwrights. “We Interrupt This Program,” by […]
By LAWRENCE FRENCH Orson Welles appearance on The David Frost Show recorded on May 12, 1970 came before most of the numerous biographies about Welles had been published, providing us with Welles’ own point of view on some very interesting aspects of his life and work. This interview also took place in the midst of […]
“War of the Worlds: The True Story,” filmmaker Timothy Hines’ ambitious faux documentary about a Martian invasion, has drawn opposing views from two prominent West Coast critics. The film opened in select theaters on October 30, but has only recently gained notices from the Hollywood press as the Pendragon Pictures release now plays in Los […]
By RAY KELLY “This is Orson Welles, ladies and gentlemen, out of character to assure you that “The War of The Worlds” has no further significance than as the holiday offering it was intended to be. The Mercury Theatre’s own radio version of dressing up in a sheet and jumping out of a bush and […]
From the AT&T Archives comes this six-minute short: retired switchboard operators recall the hysteria surrounding Orson Welles radio dramatization of “The War of the Worlds” on October 30, 1938. (Video introduction runs through 1:20)
By RAY KELLY Toronto’s The Art Of Time Ensemble will once again present “The War of the Worlds” on stage at Harbourfront Centre from October 30 through November 4. Actors, musicians and a Foley man will recreate the 1938 radio play, which convinced many frightened listeners into believing a Martian invasion was taking place. Art […]
By RAY KELLY It was one year ago today we lost Norman Corwin, the poet laureate of radio, at the age of 101. During a career that spanned more than 80 years, Corwin wrote, produced and directed for radio, television, film and the stage. He won two Peabody Medals, an Emmy, and was nominated for […]