Rejoice – or tremble – the 85th anniversary of the War of the Worlds is upon us.
The October 30, 1938 broadcast is available here on streaming audio, along with a transcript of the Howard Koch radio play and an account of the press conference following the CBS broadcast, as well as some of the letters to the FCC found in the National Archives. Over the years, Wellesnet has reported on and compiled recollections ranging from Welles’ oldest daughter, Chris, to AT&T operators to an actual listener.
There is much to read and enjoy for fans of Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air.
Among the choice offerings:
• Streaming audio of the CBS radio broadcast and other Welles radio shows
• Transcript of the Mercury Theatre On the Air broadcast written by Howard Koch
• Welles’ Halloween press conference; Radio Guide magazine, 1938
• Orson Welles’ Sketch Book 1955 on The Martian Invasion – transcript and BBC video
• Chris Welles Feder reflects on her father’s famed broadcast
• Radio great Norman Corwin on the ‘War of the Worlds’
• National Archives: The FCC and ‘The War of the Worlds’
• Wellesnet veteran Glenn Anders (aka Alex Fraser) remembers the ‘War’
• Video: AT&T operators recalls ‘The War of the Worlds’
• ‘Broadcast Hysteria’ book utilizes nearly 1,400 letters sent to Orson Welles after ‘War of the Worlds’ broadcast
Ready to tune the dial to the Columbia Broadcasting System and hear the October 30, 1938 broadcast?
Check it out below.
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