War of the Worlds Timeline

Spencer McAdams

10/10/2013

1938 “The War of the Worlds” Radio Broadcast Timeline

>October 30

8pm – Mercury Theatre Group’s Halloween show begins broadcast of H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds” radio drama, with Orson Welles as the announcer.

8:30 pm – Radio listeners who missed the announcement at the beginning of the broadcast begin to panic as they believe the events being described are fact instead of fiction.

9pm – Broadcast ends and police stations in Concrete, Washington are flooded with calls, people lock themselves in basements, take to the roads, and arm themselves for the perceived threat.

>October 31

Newspapers release articles describing the events that took place, speculation on several causes of the panic, and the response.  Public officials reassure the panicked public and attempt to restore the peace.