War of the Worlds, Original 1938 Audio Recording
On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater of the Air performed an adaption of the science fiction novel War of the Worlds. In this novel, alien creatures from Mars invade the Earth, beginning in New Jersey. Orson Welles structured his performance to seem like a real radio broadcast.
This broadcast seems very realistic, and caused a huge panic among listeners, who weren't aware that it was nothing more than a play. Welles uses very natural language. He begins with a weather report, and interrupts orchestra music with 'updates' about the situation. He creates a very believeabe atmosphere. Reporters interview professors and military personnel, which, under normal circumstances, would be reputable sources. The on-scene reporters give names of real locations in New Jersey -- Princeton, Trenton, Plainfield and others. There is background noise, such as people screaming, which heightens the sense of panic.
Throughout the hour long broadcast, there are only three announcements that inform the listener that they are only listening to a play. Once, in the beginning, as an introduction, and then not again until 40 minutes into the broadcast. A narrator's voice cuts in, "...You have been listening to..." After this, there is a distinct shift in the play. It becomes less of a news broadcast, there is once man speaking, telling a story. He wanders about, after the supposed war, looking at the destruction and reflecting on human nature.
Orson Welles, the author, comes on at the end, and addresses the audience. He again states that they have not been listening to a real report, simply a play. He tells the listeners to think about what they have heard. These three disclaimers were not sufficient enough, as is apparent by the panic that was caused. If a listener missed the first few moments of the broadcast, they had no way of knowing that what they were listening to was not real. By the time the second announcement was played, people were already panicking, not necessarily enough attention to hear and understand.
On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater of the Air performed an adaption of the science fiction novel War of the Worlds. In this novel, alien creatures from Mars invade the Earth, beginning in New Jersey. Orson Welles structured his performance to seem like a real radio broadcast.
This broadcast seems very realistic, and caused a huge panic among listeners, who weren't aware that it was nothing more than a play. Welles uses very natural language. He begins with a weather report, and interrupts orchestra music with 'updates' about the situation. He creates a very believeabe atmosphere. Reporters interview professors and military personnel, which, under normal circumstances, would be reputable sources. The on-scene reporters give names of real locations in New Jersey -- Princeton, Trenton, Plainfield and others. There is background noise, such as people screaming, which heightens the sense of panic.
Throughout the hour long broadcast, there are only three announcements that inform the listener that they are only listening to a play. Once, in the beginning, as an introduction, and then not again until 40 minutes into the broadcast. A narrator's voice cuts in, "...You have been listening to..." After this, there is a distinct shift in the play. It becomes less of a news broadcast, there is once man speaking, telling a story. He wanders about, after the supposed war, looking at the destruction and reflecting on human nature.
Orson Welles, the author, comes on at the end, and addresses the audience. He again states that they have not been listening to a real report, simply a play. He tells the listeners to think about what they have heard. These three disclaimers were not sufficient enough, as is apparent by the panic that was caused. If a listener missed the first few moments of the broadcast, they had no way of knowing that what they were listening to was not real. By the time the second announcement was played, people were already panicking, not necessarily enough attention to hear and understand.
posted by Rebecca at 9:18 AM
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