The War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast Quiz

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What did Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre on the Air do on Halloween morning, 1938?

Performed a radio adaptation of H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds

What did some listeners mistake the radio adaptation for?

Real news bulletins

What did the anxious phone calls from listeners convince many journalists of?

That the show had caused nationwide hysteria

What were the headlines about on the front pages of newspapers the next morning?

<p>The mass panic inspired by the CBS broadcast</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Orson Welles hear reports of?

<p>Mass stampedes, suicides, and angered listeners threatening to shoot him on sight</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the radio broadcast that caused mass hysteria in 1938?

<p>The War of the Worlds</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who was the director of the radio broadcast that caused mass hysteria in 1938?

<p>Orson Welles</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the radio broadcast claim had happened?

<p>The planet had been invaded by aliens</p> Signup and view all the answers

What novel was the radio broadcast based on?

<p>The War of the Worlds</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of the radio broadcast?

<p>It caused mass hysteria</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast

  • On Halloween morning, 1938, Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre on the Air presented a radio adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic science fiction novel, "The War of the Worlds".

Public Reaction

  • Some listeners mistakenly believed the events described in the broadcast were real, leading to widespread panic.
  • Anxious phone calls from listeners convinced many journalists that a real alien invasion was underway.

Media Response

  • The next morning, front-page headlines in newspapers were dominated by the "alien invasion" story.

Consequences

  • Orson Welles heard reports of people rushing to churches, fleeing their homes, and jamming highways in panic.
  • The incident became infamous as a classic example of mass hysteria.

Radio Broadcast Details

  • The radio broadcast that caused mass hysteria in 1938 was "The War of the Worlds".
  • Orson Welles was the director of the radio broadcast.

Broadcast Content

  • The radio broadcast claimed that a real alien invasion from Mars had begun, with reports of destruction and chaos.

Literary Basis

  • The radio broadcast was based on H.G. Wells' classic science fiction novel, "The War of the Worlds".

Impact

  • The radio broadcast had a significant impact on popular culture, becoming a legendary example of the power of media to shape public perception and cause panic.

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