“Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our program of dance music to bring you a special bulletin from the Intercontinental Radio News. At twenty minutes before eight, central time, Professor Farrell of the Mount Jennings Observatory, Chicago, Illinois, reports observing several explosions of incandescent gas, occurring at regular intervals on the planet Mars. The spectroscope indicates the gas to be hydrogen and moving towards the earth with enormous velocity. Professor Pierson of the Observatory at Princeton confirms Farrell’s observation, and describes the phenomenon as (quote) like a jet of blue flame shot from a gun (unquote). We now return you to the music of Ramón Raquello, playing for you in the Meridian Room of the Park Plaza Hotel…” from the War of The Worlds script by Orson Welles.
It is quite typical of me that I would go to a guitar show and come away with a picture of a microphone instead of guitars. This carbon button microphone was just odd enough to catch my eye. It’s not at all what I was using in the studio last week. Doesn’t it look like someone should start reading the script for War of the Worlds?
I wasn’t even a gleam in my parent’s eyes on October 30, 1938 when CBS aired an adaptation of the novel by H. G. Wells called The War of the Worlds. Orson Welles, narrated it with his smooth, rich voice. The premise was that Martians were invading the world, and it was presented as if news bulletins were breaking into a regular radio program to air the updates. You can read the full script here.
Although it was announced at the beginning that it was a radio show, the program ran without commercial breaks. Can you imagine the terror you might feel in 1938 if you tuned in late and did not know it was fiction? Remember that you couldn’t check the verity of the information by going on the internet or tuning in to your local television news station.
I’ve read about the turmoil caused by that broadcast, but never spoken to anyone who heard it. Do you know of someone who did? Did you hear any stories about the show’s effect on your folks? I’d love to hear your tales.
This photo is entered in the Monochrome Weekly Theme, and you can see many more black and white photos if you follow that link.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I love that episode! The photo is very interesting too!
Thanks for stopping Silvia.
Talk about a blast from the past.
James´s last blog ..Gloomy Days
Indeed. I love old microphones. I wish this one hadn’t been so pricey.
Interesting photo. I never heard of anyone who actually heard the Orson Welles broadcast.
Jamie´s last blog ..The Unquiet Grave
I figured that if ANYONE had, YOU would! I’m crushed
Well, like you, Shelley, I wasn’t around back in 1938 either but my Mom was and she told me about that radio broadcast back when I was a child -don’t recall now how old I was but she did say that it definitely did create a whole lot of pandemonium!
Jeni Hill Ertmer´s last blog ..In The Spirit of the Season
I can imagine that it would, Jeni. I need to find it on CD. I’d love to hear it read aloud, but never have.
With a microphone like that in view, why would you want to photograph a boring old guitar?
Christine´s last blog ..Fall Color in Black & White
I said the same thing to my husband, Christine … he didn’t get it, but he liked the microphone, too
I remember my grandmother saying that they knew it wasn’t real but it was still very scary. I imagine it must have been terrifying if you didn’t know.
Calico Crazy´s last blog ..Monochrome Monday #11
It made his name.
Aileni´s last blog ..The Mills, Dungloe Pier.