War of the Worlds : NPR

75 Years Ago, 'War Of The Worlds' Started A Panic. Or Did It?

Invader? No, it's a man dressed as one in 1988. He was in Grovers Mill, N.J., at a 50th anniversary celebration of The War of the Worlds broadcast. Chris Lischy/AP hide caption

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Chris Lischy/AP

The Two-Way

75 Years Ago, 'War Of The Worlds' Started A Panic. Or Did It?

October 30, 2013 • On the evening of Oct. 30, 1938, Orson Welles and his troupe went on the air to say that Martians had invaded New Jersey. Ever since, stories have made it sound as if the broadcast caused a mass panic. But that might not have been the case.

From 'The War of the Worlds' broadcast: 'This is the end now.'

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