War of the Worlds

A broadcast that struck fear into an already anxious nation, Orson Welles' War of the Worlds radio broadcast was the most famous alien invasion that never happened.

Actors, antique radios, and the greatest prank of all times. Go behind the scenes with the producers of War of the Worlds on filming the letters sent to Orson Welles and CBS Radio after the 1938 broadcast.

Last year, a University of Michigan grad student applied for an internship at American Experience. He ended up with a Story By credit on War of the Worlds.

During the height of the Great Depression, radios were being purchased by the millions. By 1938, nearly 80% of American homes had a radio. People were willing to forego many modern technological conveniences, but the radio remained a lifeline for the American public.

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, Americans worried when their radio programs were interrupted by special news bulletins.

By the time of the "War of the Worlds" broadcast in 1938, U.S. citizens had been suffering through the Great Depression for nearly ten years. In his 1933 inaugural address, FDR recognized that the dominant mood of the country in the 1930s was not anger or resentment at the capitalist system but in fact was shame and fear.

Shortly after 8 p.m. on the Halloween Eve, 1938, the voice of a panicked radio announcer broke in with a news bulletin reporting strange explosions taking place on the planet Mars, followed minutes later by a report that Martians had landed in the tiny town of Grovers Mill, New Jersey. "War of the Worlds" premieres October 29, 2013 at 9pm ET on PBS.

"Alien army invader in the late '30s was quickly translatable from Martian to German." --David Ropeik, Journalist "War of the Worlds" premieres October 29, 2013 at 9pm ET on PBS.

Orson Welles could not imagine how anyone could believe that Martians had really landed in New Jersey. At the CBS press conference the day following his "War of the Worlds" broadcast, Welles was asked whether he believed he had taken advantage of the public. "I can't imagine an invasion from Mars would find ready acceptance," responded Welles.

At one point during Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" broadcast, CBS network executives ordered an identifying station break to tell listeners that it was only a play. By that time, however, there was no stopping Orson Welles.

After the "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, CBS execs hastily convened a press conference for Orson Welles. It "was one of Welles great performances as an actor. And he knew that his whole career was on the line here," said Media Historian Paul Heyer. Welles had to sound sincere in his apology, which he may not necessarily have been, according to co-producer John Houseman.

On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles gave the nation a Halloween scare with his radio broadcast of an adaptation of H.G. Wells' 1898 novel, "The War of the Worlds." Watch chapter 1 of War of the Worlds, premiering on PBS October 29, 2013 at 9/8c.