October 30, 1938- ‘War of the Worlds’ broadcast on national radio

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - On this day, Oct. 30, 1938, “The War of the Worlds” was broadcast on national radio.

The voice of that broadcast was none other than Kenosha-born Orson Welles.

He was later known for producing and starring in “Citizen Kane.”

What made “The War of the Worlds” broadcast extra terrifying was the mass panic it caused when it aired on national radio.

The broadcast gave a fake news report that aliens had invaded the U.S., as it told the story of the lone survivor of the attack, who was played by Welles.

The realistic sounding broadcast caused thousands of people to run from their homes, terrified that there was an actual invasion.

Police stations, newspapers and radio stations were bombarded with phone calls from listeners who believed the radio program was real.

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