In 1938, a radio broadcast based on H. G. Wells' book "War of the Worlds" aired. People all over the country tuned in, but not everyone heard the disclaimer that it was just a dramatized reading and not a real alien invasion. Panic ensued...or did it? Listen to this story and three other great Additional History stories.

SOURCES

“Advertisement: Chesterfield Cigarettes (Page 2).” Daily Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi), October 31, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

Associated Press. “Dog's Pal May Starve To Death.” Hinton Daily News (Hinton, West Virginia), November 3, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

Associated Press. “Trapped Dog Is Found, But Dead.” Hinton Daily News (Hinton, West Virginia), November 7, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

“Bars Placed Across Theater Doors Bring Grief To Halloween Pranksters.” The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana), October 31, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

Chicago Tribune Press Service. “U.S. Runs Rich Indian's Widow From Mansion.” Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois), October 31, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

“H. G. Wells.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, September 13, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells.

“Jackson Barnett.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, July 31, 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Barnett.

“Maliciousness Will Be Checked.” Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona), October 31, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

“Orson Welles.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, September 8, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Welles.

“Police Kept Hopping By Halloween Pranks.” Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, Michigan), October 31, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

“Prank Lands Six Youth In Trouble.” The Paterson Evening News (Paterson, New Jersey), October 31, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

This Land. “The Prisoner of Wilshire Boulevard.” This Land Press, January 23, 2012. https://thislandpress.com/2012/06/23/the-prisoner-of-wilshire-boulevard-2/.

Thorne, Tanis C. “The World's Richest Indian.” Oxford Scholarship Online. Oxford University Press, 2005. https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195182989.001.0001/acprof-9780195182989-chapter-12.

“A Tragic Prank.” Mansfield News-Journal (Mansfield, Ohio), October 22, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

United Press. “Jobless Men Labor to Rescue Dog.” Daily News (Los Angeles, California), October 31, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

United Press. “U. S. Probes Radio 'Invasion' Scare.” The St. Louis Star-Times (St. Louis, Missouri), October 31, 1938. www.newspapers.com.

SOUND SOURCES

Al Jolson. “I’ll Say She Does.” www.pixabay.com/music.

Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies. “Cold Winter Blues.” www.pixabay.com/music.

Sophie Tucker. “Reuben Rag.” www.pixabay.com/music.