Wellesnet: The Orson Welles Web Resource

Orson Welles' infamous radio broadcast of "The War of the Worlds" will be recalled this fall on PBS.

PBS announced its fall programming on Thursday. Among the highlights is an "American Experience" look at "The War of the Worlds.” It will air on Tuesday, October 29, at 9 p.m. ET – a day before the broadcast's 75th anniversary.

You can listen to the original Mercury Theatre On the Air production on the Wellesnet radio page.

According to the network, "Orson Welles’ infamous radio dramatization of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds set off one of the biggest mass hysteria events in U.S. history 75 years ago. The film examines the elements that made America ripe for the hoax."

Also of interest to Welles and Shakespeare fans will be "The Hollow Crown." The four-part miniseries assembles four of Shakespeare’s history plays (more...)

Rich Phoenix, president of the New Jersey Radio Museum, will discuss "The War of the Worlds" radio broadcast at the Wyckoff Free Public Library in New Jersey next week.

"The Radio Broadcast That Terrorized America," Orson Welles’ radio dramatization of H. G. Wells’ science fiction novel "War of the Worlds," will be the subject of his March 27 evening presentation. The October 1938 broadcast converted Wells’ book into a series of breaking news bulletins, leading many listeners throughout the Northeast to believe aliens had landed.

"At the beginning of the broadcast it was announced that it was a work of fiction but the many people tuned into the program after the announcement and just panicked," (more...)

By RAY KELLY

Wellesnet.com is now home to more than 30 radio shows featuring Orson Welles.

The new radio pages span his career from "Les Misérables" in 1937 for the Mutual Network to "The Adventures of Harry Lime" in 1952 on BBC. The programs selected for inclusion are a mix of dramatic presentations, variety shows, wartime broadcasts, and political commentaries.

Co-stars include longtime friends (Joseph Cotten, Mercedes McCambridge), wives (Virginia Welles, Rita Hayworth) and celebrities (Groucho Mark, Carmen Miranda). Titles include "The War of the Worlds," "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Moby Dick." (more...)

By RAY KELLY

Recently, we looked at the impressive Library of Congress online collection related to the Federal Theatre Project. However, it is not the only government website that allows us to revisit Orson Welles' work in the 1930s.

The National Archives offers online visitors a glimpse into two of the more than 600 letters written to the Federal Communications Commission immediately after "The War of the Worlds" radio broadcast. The Mercury Theatre on (more...)

By RAY KELLY

Nearly 75 years later, the "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast continues to inspire.

Last year, the faux documentary "War of the Worlds: The True Story" was released to movie theaters. Now, a one-act play based on the 1938 broadcast has won an Oregon competition for playwrights.

"We Interrupt This Program," by Justin Blasdel of Fayetteville, Arkansas, is a comedy about two families' contrasting reactions to the Mercury Theatre broadcast on October 30, 1938.

The Astor Street Opry Co., which organized the competition, will stage "We Interrupt This Program" during its New Works Festival from Februay 1 through 16 in Astoria, Oregon. It will be directed by Markus Brown, and star Kendall McEuen, Tieler Ferrell, Josh Loring and Ben VanOsdol.

Tickets are priced at $15 or less and available by calling (503) 325-6104 or online at www.astorstreetoprycompany.com (more...)

By LAWRENCE FRENCH

Orson Welles appearance on The David Frost Show recorded on May 12, 1970 came before most of the numerous biographies about Welles had been published, providing us with Welles' own point of view on some very interesting aspects of his life and work.

This interview also took place in the midst of the cultural revolution of the late sixties, when Welles was still at work on his planned TV show, Orson's Bag, and in a few months would begin shooting on The Other Side of the Wind. Both projects related rather heavily on various aspects of the counter-culture and youth movement that was so much a part of (more...)

"War of the Worlds: The True Story," filmmaker Timothy Hines' ambitious faux documentary about a Martian invasion, has drawn opposing views from two prominent West Coast critics.

The film opened in select theaters on October 30, but has only recently gained notices from the Hollywood press as the Pendragon Pictures release now plays in Los Angeles theaters.

The Hollywood Reporter noted this was Hines second attempt at dramatizing H.G. Wells' sci-fi classic. (more...)

By RAY KELLY

"This is Orson Welles, ladies and gentlemen, out of character to assure you that “The War of The Worlds” has no further significance than as the holiday offering it was intended to be. The Mercury Theatre’s own radio version of dressing up in a sheet and jumping out of a bush and saying Boo! Starting now, we couldn’t soap all your windows and steal all your garden gates by tomorrow night …so we did the best next thing. We annihiliated the world before your very ears, and utterly destroyed the Columbia Broadcasting System. You will be relieved, I hope, to learn that we didn’t mean it, and that both institutions are still open for business. So goodbye everybody, and remember the terrible lesson you learned tonight. That grinning, glowing, globular invader of your living room is an inhabitant of the pumpkin patch, and if your doorbell rings and nobody’s there, that was no Martian …it’s Halloween!"
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Tuesday night marks the 74th anniversary of Orson Welles' infamous "The War of the Worlds" radio broadcast. Since its inception, Wellesnet.com has posted some fine pieces chronicling the events of October 30, 1938.

Here are a five worth repeating: (more...)

From the AT&T Archives comes this six-minute short: retired switchboard operators recall the hysteria surrounding Orson Welles radio dramatization of "The War of the Worlds" on October 30, 1938. (Video introduction runs through 1:20)

(more...)

By RAY KELLY

Toronto's The Art Of Time Ensemble will once again present "The War of the Worlds" on stage at Harbourfront Centre from October 30 through November 4.

Actors, musicians and a Foley man will recreate the 1938 radio play, which convinced many frightened listeners into believing a Martian invasion was taking place. Art Of Time Artistic Director Andrew Burashko guided (more...)

By RAY KELLY

It was one year ago today we lost Norman Corwin, the poet laureate of radio, at the age of 101.

During a career that spanned more than 80 years, Corwin wrote, produced and directed for radio, television, film and the stage. He won two Peabody Medals, an Emmy, and was nominated for an Academy Award for writing.

I was very fortunate to interview Corwin in 2008 for a piece on the legacy of Orson Welles' famed "The War of the Worlds" broadcast. He spoke with great affection about Welles and recalled his performance in (more...)

From PR NEWSWIRE

"War of the Worlds:The True Story," a new movie, will play one night only in select theaters across America this October 30th, Tuesday, the night before Halloween, on the 74th anniversary of the famed Orson Welles 1938 radio broadcast.

"War of the Worlds:The True Story," based on the most beloved alien invasion story of all time by Father of Science Fiction, H.G. Wells, assumes the world knows there was a war between Earth and Mars in the year 1900 and is presented as the eyewitness account of Bertie Wells, the last living survivor of the Earth/Mars War (more...)