On this day 1938 - War of the Worlds caused nationwide panic

[liberal N proud]

October 30

1534
The English parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, making King Henry VIII head of the English church.

1938
Radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds, starring Orson Welles, caused nationwide panic among listeners.

1944
Martha Graham's ballet Appalachian Spring, with music by Aaron Copland, premiered.

1953
Gen. George C. Marshall won the Nobel Peace Prize for originating the Marshall Plan.

1974
Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the eighth round of a 15-round bout in Kinshasa, Zaire ("rumble in the jungle") to regain his world heavyweight title.

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory/Oct-30

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. And now we will return you to the music of Ramón Raquello and his orchestra

[Resuscitated Ethics]

2. Hyped hype. I want to believe that everyone freaked, but really...

a lot of those hysterics seemed to have been Welles upping his value.

Thoughtful article http://chronicle.com/temp/reprint.php?id=fwn6zpjwm6trlsgy8kjcr6lxrhxffm1w

[liberal N proud]

3. Maybe but look at all the hysteria on this board every time Obama's polls dip

Or some other potentially frightening propaganda is released.

[Resuscitated Ethics]

4. Mass hysteria is an awesome beast to be sure

btw I LOVE the War of the Worlds broadcast: I have it on VINYL LP from a mail order TV ad a million years ago (order now and you also get THESE great moments: the Hindenberg "o the humanity"; Lou Gerhigs final goodbye; the morse code from corregidors final broadcast(?) (etc etc)

It was a very well done radio show.