Waging ""The War of the Worlds
A History of the 1938 Radio Broadcast and Resulting Panic, Including the Original Script
Published on 11. September 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
247 pages
978-0-7864-4105-1 (ISBN)
Description
The 1938 Orson Welles broadcast of ""The War of the Worlds"" was a landmark in the history of entertainment, sparking a public hysteria in America and a series of subsequent broadcasts around the world that elicited similar responses. This book examines the historic broadcast indepth. It covers all aspects of the phenomenon including fascination with Mars; H.G. Wells' novel; Orson Welles and the making of the broadcast; initial reactions and the resulting 'fog of war'; anxieties underlying the panic; and the aftermath. Chapters also look at later broadcasts in the United States, Latin America, Brazil and Portugal, and address the likelihood that a similar panic could happen again. The original script of the 1938 ""The War of the Worlds"" radio broadcast, written by Howard Koch, is included.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Jefferson, NC
United States
Illustrations
34 photographs, filmography
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
474 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7864-4105-1 (9780786441051)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
John Gosling has written many articles for British science fiction magazines and runs a highly respected War of the Worlds website (www.war-of the-worlds.co.uk).
Content
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
1. God of War: A Brief History of Mars in the Mind of Man
2. Mars Attacks: H. G. Wells Declares War
3. Orson Welles: Larger Than Life
4. Preparing to End the World: The Making of the Broadcast
5. War: 8 P.M., October 30, 1938
6. "It's Just a Radio Show": Dispatches from the Front Lines
7. The Fog of War: What Really Happened?
8. Smoke and Mirrors: Why the Panic?
9. Animosities and Rapprochements: The Aftermath of War
10. The Latin American Front: The Martians Return
11. SOS from Caratinga: Brazil Battles the Martians
12. The European Theater of Operations: Paralysis in Portugal
13. "It's Not a Meteor, Henry": The Second American Campaign
14. Mars 2, Brazil 0: The Siege of São Luís
15. Peril in Providence: The Last American Campaign
16. The Final Campaigns: Portugal 1988 and 1998
17. Remembering 1938: An American Myth
18. Envious Eyes: Could It Happen Again?
Appendix: The War of the Worlds Original Script by Howard Koch
Chapter Notes
Annotated Bibliography and Filmography (Including Radio, Audio and Television)
Recommended Research Sources
Index
Acknowledgments
Preface
1. God of War: A Brief History of Mars in the Mind of Man
2. Mars Attacks: H. G. Wells Declares War
3. Orson Welles: Larger Than Life
4. Preparing to End the World: The Making of the Broadcast
5. War: 8 P.M., October 30, 1938
6. "It's Just a Radio Show": Dispatches from the Front Lines
7. The Fog of War: What Really Happened?
8. Smoke and Mirrors: Why the Panic?
9. Animosities and Rapprochements: The Aftermath of War
10. The Latin American Front: The Martians Return
11. SOS from Caratinga: Brazil Battles the Martians
12. The European Theater of Operations: Paralysis in Portugal
13. "It's Not a Meteor, Henry": The Second American Campaign
14. Mars 2, Brazil 0: The Siege of São Luís
15. Peril in Providence: The Last American Campaign
16. The Final Campaigns: Portugal 1988 and 1998
17. Remembering 1938: An American Myth
18. Envious Eyes: Could It Happen Again?
Appendix: The War of the Worlds Original Script by Howard Koch
Chapter Notes
Annotated Bibliography and Filmography (Including Radio, Audio and Television)
Recommended Research Sources
Index