Orson Welles and the War of the Worlds NEW - Hybrid Online

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Orson Welles revolutionized radio, redefined film, and left behind a legacy that still echoes today. We will unpack one of his early crowning achievements in the science fiction radio phenomenon, “The War of the Worlds.”

We will chart his early radio years as the “Voice that Roared” whose impact was forged through his notable work as the pulp hero series, “The Shadow”. On display was his flair for vocal performance, accents, and dramatic timing In 1937, he would co-found the Mercury Theater with the mission of making stage and radio an art form of the people by making high-quality adaptations of literary works, including Dracula, Treasure Island, Around the World in 80 Days, to name a few. All productions emphasized atmosphere, music, and pacing with a top-flight crew of actors and collaborators.

It was during a Halloween episode of Mercury Theater on the Air in 1938 that Welles debuted “The War of the Worlds” radio drama which was performed and broadcast live as a series of urgent news bulletins chronicling a Martian invasion in rural New Jersey. The mockumentary approach triggered widespread panic among listeners and public officials, many of whom didn’t realize that it was a modernized adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic science fiction novel of the same name. The ensuing controversy established Welles as an innovative storyteller and “trickster” entertainer. His theater and radio success earned him unprecedented creative control for his first film feature, “Citizen Kane” released in 1941. Although poorly received at the box office, it would later be recognized by critics as one of the greatest films ever made.