Orson Wells: The Voice of Mass Hysteria

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Hi Folks,


On October 30 1938, there was a nationwide mass panic that invaders from Mars were coming to Earth and that the world was at war with aliens.

This was fused by Orson Wells with a small 60 minute radio show that broadcasted an adaptation of H. G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds in a dramatic fashion that made it seem all too real for folks who were listening.

Here’s a link to the actual radio broadcast. I urge you to have a listen to this one day:

What exactly caused this mass panic?

Orson Wells created audience engagement

He was able to make the words that he was reading (i.e. his script) to leap off the page and make people crowd in closer to their radios and listen with full intent of absorbing every single word he spoke.

And here’s the awesome part, even with repeated notices about the broadcast being fictional, people still actually believe what Orson Wells was broadcasting.

Are you engaging your audience with your words?

If Orson Wells can do this 77 years ago and only have radio as his medium, why can you create your own awesome audience engagement?

There is nothing stopping you from writing awesome content that makes people stop what they are doing to fully immerse themselves in your content.

Need proof?

You just read the end of this WA blog post.

Now go and create your own mass hysteria.

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Recent Comments

37

Didn't people like ... commit hari kari and everything? I remember this story. Is this the same as the "War of the Worlds" story? Very very interesting commentary on the difference between media and people's perceptions now and then.

Hey... THAT'S A SCAREY MASK. I ALMOST UNFOLLOWED YOU! LOL -Alexx

We talked about his when I was a kid. My parents listened to the broadcast from the beginning. They new it was a show and not real. They did not understand the panic. The panic set in when people turned on the radio after the show began and thought it was a real news broadcast. As you said, at different times they said it was a show and not real but people did not listen. The panic had already set in. Amazing! Welles was brilliant!
You are right, we can create our own engagement with our audience.
Thanks for the post.
Saul

I love that you have a personal element to this story Saul - thanks for sharing!

Great observations on a classic.

Very constructive and thought provoking post Jay. Thanks.

I have a post 'War of the Worlds Martians Land' on my website. There is some controversy on the actual media frenzy but it sure makes a good story now. And the original story set near London is a wonderful read. But Orson sure has a good imagination and I like the idea of media frenzy. The media is in their element now with quite a few frenzies going on!

Hi Helen,

Yes, there is speculation on how far wide the panic was.
But, that is the beauty of it, that the media made is seem larger than in actually was!

Marketing brilliance at it's best.

You bet! Great fun.

Excellent post. Really cool. Thanks Jay :)

Great blog, thanks and I will for sure check out your link.
Thank you!
Linda
Like the Profile!!

Hey Jay, a very enjoyable read. I will check out your link for a listen. Thanks for sharing. Love the new look btw. No glasses!. That's what it is! ;)) Only joking. I actually watched a youtube video of a girl creating this step by step look. A lot of work involved. Looks brilliant! So realistic.
Thanks for the giggle.
Cheers
Darwyn

This post will get the brain working.Thats a great post.Thanks .

Nice one Jay... very, very nice!!! Outrageous profile pic... talk about audience engagement!

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