DDH- The Broadcast That Terrorized the Nation

The Dave Bowman Show

In this episode of Dave Does History, we’re traveling back to October 30, 1938—the night that a single radio broadcast turned America upside down. Orson Welles, an ambitious young director, took to the airwaves with a dramatization of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds, and before the night was over, countless Americans believed their world was under attack by Martians. From Welles’ inventive approach to the ensuing public panic and media frenzy, we unpack the event that showed the immense power—and sometimes danger—of broadcast media. How did a fictional radio play grip the nation in fear? What lessons did it leave behind for today’s media-driven world? Tune in as we recount the unforgettable story of The War of the Worlds broadcast and its impact on history, media, and public trust.