War of the Worlds Broadcast: Orson Welles Panics U.S.
Orson Welles transformed H.G. Wells's novel into a simulated news broadcast that convinced thousands of listeners an alien invasion was underway, sparking widespread media outrage and calls for federal regulation. This controversy cemented Welles's reputation as a master dramatist while simultaneously exposing the power of radio to blur the lines between fiction and reality.
October 30, 1938
88 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on October 30
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Antioch had been one of Christianity's most important cities, home to some of the faith's earliest communities. The Muslim siege lasted months. The city surrend…
Arab and Persian pirates stormed Guangzhou, looting the city’s warehouses and burning its foreign trading fleet. This violent raid forced the Tang Dynasty to sh…
Ranulf of Apulia crushed the forces of Roger II of Sicily at the Battle of Rignano, securing a decisive victory for the rebellious Norman barons. This defeat fo…
Ranulf of Apulia crushes Roger II's forces at the Battle of Rignano, shattering Norman unity in southern Italy. This victory secures Ranulf's ducal throne for t…
King Louis IX had died of dysentery during the siege. His brother Charles negotiated peace with the Sultan of Tunis, receiving 210,000 ounces of gold in exchang…
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