![I had no idea I'd become a national event': Orson Welles on the mass hysteria of The War of the Worlds I had no idea I'd become a national event': Orson Welles on the mass hysteria of The War of the Worlds](https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/1280x720/p0gp6f9r.jpg)
I had no idea I'd become a national event': Orson Welles on the mass hysteria of The War of the Worlds
![Orson Welles' War of the Worlds panic myth: The infamous radio broadcast did not cause a nationwide hysteria. Orson Welles' War of the Worlds panic myth: The infamous radio broadcast did not cause a nationwide hysteria.](https://compote.slate.com/images/e642c687-75bb-432e-8c13-82615dca352a.jpg?crop=354%2C499%2Cx0%2Cy0)
Orson Welles' War of the Worlds panic myth: The infamous radio broadcast did not cause a nationwide hysteria.
![The Infamous "War of the Worlds" Radio Broadcast Was a Magnificent Fluke | History| Smithsonian Magazine The Infamous "War of the Worlds" Radio Broadcast Was a Magnificent Fluke | History| Smithsonian Magazine](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/G4aNFxrtT8o-J6LRJOocUKG9C-g=/fit-in/1072x0/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/a5/c7/a5c7acf3-f9e8-4768-a3c5-0c1c43984a3e/u473814acme.jpg)
The Infamous "War of the Worlds" Radio Broadcast Was a Magnificent Fluke | History| Smithsonian Magazine
![The Fake News of Orson Welles: The War of the Worlds at 80 | The National Endowment for the Humanities The Fake News of Orson Welles: The War of the Worlds at 80 | The National Endowment for the Humanities](https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/2018-10/Orson_Welles-02-megaphone.jpg?h=47b3d008&itok=abIN5O5s)
The Fake News of Orson Welles: The War of the Worlds at 80 | The National Endowment for the Humanities
![It's been 80 years since Orson Welles' 'War of the Worlds' radio broadcast terrified the nation - ABC News It's been 80 years since Orson Welles' 'War of the Worlds' radio broadcast terrified the nation - ABC News](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/orson-wells-gty-jef-181029_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg)