The 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast is the centerpiece of War of the Worlds Week – The 1938 War of the Worlds Broadcast, the 2024 finale of Matt’s annual Halloween celebration. Posted on October 30th, exactly 86 years after it first aired, this special presents the complete Mercury Theatre on the Air performance of H.G. Wells’ classic, starring Orson Welles and carried by CBS.
Matt opens with a short introduction on why this performance still matters. Even though it isn’t as widespread as it was in 1938, new listeners find it every Halloween, and somewhere among them a new lifelong fan is made. Then the broadcast begins.
In this episode:
- Matt’s introduction to the 2024 finale of War of the Worlds Week
- The full 1938 Mercury Theatre on the Air performance, from the opening narration and the weather report to dance music interrupted by news bulletins
- Professor Pearson at the Princeton Observatory and the cylinder landing at Grover’s Mill, New Jersey
- The militia, the Martian fighting machines, and the fall of New York City
- Professor Pearson’s survival story, the encounter with the artilleryman, and the Martians’ surprising end
- Orson Welles’ sign-off, in which he reminds listeners it’s just Halloween
Afterward, Matt shares what’s next for the event. He may not bring it back as a full week in 2025 and is considering a few specials around October 30th instead, to avoid the burnout that hit a couple of years ago. He also mentions he has found another version of War of the Worlds to share.
Whether you’ve listened every October or are hearing this horror radio classic for the first time, this War of the Worlds Week finale is the perfect Halloween listen. Press play and happy Halloween.
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