I'm a bit confused about the recent news that, apparently, no one was fooled by the 1938 broadcast of Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds". For years it was common knowledge that the newscast style of the play caused mass panic in America.
According to Michael J. Socolow:
The newspaper industry sensationalized the panic to prove to advertisers, and regulators, that radio management was irresponsible and not to be trusted.
Earlier this year I was in the New York City's public records exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian. Amongst the papers they had on display was this letter - dated October 31st 1938 - from Paul Morton, the city manager of Trenton, New Jersey.
Click the image for a full sized version.
Mr Morton's complain to the FCC is available in the National Archives.
While it's obvious that many people wouldn't have been taken in by the broadcast, it is not obvious why Mr Morton would feel the need to fabricate such a reaction to it.
