Synopsis Expand/Collapse Synopsis On the evening of October 30, 1938, radio listeners across the United States heard a startling report of a meteor strike in the New Jersey countryside. With sirens blaring in the background, announcers in the field described mysterious creatures, terrifying war machines, and thick clouds of poison gas moving toward New York City. As the invading force approached Manhattan, some listeners sat transfixed, while others ran to alert neighbors or to call the police. Some even fled their homes. But the hair-raising broadcast was not a real news bulletin-it was Orson Welles’s adaptation of the H. G. Wells classic The War of the Worlds. In Broadcast Hysteria, A. Brad Schwartz boldly retells the story of Welles’s famed radio play and its impact. Did it really spawn a “wave of mass hysteria,” as The New York Times reported? Schwartz is the first to examine the hundreds of letters sent to Orson Welles himself in the days after the broadcast, and his findings challenge the conventional wisdom. Few listeners believed an actual attack was under way. But even so, Schwartz shows that Welles’s broadcast became a major scandal, prompting a different kind of mass panic as Americans debated the bewitching power of the radio and the country’s vulnerability in a time of crisis. When the debate was over, American broadcasting had changed for good, but not for the better. As Schwartz tells this story, we observe how an atmosphere of natural disaster and impending war permitted broadcasters to create shared live national experiences for the first time. We follow Orson Welles’s rise to fame and watch his manic energy and artistic genius at work in the play’s hurried yet innovative production. And we trace the present-day popularity of “fake news” back to its source in Welles’s show and its many imitators. Schwartz’s original research, gifted storytelling, and thoughtful analysis make Broadcast Hysteria a groundbreaking new look at a crucial but little-understood episode in American history.
Collections – The Strong National Museum of Play
The Strong Museum of Play is home to the largest, most comprehensive collection of toys, dolls, games, and video games.
Gallery of BIG Maze Opens at National Building Museum – 6
Image 6 of 18 from gallery of BIG Maze Opens at National Building Museum. Photograph by Matthew Carbone, www.matthewcarbone.com
Riot Fest Chicago day 2 in pics (The National, Flaming Lips, Afghan Whigs, Television, Buzzcocks, Samiam, more)
& Milos Markicevic Riot Fest Chicago kicked off this past Friday (9/12) in Humboldt Park and continued the following day with Samhain (playing Initium) (video below), The National, The Flaming Lips, Descendents (playing Milo Goes to College), The Get Up Kids (playing Something to Write Home About), The Afghan Whigs,…
Build Stone Men.
Build stone men. It's a fun relaxing activity for you and the kids. It doesn't cost anything and doesn't take much time. These stone men are known as Inuksuk in Canada.
PVC Pipe Heart Engineering Project for Kids – Little Bins for Little Hands
Have fun building with PVC pipe for a great engineering project for all ages. This PVC pipe heart activity is great play and learning.
Vintage Corgi Major Toys 1128 Priestman \”Cub V\” Excavator Shovel Diecast Model
Please follow our store. Our HUGE inventory changes daily. The rarest items go fast! What are you buying? A vintage Corgi Major Toys 1128 Priestman "Cub V" Excavator Shovel Diecast Model. What condition is it in? In excellent overall condition. Minor signs of use. Comes as shown. (See HD pictures for details) Who are we? We established My Found Treasures in 2017 with a single purpose in mind; to create an enjoyable business that our children could be involved with. It has been an amazing experience and we now have multiple generations working together. We are especially looking forward to…
Blackadder Goes Forth Hello Darling inspired illustration Anniversary A6 Card
Praise Kitchener, it's Blackadder!! This is an A6 card (105mm wide by 148mm tall) featuring an illustration inspired by the the fourth Blackadder to grace our screens. Set in the trenches during the First World War, Blackadder and his faithful yet mucky tommie, Baldrick, attempt to not go over the top. It was played by the incredible Rowan Atkinson and is a classic British sitcom. This card is perfect for fans of history, of the military and of damn good insults. Please note: this card will probably not help you have a cunning plan. It's printed on recycled 350gsm recycled…
Fun Jobs and Chores for Kids at the Campsite – Amy Pessolano
I received a sample of this product in exchange for my review. However, I only recommend products or services I love, that I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. The links to Amazon in this post are affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase using them. […]
