October 30, 1938
50 Minute Recording
= "The War of the Worlds" is an episode of the American radio drama anthology series The Mercury Theatre on the Air directed and narrated by actor / filmmaker Orson Welles as an adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds (1898). It was performed and broadcast live as a Halloween episode at 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 30, 1938. The episode became famous for causing panic among its listening audience.

Personal Note: My grandmother's house had just received electricity, still on the pole outside. That powered the one radio. House was lite by kerocene lamps only. Outside they could see red lights flash in the clouds. Spooky: The becon lights at the airport 20+ miles were used for the first time that night, flashing in the clouds. With Orson Wells plus first time ever flashing red lights in the clouds, made for an interesting night.