Radio Listeners in Panic, Taking War Drama as FactMany Flee Homes to Escape 'Gas Raid From Mars'--Phone Calls Swamp Police at Broadcast of Wells Fantasy
This article appeared in the New York Times on Oct. 31, 1938.
A wave of mass hysteria seized thousands of radio listeners between 8:15 and 9:30 o'clock last night when a broadcast of a dramatization of H. G. Wells's fantasy, "The War of the Worlds," led thousands to believe that an interplanetary conflict had started with invading Martians spreading wide death and destruction in New Jersey and New York.
The broadcast, which disrupted households, interrupted religious services, created traffic jams and clogged communications systems, was made by Orson Welles, who as the radio character, "The Shadow," used to give "the creeps" to countless child listeners. This time at least a score of adults required medical treatment for shock and hysteria.
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The radio play, as presented, was to simulate a regular radio program with a "break-in" for the material of the play. The radio listeners, apparently, missed or did not listen to the introduction, which was: "The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations present Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air in 'The War of the Worlds' by H. G. Wells."
They also failed to associate the program with the newspaper listing of the program, announced as "Today: 8:00-9:00--Play: H. G. Wells's 'War of the Worlds'." They ignored three additional announcements made during the broadcast emphasizing its fictional nature.
The radio play, as presented, was to simulate a regular radio program with a "break-in" for the material of the play. The radio listeners, apparently, missed or did not listen to the introduction, which was: "The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations present Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre on the Air in 'The War of the Worlds' by H. G. Wells."
They also failed to associate the program with the newspaper listing of the program, announced as "Today: 8:00-9:00--Play: H. G. Wells's 'War of the Worlds'." They ignored three additional announcements made during the broadcast emphasizing its fictional nature.
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The other night during the evening news on our local station, the news team announced a new “service” that was available to viewers via their website. Apparently you could sign on during the day and “vote” for which developing news story that you’d like covered in their news coverage later in the day.
I’ll let that idea sink in a little………………
The fact that a news program would consider the idea of “voting” for your choice of the news as a good idea, tells me that we have a severe problem in discerning between reality as it is happening, reality as it is portrayed as happening and equally well portrayed fiction that did not happen at all.
From reading the article above about the panic that ensued from the dramatization of H.G. Wells's great science fiction story “War of The Worlds” you can see that it’s not specifically a new problem. However, it is a problem with much more potential impact now than in 1938.
When I read this quote from Tom Hanks, I couldn’t help but speculate:
Hanks: Don't Take 'Code' Too Seriously
Actor Urges Critics To Relax, Says 'The Da Vinci Code' Filled With 'Hooey'
- Evening Standard, LONDON, May 13, 2006
Having read the novel, I know that the movie of “The DaVinci Code” will be a hit, and because of the problem of discernment already discussed I also know that there will be quite a bit of debate and confusion about this film for a long time.
I have a feeling that for many people, seeing the film will have little impact on their opinion about the truth of Christianity. The adverse behavior of many Christians has probably already decided that for them.
The novel of “The DaVinci Code” is a mystery based on the speculation of the extension of a heresy from the early days of the church. It takes a fairly “popular” ancient heresy and presents a fictional account of a conspiracy that might have arisen had the heresy been true. It is receiving a lot of attention because it is perceived as an attack on Christianity.
In a similar way, albeit from a different perspective, two of the best-selling “Christian” books employ the same literary tool. “The Prayer of Jabez” extrapolates a rather obscure prayer from the Old Testament and applies it to a formula for personal success. The “Left Behind” series utilizes a particular interpretation or viewpoint on eschatology (study of the end times) and expands it into a chain of events that are depicted as being based on the teachings of the Book of Revelation.
As far as I know I’ve never heard Dan Brown, the author of “The DaVinci Code”, profess to be a Christian. So technically speaking, "The DaVinci Code", being speculation about a heresy, does not really qualify as heresy. You see heresy can really only come from inside the church. From outside the church it is merely unbelief. Even if Dan Brown were to declare himself a Christian, a fictional book that speculates on heresy is not heretical.
Far more damaging in my opinion, is the subtle distortion of the truth of Christ that is portrayed in books like “The Prayer of Jabez,” and “Left Behind.” Ironically, these books have “credibility” because their authors are professing, prominent Evangelical Christians, and their notoriety gives credence to what they write. But, you see, that’s exactly what defines a potential heretic, someone who professes Christian faith, but distorts the teachings and dogmas of the church and presents their interpretation as the truth.
Having read the novel, I know that the movie of “The DaVinci Code” will be a hit, and because of the problem of discernment already discussed I also know that there will be quite a bit of debate and confusion about this film for a long time.
I have a feeling that for many people, seeing the film will have little impact on their opinion about the truth of Christianity. The adverse behavior of many Christians has probably already decided that for them.
The novel of “The DaVinci Code” is a mystery based on the speculation of the extension of a heresy from the early days of the church. It takes a fairly “popular” ancient heresy and presents a fictional account of a conspiracy that might have arisen had the heresy been true. It is receiving a lot of attention because it is perceived as an attack on Christianity.
In a similar way, albeit from a different perspective, two of the best-selling “Christian” books employ the same literary tool. “The Prayer of Jabez” extrapolates a rather obscure prayer from the Old Testament and applies it to a formula for personal success. The “Left Behind” series utilizes a particular interpretation or viewpoint on eschatology (study of the end times) and expands it into a chain of events that are depicted as being based on the teachings of the Book of Revelation.
As far as I know I’ve never heard Dan Brown, the author of “The DaVinci Code”, profess to be a Christian. So technically speaking, "The DaVinci Code", being speculation about a heresy, does not really qualify as heresy. You see heresy can really only come from inside the church. From outside the church it is merely unbelief. Even if Dan Brown were to declare himself a Christian, a fictional book that speculates on heresy is not heretical.
Far more damaging in my opinion, is the subtle distortion of the truth of Christ that is portrayed in books like “The Prayer of Jabez,” and “Left Behind.” Ironically, these books have “credibility” because their authors are professing, prominent Evangelical Christians, and their notoriety gives credence to what they write. But, you see, that’s exactly what defines a potential heretic, someone who professes Christian faith, but distorts the teachings and dogmas of the church and presents their interpretation as the truth.
So, am I going to see the film? Probably not right away – I’ll see how everybody else “votes” on it!! Anyway, I’ve heard from a reliable source that it’s a lot of “Hooey!
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