Who directed and narrated the 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast?

The legendary 1938 War of the Worlds (Review) radio broadcast was both directed and narrated by Orson Welles. At just 23 years old, Welles was already making a name for himself in theater and radio with his Mercury Theatre company. CBS Radio Network offered him a weekly show, "The Mercury Theatre on the Air," which presented dramatizations of classic literary works.

On October 30, 1938, as a Halloween episode, Welles adapted H.G. Wells's novel "The War of the Worlds" for radio. The broadcast was famously structured as a series of realistic news bulletins, complete with "on-the-spot" reporting and interruptions of regular programming. Welles himself played multiple roles, including the primary narrator and Professor Richard Pierson. This innovative and convincing format led many listeners who tuned in late and missed the introduction to believe that an actual Martian invasion was underway, causing widespread panic across the nation.

The dramatic impact of the broadcast cemented Orson Welles's notoriety, drawing him offers from Hollywood and paving the way for his iconic film career, which began with "Citizen Kane" just a few years later. The "War of the Worlds" broadcast remains a powerful example of the persuasive capabilities of radio and the genius of Welles's theatrical vision. It highlighted the growing importance of radio in American life and made broadcasters more aware of the medium's influence.