SPOOKED! How a Radio Broadcast and The War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America
hurricane pounded the East Coast from New York through New England The storm hit without warning killing about seven hundred people damaging thousands of homes and toppling millions of trees The ominous developments overseas added to the public’s worries Europe was on edge again just twenty years after the Great War tore it apart Nations watched warily as Germany’s power grew again The country’s dictator Adolf Hitler had broken international treaties and built up his military force In March 1938 he took control of Austria and in early October part of what was then known as Czechoslovakia Anxious Americans feared what the war-mongering Hitler might do next As the Sunday program was about to begin men leaned back in a favorite chair Women settled nearby stitching the final touches onto Halloween costumes Children who had finished their homework and returned from Mischief Night pranks lay on the floor by the radio set Someone in the family switched it on and twirled the dial to the evening’s entertainment
During the Great Depression which began in late 1929 businesses across the United States closed down putting millions of people out of work Police in New York City distribute bread and eggs to the unemployed in 1930
The aftermath of the Hurricane of 1938 in Amherst Massachusetts On September 21 the storm devastated the East Coast from New York through New England About three minutes into the broadcast an announcer’s deep voice suddenly broke in with a special news bulletin There had been reports of strange unexplained explosions The announcer promised that when more details were available he would pass them on The regular program resumed Not long after a commentator informed the audience that he had just been handed a telegram It said that a shock of almost earthquake intensity had occurred close to Princeton New Jersey So far the cause was unknown During the next fifteen minutes radio listeners throughout the country heard the frightening updates An invading army had attacked New Jersey Eyewitnesses described the killings of dozens of people state troopers innocent bystanders anyone who stood in the invaders way The commentator at the scene was hit by a powerful weapon his entire body charred New Jersey’s state militia was deployed to confront the enemy with seven thousand heavily armed infantry soldiers
Later an announcer grimly told the audience that the militia had been overwhelmed in battle Only 120 of the soldiers survived According to accounts enemy fighters now controlled the middle section of New Jersey They had cut off communications pulled down power lines demolished bridges and ripped up railroad tracks Cars full of terrified people streamed onto the highways trying to escape Officials declared martial law in New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania At half past the hour a familiar voice came over the airwaves Was that President Franklin Roosevelt urging the nation to stay calm Listeners wondered how they could possibly remain calm when lethal black smoke was drifting over the landscape and the enemy was moving toward New York City Millions of New Yorkers had fled by car or boat Thousands had jumped into the river frantically swimming from the danger
