War of the Worlds Turns 70, Ball St. To Recreate

By Marcus Gilmer in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 30, 2008 4:40PM

It was 70 years ago tonight that Orson Welles punk'd an entire nation by staging a radio drama (adapted from the H.G. Wells novel) that made everyone think the world was under attack by martians. Ah, simpler times. Every year at this time, my dad breaks out his vinyl copy of the drama and plays it; you can imagine how warping it was to me at a young age to here the drama without knowing the back story. Thanks, pop.

Anyway. Indiana Public Radio announced recently that Ball State University will be recreating the drama tonight to honor the anniversary. IPR also assumes that everyone who hears the drama will be sharp enough to know it's not real. We're not so sure...

Relive the original experience here.