Question

How does Orson welles conclude the radio broadcast war of the wars?

Answer 1

With radio becoming the dominant source of breaking news in the 1930s, it is perhaps not so surprising to hear about the problem of “fake news”, and the panic and hysteria that followed the broadcasting of the most infamous radio talk show: the War of the Worlds.

Orson Welles' radio show “The War of the Worlds” on Sunday, October 30, 1938 in New York caused the national panic when the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) broadcast vividly described invading Martian armies, mostly through news bulletins that interrupted the program, without informing listeners it was entertainment. What followed was a mass panic across the country that made some listeners flee their homes as they believed a Martian invasion was really taking place. The massive hysteria was caused by the confusion by some listeners who tuned in to the broadcast of the play late and missed the introduction which provided the context for the broadcast.

”War of the worlds” was not planned as a radio hoax, and Welles had a little idea of the chaos it would cause. Unwittingly, Welles and the Mercury Theatre of the Air made one of the most fascinating and significant demonstrations proving that a few effective voices, accompanied by sound effects, can convince masses of people of a completely unreasonable and irrational proposition creating a nation-wide panic.

Answer 2

He informs the listener that the story was not real and provides a moral.

Step-by-step explanation:

Orson Welles presents himself, out of character, to explain that the broadcast was not about a real (even though they did announce it in the beginning). Many people didn't question what was being said on the Radio, which caused a mass hysteria. That consequence seems to be unintended, as Orson explained:

"You will be relieved, I hope, to learn that we didn't mean it, and that both institutions are still open for business. So goodbye, everybody, and remember, please, for the next day or so, the terrible lesson you learned tonight. That grinning, glowing, globular invader of your living room is an inhabitant of the pumpkin patch, and if your doorbell rings and nobody's there, that was no Martian; it's Halloween."