Question

Why is music included between news updates in the radio version of The War of the Worlds?

A)To make the sponsors happy and ask them to continue spending money on the broadcast
B)To make the audience feel bad about not believing earlier reports
C)To make the broadcast seem more like a real radio program and increase the audience's suspense
D)To field calls from angry citizens blaming the radio station for causing fear and chaos among the audience

Answer 1

The correct answer is: C) To make the broadcast seem more like a radio program and increase the audience's suspense.

Orson Wells did the radio version of The War of the Worlds on October 30, 1938. In this story some aliens came to Earth and began an hostile invasion. To add exitement and make the story feel real, like if it was really happening, special effects were used. The idea was to recreate a typical evening broadcast that was interrupted by news bulletins, adding music helped it being more realistic. Some verions state that the broadcast was so effective that some people really thought an alien invasion was taking place which generated collective hysteria.

Answer 2

The answer is C.
I hope this helps.