The Night the World Listened: Orson Welles’s “War of the Worlds”
On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre on the Air delivered a radio adaptation of H.G. Wells’s science fiction novel The War of the Worlds, an event that would go down in history as one of the most famous broadcasts in American media. The program, presented as a series of realistic news […]
The Munich Agreement: A Fateful Decision in the Face of Aggression
On September 30, 1938, the Munich Agreement was signed, a pivotal moment in the lead-up to World War II. This notorious accord, facilitated by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French leaders, aimed to appease Adolf Hitler by allowing Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. While the agreement was intended to prevent […]
Benny Goodman Performs the Famous Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert
A groundbreaking moment in the history of jazz occurred on January 16th, 1938, when Benny Goodman and his orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The concert is celebrated as one of the greatest in the genre.
Kristallnacht
Tragically, on November 9th, 1938, a violent anti-Jewish pogrom known as Kristallnacht took place in Nazi Germany. Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues were destroyed, and numerous Jews were arrested or killed, highlighting the escalating persecution of Jews leading up to the Holocaust.
“The War of the Worlds” Radio Broadcast Terrifies the Nation
On this day, Orson Welles’ radio adaptation of H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds” was broadcasted, causing widespread panic among listeners who believed the fictional story of a Martian invasion was real. This event highlighted the power of media and the impact of storytelling on public perception.