Scan barcode
miss_alaina's review against another edition
4.0
Have you ever been watching a show and it was interrupted by a “breaking news” report? That’s exactly what happened on the night of October 30, 1938 when a radio program featuring orchestra music was interrupted by a special news bulletin: there have been gas explosions on Mars. The music continues only to be interrupted several more times with updates – interviews with astronomers, further explosions on Mars, and a possible meteorite hitting Earth near Grovers Mill, NJ. Eventually, the music program is completely forgotten, replaced by increasingly alarming reports as the meteorite is discovered to be an alien spacecraft. When the invaders become hostile, we hear the screams of people dying, transmissions are ended abruptly as news hosts on the scene are killed, and the airwaves are eventually overtaken by military communications as they organize their strike against the invaders. Their efforts prove futile – this was the end of the world.
Of course, Martians never really invaded. What listeners were really hearing was a performance of The War of the Worlds as part of a weekly Mercury Theater radio program starring a young Orson Welles. Today, this broadcast remains well known because of the reported mass hysteria it caused in listeners around the country who believed they were hearing real news reports and the world was ending. In reality, the media greatly exaggerated the effects of the broadcast – only a small fraction of listeners thought they were hearing something real. And with the Hindenburg disaster fresh in people’s minds and WWII looming on the horizon, is it no wonder some listeners were quick to believe that invaders (and not just the extraterrestrial kind) had arrived?
Gail Jarrow’s book Spooked takes us through all the details of the infamous broadcast, from the initial prep work that went into organizing the program, to a break down of the broadcast itself, and on through the aftermath of the broadcast when, fueled by the exaggerated news reports about mass panic around the country, a great debate arose about censorship and fake news. Questions were being asked like: has the trustworthiness of the radio been ruined? How could listeners determine if the news they were hearing was real or not? And should the FCC oversee all radio broadcasts to make sure something like this never happens again? Jarrow’s book is also loaded with photographs, including copies of complaints to the FCC about the broadcast.
Prior to reading this book, all I knew about the broadcast was that the news about it causing mass panic was grossly exaggerated. I picked this book to read because I love old radio shows and one of my favorite TV shows of all time, Hey Arnold, once did an episode inspired by the broadcast of The War of the Worlds (it’s season 2, episode 7 - “Arnold’s Halloween” if you’re wondering), so I was intrigued to learn more about the broadcast and all the work that went into creating it.
It’s easy to sit here more than 80 years later and laugh at how ridiculous it is that anyone would believe the broadcast was real, but actually listening to it rather than just reading about it gives you a whole new perspective. I listened to it on the Old Time Radio Player app (which gives you access to all the other Mercury Theater productions, as well) and, honestly, it was terrifying. And brilliant, too.
Would I have been fooled? I don’t know… maybe?
Of course, Martians never really invaded. What listeners were really hearing was a performance of The War of the Worlds as part of a weekly Mercury Theater radio program starring a young Orson Welles. Today, this broadcast remains well known because of the reported mass hysteria it caused in listeners around the country who believed they were hearing real news reports and the world was ending. In reality, the media greatly exaggerated the effects of the broadcast – only a small fraction of listeners thought they were hearing something real. And with the Hindenburg disaster fresh in people’s minds and WWII looming on the horizon, is it no wonder some listeners were quick to believe that invaders (and not just the extraterrestrial kind) had arrived?
Gail Jarrow’s book Spooked takes us through all the details of the infamous broadcast, from the initial prep work that went into organizing the program, to a break down of the broadcast itself, and on through the aftermath of the broadcast when, fueled by the exaggerated news reports about mass panic around the country, a great debate arose about censorship and fake news. Questions were being asked like: has the trustworthiness of the radio been ruined? How could listeners determine if the news they were hearing was real or not? And should the FCC oversee all radio broadcasts to make sure something like this never happens again? Jarrow’s book is also loaded with photographs, including copies of complaints to the FCC about the broadcast.
Prior to reading this book, all I knew about the broadcast was that the news about it causing mass panic was grossly exaggerated. I picked this book to read because I love old radio shows and one of my favorite TV shows of all time, Hey Arnold, once did an episode inspired by the broadcast of The War of the Worlds (it’s season 2, episode 7 - “Arnold’s Halloween” if you’re wondering), so I was intrigued to learn more about the broadcast and all the work that went into creating it.
It’s easy to sit here more than 80 years later and laugh at how ridiculous it is that anyone would believe the broadcast was real, but actually listening to it rather than just reading about it gives you a whole new perspective. I listened to it on the Old Time Radio Player app (which gives you access to all the other Mercury Theater productions, as well) and, honestly, it was terrifying. And brilliant, too.
Would I have been fooled? I don’t know… maybe?
abigailbat's review against another edition
5.0
Gail Jarrow, I love you so. This is a fantastic and timely account of the 1938 radio dramatization of The War of the Worlds that sparked panic in many listeners. Hand this to anyone concerned about “fake news” or anyone who rolls their eyes upon hearing that phrase.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
I decided to review this non-fiction book because I taught War of the Worlds, the radio script, to my 7th grade English classes. I know excerpts are often included in textbooks and it can be a wonderful introduction to readers theater for students who are reluctant to read scripts.
The book has a little bit about everything in it related to the radio play. There's an excellent introduction, followed by biographies of: Orson Wells; John Houseman, the producer; Howard Koch, the script writer; H.G. Wells, the novel's author; and Anne Froelick, who transcribed the written script and made additions and edits of her own.
There's an excellent examination of the setting, in the midst of the Depression in the late 1930s. It recounts the explosion of the Hindenburg in New Jersey, which had been broadcast via radio news bulletins, as well as accounts of Hitler and Germany's actions and aggressions leading up to WWII. It explores how scientists had previously floated the idea of life on Mars, despite not having any real concrete evidence.
There's a great account of how the Mercury Theater folks planned to update and write the script, but the idea was initially rejected by Wells as being potentially "boring." It was then re-written (and students do need to hear more stories of how famous literary works get re-written) several times and finished right before the deadline -- about a day before they went on-air with it.
Then, there's an excellent account of the broadcast, as it unfolded, and the panic it caused. There's a fairly good review of opposing views that the radio show didn't really have that big an impact and much of the "panic" was hyped by newspapers and periodicals trying to sell copies.
It also briefly goes into other popular "hoaxes" of the late 1800s to early 1900s, and there's an excellent timeline and annotated list of online and other resources for students to explore.
I offer additional FREE teaching resources for the radio play on my blog, The Fabric of Words, https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
The book has a little bit about everything in it related to the radio play. There's an excellent introduction, followed by biographies of: Orson Wells; John Houseman, the producer; Howard Koch, the script writer; H.G. Wells, the novel's author; and Anne Froelick, who transcribed the written script and made additions and edits of her own.
There's an excellent examination of the setting, in the midst of the Depression in the late 1930s. It recounts the explosion of the Hindenburg in New Jersey, which had been broadcast via radio news bulletins, as well as accounts of Hitler and Germany's actions and aggressions leading up to WWII. It explores how scientists had previously floated the idea of life on Mars, despite not having any real concrete evidence.
There's a great account of how the Mercury Theater folks planned to update and write the script, but the idea was initially rejected by Wells as being potentially "boring." It was then re-written (and students do need to hear more stories of how famous literary works get re-written) several times and finished right before the deadline -- about a day before they went on-air with it.
Then, there's an excellent account of the broadcast, as it unfolded, and the panic it caused. There's a fairly good review of opposing views that the radio show didn't really have that big an impact and much of the "panic" was hyped by newspapers and periodicals trying to sell copies.
It also briefly goes into other popular "hoaxes" of the late 1800s to early 1900s, and there's an excellent timeline and annotated list of online and other resources for students to explore.
I offer additional FREE teaching resources for the radio play on my blog, The Fabric of Words, https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
lizbtc's review against another edition
4.0
Spooked! is about the 1938 radio teleplay broadcast by Orson Welles, which updated H.G. Wells' The War of the World by making it contemporary to the time (1938) and location (the US), using a mix of real places and fake names. For various reasons, some listeners did not realize that it was a play and thought that the Martians were invading.
Spooked!, a middle grade nonfiction book, takes an in-depth look at the creation of the play, how listeners responded, why, and the aftermath. It's the type of book that shows why I like middle grade and young adult fiction, and recommend it to others: it's in-depth but at the same time a quick read, and sometimes you want to read on a specific topic but don't want to do it in a 500 page book with small print.
Being from New Jersey, I always enjoy books that are "my" local history. For various reasons, the teleplay set the initial invasion landing in Grover's Mill, NJ. So it's a topic I'm familiar with; and still learned so much from this book.
Other good parts: links to the actual production for folks to listen to, an examination of why people believe something like this in the context of "fake news," and lots of primary documents.
Spooked!, a middle grade nonfiction book, takes an in-depth look at the creation of the play, how listeners responded, why, and the aftermath. It's the type of book that shows why I like middle grade and young adult fiction, and recommend it to others: it's in-depth but at the same time a quick read, and sometimes you want to read on a specific topic but don't want to do it in a 500 page book with small print.
Being from New Jersey, I always enjoy books that are "my" local history. For various reasons, the teleplay set the initial invasion landing in Grover's Mill, NJ. So it's a topic I'm familiar with; and still learned so much from this book.
Other good parts: links to the actual production for folks to listen to, an examination of why people believe something like this in the context of "fake news," and lots of primary documents.
scostner's review against another edition
4.0
It seems, looking back into the dim recesses of the past, that a language arts teacher played the recording of the Orson Welles radio broadcast for us in class at some point. If you haven't heard it yet, you can find it online in a variety of places from YouTube to Audible. But what Gail Jarrow does in this book is trace the path of Welles to the Mercury Theater's time on air and their performance of The War of the Worlds. An excellent timeline in the back matter covers all the major steps along the way.
The narrative gives details of the major players in the adaptation and performance, the social setting (the Great Depression, the American fascination with radio, and fears based on Hitler's rise in Europe), and the reaction and aftermath of the broadcast. Images show the performers, families listening to their radios, headlines, excerpts from letters and telegrams sent in by listeners, and even a photo of the commemorative plaque from Grovers Mill. Illustrations from a 1906 French version of the H.G. Wells book are used to great effect as the radio broadcast is described.
Back matter has a lot to offer for readers who have their interest piqued. There is a section offering websites, DVDs, and books on the broadcast, Welles, Mars, other famous hoaxes, and related fiction. An author's note explains the process Jarrow used to research and write this account. Source notes, a selected biography, picture credits, and an index round out the helpful material.
In this day of fake news and the need for information users to practice discernment and a healthy level of skepticism, this is an amazing example from American history on what happens when people blindly accept media at face value. This book would be a solid way to launch a unit on vetting information sources and hoaxes in general. It is also a great gift for sci-fi fans or anyone interested in broadcasting and media careers.
I read a review copy provided by the publisher.
The narrative gives details of the major players in the adaptation and performance, the social setting (the Great Depression, the American fascination with radio, and fears based on Hitler's rise in Europe), and the reaction and aftermath of the broadcast. Images show the performers, families listening to their radios, headlines, excerpts from letters and telegrams sent in by listeners, and even a photo of the commemorative plaque from Grovers Mill. Illustrations from a 1906 French version of the H.G. Wells book are used to great effect as the radio broadcast is described.
Back matter has a lot to offer for readers who have their interest piqued. There is a section offering websites, DVDs, and books on the broadcast, Welles, Mars, other famous hoaxes, and related fiction. An author's note explains the process Jarrow used to research and write this account. Source notes, a selected biography, picture credits, and an index round out the helpful material.
In this day of fake news and the need for information users to practice discernment and a healthy level of skepticism, this is an amazing example from American history on what happens when people blindly accept media at face value. This book would be a solid way to launch a unit on vetting information sources and hoaxes in general. It is also a great gift for sci-fi fans or anyone interested in broadcasting and media careers.
I read a review copy provided by the publisher.
martha_schwalbe's review against another edition
5.0
Fun book with great pictures. The man sitting next to me on the plane pointed out that the man in one of the picture was probably alive during the Civil War!
I'd recommend this book to readers who enjoy history.
I'd recommend this book to readers who enjoy history.