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Mars Attacked, 65 Years Ago Today

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the american-classic dept.

Jodrell writes "Forget solar flares, and the upcoming Halloween festivities - tonight marks the 65th anniversary of the broadcast of Orson Welles' radioplay version on The War Of The Worlds."

18 of 294 comments (clear)

  1. Terrorists! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Martian Government has determined that the people of Earth are harboring biological weapons. Prepare to be liberated.

    1. Re:Terrorists! by night_flyer · · Score: 4, Funny

      We'll hold 'em off with Slim Whitman!!!

      --


      Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
      Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
    2. Re:Terrorists! by Ossadagowah · · Score: 2, Funny

      Speaking of terrorists, does anyone remember the old early 90's tv show "War of the Worlds"? In it, the aliens (who had been resurrected from the '53 invasion) were using all sorts of terrorist attacks against humans in attempt to purge the earth of humanity.

      Among the things they tried:

      Starting a nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union with their own homemade weapons.

      Poisoning major sources of food with biological weapons.

      Brewing illegal drugs to turn addicts into their willing slaves.

      and so on. It's even scarier today than it was back then.

      --
      anata sekai o kakumei surush ga nai deshou? Anata no susumu michi wa yoi shite arimasu.
    3. Re:Terrorists! by sdmartin101 · · Score: 2, Funny

      There was a story to this effect on Broadcasting House (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/bh/) a few months ago. The Martians contended that the United States had weapons of mass destruction, was aiding terrorism, etc., and so they invaded. Turns out, their economy relied on methane gas as fuel, and in fact, the Martians were invading only to get control over American cows, or more precisely, one particular by-product. The story ended with a reporter pointing out, "It's well known that the United States is the galaxy's principle source of bullshit".

    4. Re:Terrorists! by fenix+down · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's some kinda shitty attempt to purge the earth of humanity.

      Alien #1: Hey, I thought of this great idea on how to DESTROY ALL HU-MANS!
      Alien #2: Yeah?
      Alien #1: Yeah! I know this Columbian guy from when I was in the joint, right, and...

      Brain the size of a planet and this is the best you come up with? No wonder you get smoked by fucking e-coli.

  2. Such a shame... by r_glen · · Score: 5, Funny

    They could have just checked Snopes

  3. Mars Attacked? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just thinking about Mars Attacks makes War of the Worlds seem Utopian.

  4. Lord John Whorfin officially states: by burgburgburg · · Score: 5, Funny
    "Laugh-a while you can, monkey boy!"

    John Bigboote points out:

    "It's not my goddamn planet, understand, monkey boy?"

    Where are we going?
    Planet 10!
    When?
    Real soon!

  5. Well... by EverDense · · Score: 4, Funny

    Then isn't it about time for some payback?

    I am sick of living on a planet so full of peaace lovers.

    --
    http://jesus.everdense.com/
  6. the best part.... by jeffy124 · · Score: 3, Funny

    the farmer who took his rifle and fired shots at the town water tower, thinking it was a spacecraft.

    --
    The One Rule Of Chess You'll Ever Need: Don't play someone who carries a kit in their bookbag.
  7. Uh - huh. by gailwynand · · Score: 5, Funny

    My grandfather, for one, welcomed our new Martian overlords.

    --
    A pilot, in those days, was the only unfettered and entirely independent human being that lived in the earth.-Mark Twain
  8. Re:Panic by frkiii · · Score: 2, Funny

    About the only effect that would have would be Democrats blaming Republicans for it, and Republicans blaming Democrats for it.

    And terrorists claiming it was God's way of punishing the infidels.

    Etc.

    Regards,

    Fredrick

  9. Orson Wells: America's First Troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, he is if you think about it. I wonder if at the end of the radio script was the line "By the way, listening audience, 'YHBT. HTH. HAND.'"

  10. And another thing by good-n-nappy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why is 65 significant? I don't remember celebrating last year at 64? Is it just because it's a multiple of 5? I mean, can we celebrate insignificant events like this on multiples of 10 at least, if not 25?

    65 sounds like one of the years used for sales at a furniture store.

    --
    Never underestimate the power of fiber.
  11. Martian invasion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The fact that we regard this radio broadcast as fiction shows the how effectively the conquering Martians have infiltrated all organs of the state.

  12. Re:I doubt it by Ossadagowah · · Score: 5, Funny

    Even with good editing and falsified television footage, I still doubt such a thing would fool us.

    People believed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, didn't they?

    --
    anata sekai o kakumei surush ga nai deshou? Anata no susumu michi wa yoi shite arimasu.
  13. Re:You know? by Deadstick · · Score: 2, Funny

    In particular, I've been told that quite a few people were in the habit of listening to the opening of the Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy show, during which they did a comedy dialogue shtick (with W.C. Fields occasionally dropping in), then switching over to Welles's show.

    And anyone who thinks the public would have to be pretty stupid to fall for the "alien invasion" should remember that this took place in a time when one of the most popular entertainment shows in the country was a ventriloquist performing on the radio.

    rj

  14. Re:An interesting antecdote by millette · · Score: 2, Funny

    I pick massive militia attack.