Broadcast Hysteria

Though Schwartz's detailed account of Orson Welles's famous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast in June 1938 can stand on its own, Sean Runnette's narration enhances the experience and helps listeners feel the full impact of the work. In a deep but gentle voice, he deftly moves through each chapter, choosing the right emphasis, speed, and tone for each moment. Even when rereading passages from the radio script, Runnette captures the right tone and energy from the original production. Schwartz provides a unique take on the event by pulling together different elements such as the history of radio news broadcasting, Orson Welles's background, and the cultural context of the 1930s. L.E. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Starred review from January 19, 2015
In the days after the War of the Worlds national radio broadcast in October 1938, thousands of Americans sent angry letters to the FCC, CBS, Orson Welles, and his Mercury Theatre. This new study of War of the Worlds dutifully examines those complaint letters and reveals what really happened in America during that chaotic hour-long broadcast. Schwartz’s debut book sets the scene perfectly and dispels several myths about any “panic” over a Martian invasion in New Jersey. Schwartz gives proper credit to the supporting cast of actors, writers, and composers who made the radio program into an international sensation. He lays out a balanced case—recognizing that some Americans did consider War of the Worlds an actual news report and were deeply frightened by it, but that most treated it as a scary prank or a betrayal of the radio’s supposed objectivity. The book rightly emphasizes the enormous power mass media wields over the emotions and politics of the country. Welles’s Martian landing might not have fooled today’s listeners, but our vulnerability and our appetite for fake news persists. Schwartz’s book is an impeccable account of the most famous radio show in history, a fascinating biography of Orson Welles, and a vital lesson about the responsibility of the media. Agent: Ross Harris, Stuart Krichevsky Agency.