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Ball State To Recreate "War Of The Worlds" Broadcast

Last updated on Wednesday, October 29, 2008

(MUNCIE) - Ball State University is recreating the Halloween 1938 Orson Welles broadcast of “The War Of The Worlds.”

The radio version of the H.G. Wells science fiction classic created a panic among listeners who thought earth was being invaded by Martians.

Ball State Telecommunications Professor Nancy Carlson doesn't expect anyone to be fooled this time. She recalls an ABC-TV movie a few years ago about a nuclear attack on Lawrence, Kansas. That broadcast included frequent advisories. But she says, "people are so cynical now and disbelieving--they've seen just about everything."

Carlson and graduate student Brian Boswell came up with the idea for producing the new version of the classic.

Local celebrities, some with radio experience, have been cast as the voices of the characters.

The broadcast Thursday night on Indiana public radio will use a single microphone, a live orchestra and sound effects created in studio--just like they did it 70 years ago.

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