War of the Worlds downloadable

[matgb]

Assumptions. Every educated person has heard of Orson Welles, and of the time when his Mercury Theatre broadcast of The War of the Worlds caused massed panic across America. It's just one of those things everyone knows, right?

Second assumption. Despite having heard of it, you've never actually heard it. Now you can, there's a complete archive of their broadcasts. There's some really good stuff on there. I'm about 1/4 way through the hour long show so far, and while it's a bit crackly, it's very very cool.

(Via sf_signal_fd) ETA: I've removed the direct link as the site owner asks people not to do so, he also asks you use the torrent if oyu can.

Comments

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

I have that on vinyl, somewhere

[matgb]

Cool. I've never even looked for it in the past, joy of the 'net is out of copyright stuff can just be shared.

[caseytalk.livejournal.com]

I had an amazingly good teacher when I was in sixth grade. One of the things she did was to read to us every day. We were all voracious readers in that class, but we still eagerly awaited that part of every day when she'd read to us.

One time, having finished one great book, she turned to a recording of War of the Worlds. I remember thinking that I wouldn't have been fooled because one could look outside and know it wasn't happening. Of course, kids always think they're smarter than grownups. Sometimes they are, too.

[matgb]

I guess it's one of those things that's hard to understand. A bit like Blair Witch; by the time it was released over here, we all knew it was fake, but many people thought it real at first.

Although I'm not sure I'd have thought so, considering my reaction tot he stupidity of the cast anyway.

[wieselkind.livejournal.com]

Wow, great, so many stories, now i have to wait for them to download.

[wieselkind.livejournal.com]

not to mention i felt compelled to create a free audiobook/radio download blog..

[matgb]

You have? Where do I look for this then?

[getawaywithit.livejournal.com]

I've heard it - it was included with the Citizen Kane special edition DVD a couple of years ago, on top of a lot of other extras.

I think it's something that needs to be in context to understand how surprising/convincing it was - from what I understand of radio history, it's a very convincing pastiche of the style of current events reporting then, and what we see as artificiality, they wouldn't have done.

[matgb]

Context definitely helps, I was going to leave the post as just text at the top, but realised links to the context on Wiki would be an assist.

I did have a copy of Kane, gave it to nhw as he'd never seen it, must've missed it in the extras, ah well.

[poifaerie.livejournal.com]

I woke up the morning other moprning, terrified and shaking, to the cound of heat cannons.

Only it wasn't Tripods... it was road works.

We have far too many copies in our house; books, cds, vinyl and a dvd of the orchestration performed live. I'm cooler than you.

[matgb]

I'm cooler than you.

Now that, I doubt. I'll accept you have a nicer arse, but I'm cool in different ways ;-)

[poifaerie.livejournal.com]

Actually, you are cooler than me, because you notice your typos.

Buuuuuuurrr.

[matgb]

Nah, not always. And I wouldn't have noticed yours if you hadn't pointed them out. Not that it matters.

Mail I sent SB midweek was full of the damned things, didn't notice them until fourth read through (it was that type of mail)...

[poifaerie.livejournal.com]

Sex-related typos don't count, as it's harder to get your spelling spot on when you;re using one hand.

Not that I know these things...

[matgb]

Heh; I normally have to type with the keyboard on my lap, the room is too small for a desk.

You can imagine the problems that causes...

[poifaerie.livejournal.com]

AAAAAAAAAAUGH mental images!! D:

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Q gave WotW away as a freebie back when they were still doing cassettes (that dates me, I know, but what can you do...). I still have my copy about somewhere, and must have heard it several dozen times over the years. I don't like it as much as the Jeff Wayne version (quite different, obviously) but it's not bad listening.

[matgb]

Dates you? I have a pile of cassetes next to me to go through. Admittedly, I can't listen to them, but they're there. IIRC, we're roughly the same age, not that it matters.

I've only listened to the Jeff Wayne version once, that was ages ago, really must dig out a copy at some point. Or I could borrow SB's. Yes, that'd make sense.

(Bloke I met in the pub Wednesday thought I was younger than him. He's 22...)

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

omg 1938 Dracula!

squee!

[matgb]

Yeah, um, that might've been the second thing I DL'd...

[davegodfrey.livejournal.com]

The Beeb broadcast it on halloween about fifteen years ago. I still have it on tape somewhere.

I think what convinced people is that you had a perfectly normal programme intercut with "breaking news" from an area not far from New York- but far enough that people couldn't see to check what was happenning.

[misscoollinda.livejournal.com]

ooooooh, thank you! I love old radio. LOVE IT!