I 1938 fremførte Orson Welles’ The Mercury Theatre on the Air deres udgave af H. G: Wells’ “Klodernes kamp” – som naturligvis blev legendarisk, fordi folk opfattede det som den rene og skære sandhed og frygtede for deres liv. Marsboerne angreb, og intet kunne stå imod dem. Den noget skrattende version af englænderne, der bliver udsat for deres egne kolonialistiske tendenser, kan du høre her.

Men det er én ting. Noget andet er reaktionen bagefter.

Oct. 30, 1938
Sunday Night
The Goddam Mercuy Hour:
To you the assholes of the earth and Mars.
Thanks to you that a half a dozen or more nearly passed out or died because of your goddam silly program. If you and your company can’t find any more ways to amuse your self than to put a farce over the air like the goddam program you put on Sunday night, you might as well dig a hole and crawl in it. (STAY THERE TOO AND WE MEAN YOU).
Typewritten letter from A Tax Payer

En nogen anden holdning:

I have been reading the comments of the Newspapers with great amusement. This is a wonderful example of how our American people would meet a situation of its kind, whether
it would be a “War of the Worlds” or a War by other Nations. They lose their heads, they are not trained to meet an emergency; such training should begin in childhood in our schools. I hope your dramatization of “War of the Worlds” and its resulting reaction at that time on the public of our country will give our bosses in Washington food for thought. We are not prepared for war and we should be. The building of battleships and airships is not the only solution, everyone should be trained.

It is very unfortunate that our people lack such an attribute as a good sense of humor. Instead of now accepting “War of the Worlds” for what it was intended (as a big joke and
entertainment), even if it did give some a scare, and just laugh and laugh over the whole matter, they actually would like to imprison you and a few others who are responsible for the program.
Typewritten letter from A Woman Physician

Citaterne stammer fra University of Michigans arkiv over War of the Worlds Fan Mail, og de er et langt og underholdende kig værd.