Question

Why did Orson Welles read the radio broadcast War of the Worlds as if it were happening right that moment, rather than just reading the novel as it was written?

Answer 1

To add excitement and suspense to the story

Answer 2

In 1938, the radio was the main means of mass communication. People kept their radios on to have access to news and entertainment, including music and soap operas.

Welles' program on radio did not have such a large popularity as people believed for many years. Apparently, at the same time it was broadcasted, listeners would tune in to another show, a comedy one, on a different station. Welles, who did not lack creativity, might have chosen to broadcast War of the Worlds as a news report in order to create sensation and excitement. Perhaps, it was a way to draw listeners' attention to his show.

For decades the broadcast was believed to have caused panic among people. But, currently, it is said that such panic was not real precisely because of the small number of listeners.