The Most Infamous Halloween

Every year as Halloween approaches, we all purchase a good amount of candy.  Some of it is to pass out to the kids.  A good portion of it is for us to gorge on.  Those of us who don't have kids in the neighborhood are elated, as candy corn is finally being sold, so we stock up on it, going through a sack of the stuff every two days.

And radio stations prepare for their annual tradition.

Many of them play Orson Welles' 'The War of the Worlds,' probably the most influential radio broadcast ever.  Done by "The Mercury Radio Theatre", it scared the pants off the nation.  Contrary to popular belief, there were no suicides due to the broadcast.  Authorities did attempt to stop the broadcast due to what was happening with people.  Those involved said Welles had no earthly idea of the commotion he was causing.

Others said not only did Welles realize it, he had figured it would happen and reveled in it.  After the show, he was taken into custody for his own protection and by the morning was the most photographed man in  America.  Ironically, the infamy and having himself photographed cost Welles his job as radio's "The Shadow," as his contract stipulated his face must never appear in the papers.  It was worth it to Welles, as the following week, "The Mercury Radio Theatre" had its largest audience ever.

Within two years, Welles was in Hollywood and would begin production on what many would call the greatest moton picure of all time, Citizen Kane.  Yet for overall impact, nothing he did would ever compare with his broadcast of October 30, 1938 when he scared the wits out of a nation using his imagination, and at the end reminding them, "it's Halloween." 

We need more men such as Welles to remind us to use our imaginations and enjoy doing so.  This holiday season, when you decorate and celebrate, use that part of your mind and remember to enjoy.