October 30, 1938 United States The radio dramatization of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds is broadcast Contrary to popular belief today, the radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds was not presented as factual news or a hoax. Advertisements ran prior to the performance and during intermission an announcer told audiences “You… Continue reading The radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds
Tag: hoax
The 1897 Aurora, Texas UFO crash
April 17, 1897 Aurora, Texas A UFO crashes The cigar-shaped airship and its pilot, “a native of the planet Mars,” were reported to have crash-landed on a local judge’s property after destroying a windmill in its path. The body of the alleged Martian was examined and buried, and the wreckage of the destroyed spacecraft were… Continue reading The 1897 Aurora, Texas UFO crash
The Great Moon Hoax
August 25, 1835 New York The Sun runs the first of a series of articles describing a fantastical civilization on the moon The articles, later called The Great Moon Hoax, claimed famed astronomer John Hershel had made the great discovery with a technologically superior telescope. The moon, it was claimed, had a variety of flora… Continue reading The Great Moon Hoax
