History 2186A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Lesson Learned, The Panic Broadcast, Percival Lowell
18 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Most people today do not fear alien abduction. History of space beings in popular culture this notion of space beings came around late 19th century : find references to mars in ancient cultures, 1870s astronomers announced they had discovered water on mars. This announcement began speculation that life existed on mars. Percival lowell reinforced this notion through his research: said mars was dying so the habitants there created canals to divert water fro piles to wherever the martian were living. Electric companies said the could pick up radio communications from mars. At the beginning of the show the announcer clearly stated that it was fake. The show was convincing and the public reacted negatively and felt it was real. All of this happened within an hour of panic. Panic lead to car crashes , mass suicide. Cbsn building in new york was surrounded by producers.
