Celebrate Spooky Season with Orson Welles, Henry Winkler, and Alien Invasions: A Captivating October 30th Retrospective

Well hey there, it’s October 30th and if you’re hearing this, congrats — you’ve officially survived nearly all of spooky season without getting hexed, haunted, or possessed by your neighbor’s inflatable ghost display. And listen, before we slide into a bowl of candy corn and regret, let’s take a moment to recognize this day in history, because October 30 doesn’t just come with pumpkins — oh no — it comes with facts.

On this day in 1938, radio listeners across the United States were either fascinated or frantically calling for help as Orson Welles delivered his now-infamous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast. Yes, my friends, the original fake news. Welles and his Mercury Theatre company adapted H.G. Wells’ alien invasion novel into a radio drama so realistic, some listeners thought Martians were beaming down by the dozens. People reportedly ran out of their homes, telephones lit up, and newspapers lost their collective minds. Now, was the panic as widespread as legends say? Historians argue it may have been a bit overblown — but still, it’s a cultural milestone and a shining example of how a little imagination and early radio could trigger a nationwide alien anxiety attack.

Speaking of stars that crashed onto Earth — metaphorically, of course — let’s wish a very happy birthday to none other than Henry Winkler, born this very day in 1945. That’s right, the man, the myth, the thumb — the Fonz himself. Ayyy! Henry Winkler went from leather jackets and jukebox coolness on “Happy Days” to becoming one of the happiest surprises in modern television, delighting fans in everything from “Arrested Development” to “Barry.” And if you haven’t seen Winkler win an Emmy in his seventies and give a speech that totally radiated joy and gratitude, go find it — it’ll warm your soul faster than a cup of nostalgic hot cocoa.

But Winkler’s impact goes way beyond acting. He’s also a best-selling author, champion of literacy, and advocate for children with learning disabilities — drawing from his own struggles with dyslexia. Seriously, if wholesome were a competition, he’d be running unopposed.

So here’s to October 30th: the day America almost lost its collective cool over fictional aliens and the day gave us the coolest guy on the block. Celebrate responsibly — maybe re-listen to “War of the Worlds,” tip your metaphorical hat to Orson Welles, and if you run into a jukebox today, give it a polite nod for Henry Winkler. But maybe don’t try to start it with your elbow. That’s a Fonzie-only skill.

And Henry, if somehow you’re listening — happy birthday, sir. May your day be filled with joy, cake, love, and absolutely no alien invasions. Unless you invite them. Then that’s completely on you.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, hey there, it's October thirtieth, and if you're hearing this,
congrats you've officially survived nearly all of spooky season without
getting hexed, haunted, or possessed by your neighbor's inflatable ghost display.
And listen, before we slide into a bowl of candy
corn and regret, let's take a moment to recognize this
day in history, because October thirtieth doesn't just come with pumpkins.

(00:21):
Oh no, it comes with facts. On this day in
nineteen thirty eight, radio listeners across the United States were
either fascinated or frantically calling for help as Orson Wells
delivered his now infamous War of the World's radio broadcast, Yes,
My Friends, the original fake news. Wells and his Mercury
Theeder Company adapted HG. Wells Alien Invasion novel into a

(00:44):
radio drama so realistic some listeners thought Martians were beaming
down by the dozens. People reportedly ran out of their homes,
telephones lit up, and newspapers lost their collective minds. Now
was the panic as widespread as legends say. Historians argue
it may have been a bit overblown, but still it's

(01:04):
a cultural milestone and a shining example of how a
little imagination and early radio could trigger a nationwide alien
anxiety attack. Speaking of stars that crashed on to earth metaphorically,
of course, let's wish a very happy birthday to none
other than Henry Winkler, born this very day in nineteen
forty five. That's right, the man, the myth defumb the

(01:27):
fawns himself. Oh, Henry Winkler went from leather jackets and

(01:47):
jukebox coolness on happy days to becoming one of the
happiest surprises in modern television. The lighting fans and everything
from Arrested Development to Barry And if you haven't seen
Winkler win an Emmy in his seventy and give a
speech that totally radiated joy and gratitude, go find it.
It'll warm your soul faster than a cup of nostalgic

(02:07):
hot cocoa. But Winkler's impact goes way beyond acting. He's
also a best selling author, champion of literacy, and advocate
for children with learning disabilities, drawing from his own struggles
with dyslexia. Seriously, if Wholesome were a competition, he'd be
running unopposed. So here's to October thirtieth, the day America

(02:29):
almost lost its collective cool over fictional aliens, and the
day gave us the coolest guy on the block. Celebrate responsibly,
maybe re listen to War of the Worlds, tip your
metaphorical hat to orson Wells, And if you run into
a jukebox today, give it a polite nod for Henry Winkler.
But maybe don't try to start it with your elbow.
That's a Fonsie only skill. And Henry, if somehow you're listening,

(02:53):
Happy birthday, sir. May your day be filled with joy, cake,
love and absolutely no alien invasions unless you invite them,
then that's completely on you.