Some time ago, I sent in the letter that you will find at the bottom of this message, "nominating" anyone who killed themselves over Orson Welles' radio broadcast for a Darwin.

I got two responses. Someone said, "I don't think so." That was a very unhelpful response, because it didn't tell me what the reader found "wrong." Someone else said, "Did anyone actually commit suicide over this?"

The second comment was a good one, and I decided to check my sources. NO, no one did commit suicide over this (I found out,) but a plethora of chaos ensued, with one attempted suicide, and I can document this, now*. I'd like to re-submit this story as a nominee for an Honorable Mention. And thank you, reader #2, for raising a pertinent question.

Sincerely, Holly

* Documentation: from the book "Duh! The Stupid History Of The Human Race" by Bob Fenster, published by Andrews McMeel Publishing. The following information appears on page 32 of the softcover edition.

"Orson Welles's [sic] 1938 radio play, a dramatization of H.G. Wells's [sic] 'War Of The Worlds,' was a ludicrously unbelievable account of a landing and an attack by extraterrestrial aliens. During the broadcast, the announcers made clear several times that the show was a work of fiction. Nevertheless, a million listeners thought that space aliens really had invaded the United States. People panicked in the streets. Two people in Kansas City went to the hospital with alien-inspired heart attacks, while fifteen people in Newark, New Jersey, were treated for shock. One Pittsburgh woman tried to poison herself so the aliens wouldn't get her."

============================= MY ORIGINAL SUBMISSION:

Hello!

First, a word or two of praise for your published "Darwin" books - I enjoyed them greatly!

Now, the "news."

The full media reference is:

Mercury Radio Theater, Orson Welles, Oct. 30, 1938.

--------------------------------------------

I would like to nominate anyone who committed suicide while listening to "War Of The Worlds" when it was first broadcast for a Darwin.

Although "War Of The Worlds" was truly groundbreaking, and no story had ever been told quite like that on radio before, and although this is still in the time of audiences who will believe anything, and long before the "Quiz Show Scandals," and I cannot speak highly enough of my respect for their artistic work, and the presentation of the drama...

...there are a lot of "give aways" and "tips" in the first act that should have let the (less genetically challenged) members of the audience know that this was ~not~ really, actually happening.

Among them:

1. The "Mercury Radio Theater Hour" was scheduled to be broadcast at that time.

2. Before the actual "story" begins, not only is the show ("Mercury Theater") introduced, but Orson Welles gives an introduction of at least a minute, which basically says, "It Might Have Happened Like This..."

3. AFTER the story is beginning, and they start cutting into the music etc., the story is very believable, however intelligent people would probably not opt out through suicide at this point, because they would not jump to the conclusion that something horrible was about to happen.

4. Then, after the story gets into "full swing," the voice of astronomer Professor Pearson is...well...very, very similar to the voice of Orson Welles, the director and founder of Mercury Theater. And his voice is a distinctive one.

5. Though I hate to say it, the acting is...not all it could be. There are many instances when there is supposedly, oh, a "crowd" around the spaceship, but this rowdy crowd only gets rowdy when that fact is mentioned by the reporter...and then, the crowd is polite enough to let the reporter finish his line, before they start to yell, etc. Also, there are plenty of plot holes, such as the fact that hundreds of cars show up within a few minutes at the crash site. Let's just say that anyone who has knowledge of acting can tell that this is acting.

6. AND, presuming that you lived that long, Orson announces himself, in person, and repeatedly, that this is all "just for pretend, and not for real, OK???"

----------------------------------------

Just a thought that I had. Interested in what you think. Hope to hear from someone at the site, even if this isn't a "real" Darwin.

Take Care, Holly

============================

Submitted on 10/02/2003

Submitted by: Holly
Reference: Oct. 30, 1938

Copyright © 2003 DarwinAwards.com

Charles said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
I think we have to let Darwin herself look at this. Generally, I would agree with Jack, but in this case it was clear that there was no invasion going on, and so someone trying to kill herself so that the obviously non-existent aliens wouldn't get her is, in my opinion, probably worthy of an HM.

Bill said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
Generally speaking I agree with Jack, but you have brought up some good points, so I'm going to ask Darwin to have a look at it.

Jack said:
Definitely Toss: Other
I'm sorry about your earlier submission, but I'm going to have to reject this also: 1. Darwin Awards are about self-inflicted stupidity. When others are injured, that's a no-no (even when they were stupid enough to believe what they heard). 2. We don't accept suicides because suicides ae rarely amusing and are usually indicative that the person is not in his right mind. May I suggest that you take this to the Philosophy Forum for discussion? Thanks anyway and please do try again, Holly.

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