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Quiz about Orson Welles and The War of The Worlds

Orson Welles and "The War of The Worlds" Quiz

The Mercury Theater On the Air was initially meant to be a limited episode summer radio series but it went on to create, inadventently, one of the most notorious broadcasts in radio history. How well do you remember "The War of The Worlds"?

A multiple-choice quiz by aerodrome. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
aerodrome

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
254,520

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1366

Last 3 plays: Guest 63 (2/10), Guest 24 (4/10), Guest 108 (1/10).

Question 1 of 10

1. On which radio network was "The War of the Worlds" originally broadcast? Hint

Mutual

Columbia

National Broadcasting

Metropolitan Broadcasting

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Question 2 of 10

2. On which date was "The War of the Worlds" first broadcast? Hint

October 30, 1939

October 31, 1938

October 30, 1938

October 31, 1939

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is the first orchestra and venue mentioned during the broadcast? Hint

Artie Shaw at the McAlpine

Glen Miller at the Savoy

Ramon Raquello at the Park Plaza

Bobby Millette at the Hotel Martinet

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who is the first scientist mentioned during the broadcast? Hint

Professor Farrell of the Mount Jennings Observatory

Lloyd Gray of the Natural History Museum

Professor Pierson of the Observatory at Princeton

Edward Behan of the Harvard Astrophysical Union

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Question 5 of 10

5. How does Professor Pierson describe his view of Mars through the telescope? Hint

A red orb against a black sky.

A red disk swimming in a black sea.

A red disk swimming in a blue sea.

A red orb floating in a blue sea.

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Question 6 of 10

6. After the interview, a special bulletin comes in reporting that a huge, flaming object, believed to be a meteorite, has crashed on or near a town in New Jersey. Which town? Hint

Grover's Mill

Budd Lake

Princeton

Trenton

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Question 7 of 10

7. What happens to Carl Phillips at the end of his remote broadcast? Hint

He dies.

He goes out for a stiff drink.

He returns to his New York City studio.

He flees the scene with Professor Pierson.

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which member of the federal government addresses the nation over the airwaves? Hint

The President of the United States

Eleanor Roosevelt

The Secretary of Defense

The Secretary of the Interior

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Question 9 of 10

9. According to the commander of the bomber squadron, a Martian machine is straddling what? Hint

The Pulaski Skyway

Tenth Avenue

The Goethals Bridge

The Passaic River

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Question 10 of 10

10. Where does Professor Pierson find the disabled Martian machine? Hint

Central Park near the Metropolitan Museum

Central Park near Columbus Circle

Central Park near the skating rink

Battery Park

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 04 2024 : Guest 63: 2/10
Nov 03 2024 : Guest 24: 4/10
Nov 02 2024 : Guest 108: 1/10
Nov 02 2024 : S4a4m4: 8/10
Nov 02 2024 : Guest 66: 3/10
Nov 01 2024 : Guest 157: 0/10
Oct 28 2024 : Guest 146: 6/10
Oct 17 2024 : Guest 108: 2/10
Oct 02 2024 : Guest 168: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On which radio network was "The War of the Worlds" originally broadcast?

Answer: Columbia

During and after the broadcast, Welles took some pleasure in describing the destruction of CBS.

2. On which date was "The War of the Worlds" first broadcast?

Answer: October 30, 1938

Welles mentions the date at the top of the broadcast. Within one year, an all too real war would be making more radio news.

3. What is the first orchestra and venue mentioned during the broadcast?

Answer: Ramon Raquello at the Park Plaza

Ramon Raquello and his orchestra play "La Cumparsita" and "Stardust" before being interrupted by a news bulletin.

4. Who is the first scientist mentioned during the broadcast?

Answer: Professor Farrell of the Mount Jennings Observatory

Professors Farrell and Gray are both mentioned briefly, while Professor Pierson is the defacto protagonist of the performance.

5. How does Professor Pierson describe his view of Mars through the telescope?

Answer: A red disk swimming in a blue sea.

Professor Pierson assures the radio interviewer and the audience that the transverse stripes he sees are not canals.

6. After the interview, a special bulletin comes in reporting that a huge, flaming object, believed to be a meteorite, has crashed on or near a town in New Jersey. Which town?

Answer: Grover's Mill

Grover's Mill is an actual town in New Jersey, supposedly chosen by Welles at random.

7. What happens to Carl Phillips at the end of his remote broadcast?

Answer: He dies.

Carl Phillips and several others are the first victims of the heat ray.

8. Which member of the federal government addresses the nation over the airwaves?

Answer: The Secretary of the Interior

And the Secretary of the Interior sounds suspiciously like FDR!

9. According to the commander of the bomber squadron, a Martian machine is straddling what?

Answer: The Pulaski Skyway

Travelers on the Pulaski Skyway during the broadcast were surprised to find there was no danger there.

10. Where does Professor Pierson find the disabled Martian machine?

Answer: Central Park near Columbus Circle

It was a long night for Professor Pierson - he got back to Manhattan by walking through the Holland Tunnel!

Source: Author aerodrome

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor DakotaNorth before going online.
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