The 75th anniversary of Orson Welles' broadcast of "the War of the Worlds" on national radio. A story published just a day or two before the anniversary claimed there really was no panic and that the whole thing was exaggerated by tabloids and then turned into urban legend. I call bullshit on that. I pulled up the original story that ran at the top of page one of the New York Times the next day and quoted it extensively. I seriously doubt the Times made up those facts and quotes. I recount the story down the left side of this page but spend the right side citing other famous media hoaxes and goofs. My favorite: The Curious Case of Sidd Finch from 1985. One of the more entertaining Focus pages, I think. Oct. 30, 2013.