This episode was originally released on 12/1/2019. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls Episode 98 we continue our trilogy on the most popular season in radio history with a look at Christmas Week 1947. —————————— Highlights: • Ralph Edwards and Truth or Consequences—A Record Rated Show • It’s Christmas Week and Jerusalem is in Shambles • The Eternal Light and One Man’s Family • Jack Benny Does Last Minute Christmas Shopping • Fred Allen’s Highest Rated Season Becomes His Downfall When the Music Stops • Walter Winchell gives ABC a Ratings Win • Breakfast with Fred Waring • CBS Dominates Monday Nights and Lux Radio Broadcasts Miracle on 34th Street • Lora Lawton’s Husband is Missing • Milton Berle’s Finally Cracks the Top-50 • NBC’s Tuesday Night Comedy Dominations • The Lone Ranger Hangs ‘Em High • Lionel Barrymore’s Christmas Tradition • Christmas Eve with Bing and Gildersleeve • Road to Rio Opens • Merry Christmas 1947 with King George VI • Don Ameche Hosts an Elgin Special • The Right to Happiness—December’s Highest-Rated Soap Opera • Gracie Allen is Sick, Al Jolson is Rich, and Casey is Lonely • Father Patrick and Family Theatre • A Crippling Blizzard and the Last Sustained Half-Hour Suspense • Looking Ahead to the End of the Year —————————— The WallBreakers: http://thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: http://patreon.com/TheWallBreakers —————————— The reading material used in today’s episode was: • On the Air — By John Dunning • Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 — by Jim Ramsburg As well as articles from: • Broadcasting Magazine: December 8th, and December 22nd, 1947 • LIFE Magazine: December 22nd, 1947 and January 5th, 1948 • Radio Daily From the entire month of December 1947 —————————— On the interview front: • Don Ameche, Mel Blanc, Himan Brown, Staats Cottsworth, John Gibson, Jim Jordan, Mandel Kramer, E.G. Marshall, Jan Miner, Vincent Price and Bill Spier were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. These interviews can be heard at GoldenAge-WTIC.org. • Chuck Schaden interviewed Milton Berle, Dennis Day, Ralph Edwards, Virginia Gregg, Jim Jordan, Mercedes McCambridge, Shirley Mitchell, Carlton E. Morse, Hal Peary, Lurene Tuttle, and Don Wilson. Hear their full chats at SpeakingofRadio.com. • Johnny Carson was with Orson Welles on The Tonight Show, and Fred Allen was with Tex and Jinx on November 24th, 1954. • John Dunning was with Roberta Goodwin Bailey, and Westinghouse interviewed Fran Carlon. • SPERDVAC with Vic Perrin, and Frank Brese was with Elliott Reid. —————————— Selected Music featured in today’s episode was: • Sleigh Ride - By Lloyd Glenn and His Orchestra • White Christmas - By Booker T and the MGs • Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - By the Marlborough Cathedral Choir • It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - By Andy Williams • Jingle Bells - By J.P. Torres • I Saw Three Ships - By The Norwich Cathedral Choir • I’ll Be Home For Christmas and Baby It’s Cold Outside - By Jackie Gleason and Jack Marshall • Christmas Is - by Lou Rawls

BW - EP98: Christmas Week 1947 with Radio's Biggest Stars [Rewind]

This episode was originally released on 11/1/2019. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls Episode 97 we usher in the holiday season with the first of a three-part mini-series on the 1947-48 radio season. The 1947-48 season had the largest radio audience in history. Homes with radios jumped 6%, car radios 29%. The major networks—NBC, CBS, ABC, and the Mutual Broadcasting System added 147 new affiliates. 97% of the nation’s AM stations were now linked to one of the big four. Network revenue topped $200 Million. —————————— Highlights: Famine in Europe; Anti-Communism at Home—The World is Changing Boomer Babes Fuel a Ratings Increase The Annual Hollywood Santa Parade Happy Thanksgiving 1947 Breakfast with the Couples Prepping With the Soaps The Answer Man Takes to the Air The Annual Elgin Thanksgiving Special Juvenile Adventure At Dusk Settling Into Prime Time George Burns: French Crooner Casey Gets His Turkey Home is Where the Heart Is Eddie Cantor Has Been Kidnapped Late Night and Looking Ahead —————————— The WallBreakers: http://thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: http://patreon.com/TheWallBreakers —————————— The reading material used in today’s episode was: Frank and Anne Hummert’s Radio Factory - By Jim Cox On the Air - By John Dunning Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 — by Jim Ramsburg As well as articles from: Broadcasting Magazine: January 20th, 1947; October 27th, 1947; December 1st, 1947 —————————— On the interview front: Jackson Beck, Hans Conried, Staats Cotsworth, John Gibson, Tony Marvin, and Jan Miner were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. These interviews can be heard at GoldenAge-WTIC.org. Chuck Schaden interviewed Ken Carpenter and Les Tremayne. Hear their full chats at SpeakingofRadio.com. While SPERDVAC was with Betty Lou Gerson and Jack Johnstone. For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com. Barbara Walters interviewed George Burns for 20/20. —————————— Selected Music featured in today’s episode was: “Over the River and Through The Woods” — by the US Airforce Band “Holiday On Skis” - by Al Caiola & Riz Ortolani “Joy” - by George Winston “Star of Bethlehem” - by John Williams

BW - EP97: Thanksgiving 1947—The Most Popular Season in Radio History [Rewind]

This episode was originally released on 10/1/2019. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls Episode 96, we laugh, scream, and cry while we join radio’s best as they celebrate Halloween on the air. —————————— Highlights: • The Birth of the Great Gildersleeve • Sam Spade has a Halloween adventure • Ernest Chappell says, “Don’t Tell Me About Halloween” • Spike Jones and His City Slickers Celebrate • Sherlock Holmes and the Laughing Lemur • The Story Behind Bing Crosby’s Departure from NBC and move to ABC • Ozzie, Harriet, David, and Ricky • Jack Benny goes Trick-Or-Treating • John Guedel, Art Linkletter, and People Are Funny • Looking Ahead to the Holiday Season —————————— The WallBreakers: http://thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: http://patreon.com/TheWallBreakers —————————— The reading material used in today’s episode was: • On The Air — By John Dunning • Terror On The Air!, Horror Radio in America — By Richard J. Hand • Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 — by Jim Ramsburg As well as articles by: • TUNE IN Magazine - September 1946 • Broadcasting Magazine - April 14th, July14th, and September 15th, 1947 —————————— On the interview front: • Chuck Schaden interviewed Jack Benny, Ken Carpenter, John Guedel, Shirley Mitchell, Arch Oboler, Hal Peary, Lurene Tuttle, and Mike Wallace. Hear their full chats at SpeakingofRadio.com. • Howard Duff, June Havoc, and Bill Spier were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. These interviews can be heard at GoldenAge-WTIC.org. • John Gassman of SPERDVAC was with Art Linkletter in 1991. For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com. • Jack Kruschen and Shirley Mitchell were with Jim Bohannon on September 12th, 1987. • Chuck Cecil interviewed Ozzie Nelson. • Johnny Hayes, David Nelson, and Jack Wagner were interviewed by KRLA • Johnny Carson interviewed Orson Welles, Ozzie, Harriet, and Ricky Nelson for The Tonight Show, while David Hartman interviewed David, Harriet, and Ricky for Good Morning America. • Frank Bresee interviewed Bing Crosby, John Scott Trotter • And Dick Joy was with John Dunning for 71KNUS. —————————— Selected Music featured in today’s episode was: • A Wicked Thought - By John Zacharely • Ghost Bus Tours - By George Fenton for High Spirits and • Travelin Man - By Ricky Nelson

BW - EP96: Halloween on the Air (1943 - 1953) [Rewind]

Hey everyone, James Scully here, producer and host of Breaking Walls, the docu-podcast on the history of US Network Radio Broadcasting. I wanted to let you know about a new webinar I’m doing next Thursday August 14th at 7PM eastern time. It's the final part of a 3-part mini series on Orson Welles' life and career. "Orson Welles' Career, Part 3: Welles In Europe (1948 - 1956)," is on an often-forgotten and underrated part of Orson Welles' career during his years living and working in Europe. It will focus on the radio, screen, and stage work he was involved in during this time, complete with visuals and audio clips. Here's a link to register — https://www.eventbrite.com/e/orson-welles-career-part-3-welles-in-europe-1948-1956-webinar-tickets-1445320836529?aff=oddtdtcreator If you can't make, don't worry, I'll be emailing all who register a video of the webinar once its done so you can watch it later. And if you missed the first two parts of this webinar series (Part 1 was on his early career and Part 2 focused on late 1941 through 1948), I'll email you a video link to watch the first two presentations (for free) when you register for the Part 3 event. Here's an overview of the webinar: Throughout the last one-hundred years of American entertainment, few people have gotten as strong a reaction as Orson Welles. A rare quadruple threat: writer, director, actor, producer, Welles found immense success on stage, in films, on television, and in radio. In fact, he took center stage in the United States on more than one occasion… and not always to a positive reaction, but always with pushing the creative envelope in mind. Welles managed to alienate the newspaper industry, the Hollywood studio system, and occasionally even the broadcasting networks, but he rarely had a door closed in his face. Welles was known to work himself to the bone, and party even harder. He had romances with some of the most famous and attractive women in the country, including Virginia Nicholson, Dolores del Rio, and Rita Hayworth. He was hailed as a genius, a charlatan, a magician, an incredible friend, an a***hole, a hard-driver, a steady worker, and a man who drank too much. Welles liked to joke that he began his career on top and spent the rest of his life working his way down. Such a strong-willed, creative person deserves an in-depth look. Join James Scully — Radio historian and producer/host of Breaking Walls, the docu-podcast on the history of U.S. network radio broadcasting for the last of a three-part webinar that deeply explores the life and career of Orson Welles, with a strong focus on his two decades working in American and British radio. In Part 3: Orson Welles In Europe (1948 - 1956) we’ll explore Welles’ time in Europe from the late 1940s through the mid 1950s, with audio clips and highlights including: • HUAC and Leaving the U.S • Harry Alan Towers, and Harry Lime • Othello and The Black Museum • Song of Myself and Theatre Royal • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarity • The BBC Sketchbook and Moby Dick • Mr Lincoln and Mr Arkadin • Returning to the U.S. • Tomorrow and Yesterday Afterward, I’ll do a Q&A — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged! Can't attend live? Not to worry! I'll be recording the event and sending the video out to all guests who register so you can watch it later. See you (virtually) there!

Thursday 8.14.2025 — The Final Part of the Orson Welles Webinar Series: Welles In Europe (1948 - 1956)

This episode was originally released on 9/1/2019. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls Episode 95, we go back to school with radio’s teacher’s pets, class clowns, and perhaps the most iconic “Miss” in radio history. —————————— Highlights: • How William Paley used The Columbia Workshop to launch shows and careers. • Suspense Moves to Hollywood and Gets Sponsorship • The Radio Rise of Eve Arden and the Launch of Our Miss Brooks • The NBC University Theater dramatizes a Washington Irving Classic • The New Mr. and Mrs. Ronald and Benita Colman Show • Johnny Dollar Investigates a Suspicious Schoolhouse Fire • Theater Five saves a Nursery • All Hallow’s Eve —————————— The WallBreakers: http://thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: http://patreon.com/TheWallBreakers —————————— The reading material used in today’s episode was: • The Who Is Johnny Dollar Matter — by John C. Abbott • On The Air — By John Dunning • Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 — by Jim Ramsburg As well as articles from: • Broadcasting Magazine - April 27th, September 14th, and November 30th 1964, as well as January 4th, January 11th, and June 28th, 1965. • Radio Daily - September 30th, 1949 • Sponsor Magazine - September 2nd, 1952 —————————— On the interview front: • SPERDVAC was with Jack Johnstone, Al Lewis, Jeanette Nolan and Elliott Reid—For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com. • Chuck Schaden interviewed Eve Arden, Parley Baer, Ken Carpenter, Norman Corwin, Gale Gordon, Jack Haley, Agnes Moorehead, Russell Thorson, and Willard Waterman. Hear their full chats at SpeakingofRadio.com. • Hans Conried, William N. Robson, and William Spier were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. These interviews can be heard at GoldenAge-WTIC.org. • Eve Arden, Roberta Goodwin Bailey, and E. Jack Neuman were with John Dunning for 71KNUS. • Elliott Reid was with Frank Bresee and Walden Hughes on October 14th, 2002 and Don Quinn was interviewed by Owen Cunningham in 1951. —————————— Selected Music featured in today’s episode was: •I Wonder Why - by Dion and the Belmonts • Pyramid of the Sun - by Les Baxter • Moon - by George Winston • The Look of Love - by Billy May and his Orchestra • Young at Heart - by Frank Sinatra • I’ll be Seeing You - by the Harry James Band • Spooky - by Dusty Springfield ——————————

BW - EP95: Radio And The Classroom (1939 - 1965) [Rewind]

In Breaking Walls episode 94 we visit the malt shops, drug stores, and soda counters in America’s heartland and spend time with radio’s best dramatic actors and actresses. Highlights • Norman Corwin, Margaret Sullavan, and Byron Kane’s Big Break • The Pharmacist Goes to War—and Saves a Life • Inner Sanctum and Santos Ortega • Dennis Day: Soda Jerk • The Rise of Jack Webb • Dragnet Is Born and Radio Changes Forever • Tales of the Texas Rangers and the Wheaties Big Parade • The End of Fibber McGee and Molly • Back to School The WallBreakers: http://thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: http://patreon.com/TheWallBreakers The reading material used in today’s episode was: On The Air - By John Dunning Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 - by Jim Ramsburg Forecast: Is there a Sponsor in the House - by Martin Grams Jr. Just the Facts, Ma'am : The Authorized Biography of Jack Webb - by Eugene Alvarez & Daniel Moyer And articles from Radio Life, January 1949. On the interview front: • SPERDVAC was with Harry Bartel, Ralph Bell, Himan Brown, Lilian Buyeff, Lawrence Dobkin, Herb Ellis, Virginia Gregg, Byron Kane, Jeanette Nolan, Herb Vigran, and Peggy Webber—For more info, please go to SPERDVAC..com • Chuck Schaden interviewed Eve Arden, Himan Brown, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Jim Jordan, Lurene Tuttle, and Herb Vigran. Hear their full chats at SpeakingofRadio.com. • Joel McCrea was with educator Al Greenberg. For more information please go to OrcoDevelopment— That’s O R C O Development (dot) org. • Jim Jordan was with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. This interview can be heard at GoldenAge-WTIC.org. • While Dennis Day and E. Jack Neuman were with John Dunning for 71KNUS and Vic Perrin was with Neil Ross for KMPC. Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • Sleep Walk — By Santo & Johnny • Go Slow — By Julie London • The Klezmer's Wedding — By André Moisan • Living Without You — By George Winston • See you in September — By The Happenings

BW - EP94: Radio And The Drugstore/Malt Shop (1940 - 1955) [Rewind]

This episode was originally released on 7/1/2019. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 93 we ride the rails with some of the most famous stars in radio history. During radio’s golden age, there were three main production hubs: New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. With so much daily content to produce, radio’s greatest minds developed programs and episodes centered around every recognizable theme, like the New York city subway. While this episode will take place in or around New York’s public transportation system, we’ll focus just as much on the relationships forged by radio’s legends on both coasts. Highlights: • Mercedes McCambridge, Himan Brown, and Grand Central Station • How Bill Spier influenced the careers of his wife June Havoc and his protégé Elliott Lewis • From Suspense to Broadway is My Beat, Elliott Lewis shines • Jack Benny stars on Suspense • Cathy Lewis: Mrs Radio • Mandel Kramer, Jan Miner, and Subway Soaps from New York • Byron Kane and Subways Are For Sleeping • William N. Robson, Shirley Mitchell, Virginia Gregg and Jack Kruschen on radio in the 1950s • Bob and Ray head down into the Subway • Himan Brown brings dramatic radio back to life in the 1970s • Next Stop: The Soda Shop The WallBreakers: thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: patreon.com/TheWallBreakers The reading material used in today’s episode was: • On The Air - By John Dunning • The CBS Radio Mystery Theater Handbook - by Gordon Payton & Martin Grams Jr. • Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 - by Jim Ramsburg • The Museum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopedia of Radio - by Christopher H. Sterling as well as articles from: • Broadcasting Magazine - November 3rd, 1947 • And Billboard Magazine - May 1st, 1948 On the interview front: • Himan Brown, June Havoc, Mandel Kramer, Elliott Lewis, E.G. Marshall, Jan Miner, William Spier and William N. Robson were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. These interview can be heard at GoldenAge-WTIC.org. • Ralph Bell, Himan Brown, Lawrence Dobkin, Betty Lou Gerson and Byron Kane, were with SPERDVAC. For more information, please go to S-P-E-R-D-V-A-C.com. • Himan Brown, Virginia Gregg, Elliott Lewis, Mercedees McCambridge, Shirley Mitchell and Alan Reed were interviewed by Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats and many others from Chuck’s over thirty-nine year career and SpeakingofRadio.com. • Ellott Lewis was with John Dunning on May 23rd, 1982. • Jack Kruschen, Shirley Mitchell, and George Walsh were with Jim Bohannon on September 12, 1987. • And Morton Fine was with Dan Haefele on August 9th, 1988. Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • It’s been a Long, Long Time - by Keely Smith • Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - by the Mallet Men • The Big Heist and Salute to Charlie Christian - by Barney Kessel • Atlantis and Roller Coaster - by Les Baxter • I’ll Take Manhattan - by Blossom Dearie • And Fly Me To the Moon - by Julie London

BW - EP93: Radio And The New York City Subway (1941 - 1975) [Rewind]

Hey everyone, James Scully here, producer and host of Breaking Walls, the docu-podcast on the history of US Network Radio Broadcasting. I wanted to let you know about a new webinar I’m doing this Thursday July 17th, at 7PM on Orson Welles' early career of Orson Welles through the end of 1941. If you can't make it live this Thursday July 17th at 7PM, don't worry, I’ll be emailing every person who registers a video of the webinar once it's over. Here's a link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/orson-welles-career-part-1-from-boy-wonder-to-trouble-maker-webinar-tickets-1445315741289?aff=oddtdtcreator Some more information: Throughout the last one-hundred years of American entertainment, few people have gotten as strong a reaction as Orson Welles. A rare quadruple threat: writer, director, actor, producer, Welles found immense success on stage, in films, on television, and in radio. In fact, he took center stage in the United States on more than one occasion… and not always to a positive reaction, but always with pushing the creative envelope in mind. Welles managed to alienate the newspaper industry, the Hollywood studio system, and occasionally even the broadcasting networks, but he rarely had a door closed in his face. Welles was known to work himself to the bone, and party even harder. He had romances with some of the most famous and attractive women in the country, including Virginia Nicholson, Dolores del Rio, and Rita Hayworth. He was hailed as a genius, a charlatan, a magician, an incredible friend, an a***hole, a hard-driver, a steady worker, and a man who drank too much. Welles liked to joke that he began his career on top and spent the rest of his life working his way down. Such a strong-willed, creative person deserves an in-depth look. In Part 1: From Boy Wonder To Trouble Maker (1931-1941) we’ll explore Welles’ early life, through his explosion of success in the 1930s all the way to the end of 1941, complete with audio clips and highlights including: • Beginnings in Illinois and China — How they helped shape Orson • The Todd Seminary School — His first exposure to theater and Radio • Connections and Early Breaks — How his mentor Roger Hill, Thornton Wilder, Alexander Woollcott, and Katharine Cornell helped Orson get to Broadway • Orson meets John Houseman and Archibald MacLeish, and first appears on the March of Time • 1935-1937 — From the March of Time to the Columbia Workshop, and how Irvin Reis taught Orson how to create for radio • How the US Government shaped the opportunity for Orson to write, direct, and star in Les Misérables on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1937 • The Shadow Knows! — Agnes Moorehead and Orson Welles’ one season on The Shadow • The birth of the Mercury Theater on the Air as First Person singular. How its success led to the most infamous night in radio in October of 1938 • Mainstream success with Campbell’s Soups • Orson goes to Hollywood, and signs the greatest autonomous film contract in history at 24 • Citizen Kane — How William Randolph Hearst and RKO shaped the film • Lady Esther Presents — Orson comes back to radio in the autumn of 1941 • Pearl Harbor Day and collaborating with Norman Corwin • How Joseph Cotton introduced Orson to Rita Hayworth Afterward, I’ll do a Q&A — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged! Can't attend live? Not to worry! I'll be recording the event and sending the video out to all guests who register so you can watch it later. See you (virtually) there!

Thursday 7.17.2025 — A New Webinar: Orson Welles' Career, From Boy Wonder To Trouble Maker

This episode was originally released on 6/1/2019. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 92 we open the summer season with a trip to Coney Island, Brooklyn. The New York city summer locale was frequented in radio programs and by radio performers. It was also, in the days of wireless telegraphy, an important station location for Guglielmo Marconi. Highlights: • Marconi’s last link • André Baruch Gets His Radio Start at Coney Island • Allen’s Alley Opens the Summer • Connee Boswell Sings • The Crime Club Uncovers a Coney Island Murder • Irma and Jane Go To the Beach • Broadway Is My Beat • Vincent Price in Coney Island • Jean Shepherd Stops By • We Take the Subway Home The WallBreakers: thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: patreon.com/TheWallBreakers The reading material used in today’s episode was: On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio - by John Dunning Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 - by Jim Ramsburg As well three tremendous internet resources: Charles Denson's History Project at ConeyIslandHistory.org David Sullivan’s Heart of ConeyIsland.com Jeff Stanton’s research at Westland.net/ConeyIsland On the interview front: • André Baruch, Larry Dobkin, Lou Krugman, and Herb Vigran, were with SPERDVAC. For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com • Hans Conried, June Havoc, Vincent Price, and William N. Robson were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. These interview can be heard at GoldenAge-WTIC.org. • Elliott Lewis and E. Jack Neuman were with John Dunning for his 1980s 71KNUS program from Denver. • Vincent Price and Allen Reed spoke to Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingofRadio.com. • Fred Allen was a guest of Tex and Jinx on November 24th, 1954. • Connee Boswell was interviewed by Lee Phillip in 1963. • And Morton Fine was with Dan Haefele on August 9th, 1988. Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • Under the Boardwalk - by the Drifters • And Shine on Harvest Moon - by Joan Morris & William Bolcom

BW - EP92: Radio And Coney Island (1906 - 1960) [Rewind]

This episode was originally released on 5/1/2019. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 91, we finish the adult western trilogy with a focus on the period after television decimated radio’s listening audience, forever altering the broadcasting landscape. Dramatic radio’s time as America’s number one entertainment genre was over, but it was far from dead. Our story won’t conclude on that fabled date of September 30th, 1962 when radio drama supposedly ended forever. We’ll push down the trail through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s as dramatic radio continued to avoid the hangman’s noose. Highlights: • Dirty Saturdays • Gunsmoke Finds Sponsorship. • Gunsmoke’s TV launch • NBC and Dr. Sixgun • Norman Macdonnell and CBS bring a new Western to the Air • J.B. Kendall, Luke Slaughter, & Paladin • The End of Gunsmoke • Horizon’s West and One Last Gasp • Elliott Lewis—Young At Heart • Riding off Into the Sunset The WallBreakers: thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: patreon.com/TheWallBreakers The reading material used in today’s episode was: • On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio - by John Dunning • Radio Rides The Range: A Reference Guide to Western Drama on the Air, 1929 - 1967 by Jack French and David S. Siegel • Network Radio Ratings, 1932-1953 - by Jim Ramsburg • As well as numerous passages from Broadcast Magazine On the Interview Front: • Lilian Buyeff, John Dehner, Lawrence Dobkin, Herb Ellis, Virginia Gregg, Elliott Lewis, Vic Perrin, and Herb Vigran, were with SPERDVAC, the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety, and Comedy. For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com • Parley Baer, William Conrad, John Dehner, Rex Koury, and Norman Macdonnell were with John Hickman. Mr. Hickman was the longtime host of WAMU’s Recollections. Today, this program is heard each Sunday evening as The Big Broadcast. For more information, please go to WAMU.org • William N Robson was with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. This interview can be heard at GoldenAge-WTIC.org. • Parley Baer was with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chat at SpeakingofRadio.com. •John Dehner was also heard with Neil Ross for KMPC on March 23rd, 1982. While Elliott Lewis was with John Dunning for his 1980s 71KNUS program from Denver. And Raymond Burr was with Jack Webster in 1963. Selected Music Featured in Today’s Episode Was: • The Theme to A Summer Place - by Percy Faith • Mr. Sandman - by The Chordettes • Young At Heart - by Frank Sinatra • And Come Down My Evening Star - by Joan Morris & William Bolcom

BW - EP91: The Hollywood Radio Western Renaissance (1954 - 1980) [Rewind]

Breaking Walls: The Podcast on the History of American Network Radio Broadcasting.

James Scully

Shows