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

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

By James ScullyHistory
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Breaking Walls: The Podcast on the History of American Network Radio Broadcasting episodes

  • BW - EP112: Drama At NBC (1949 - 1950)
    In Breaking Walls episode 112, we finish our five-part mini-series by examining NBC’s business and programming during the 1949-50 radio season in the wake of the CBS talent raids by examining the steps NBC took to regain their footing as the television era began.
    ——————————
    Highlights:
    • Garroway
    • Frank Sinatra’s Tailspin
    • Monday Night of Music
    • Ivy College and their Hallowed Halls
    • Christopher London vs. Jack Benny
    • Randy Stone Prowls Chicago’s Night
    • Dimension X and Arnold Moss
    • Cloak and Dagger
    • Vincent Price and Simon Templar
    • Looking Ahead to Elliott Lewis
    ——————————
    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 the archives of:
    Broadcasting Magazine
    Radio Daily
    and
    Variety
    ——————————
    On the interview front:
    • Ken Carpenter, Dave Garroway, Jim Jordan, Phil Leslie, Vincent Price, Lurene Tuttle, and Herb Vigran were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com.
    • Raymond Edward Johnson, Arnold Moss, Vincent Price, and Bill Robson were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear these at Goldenage-WTIC.org.
    • Lawrence Dobkin and Elliott Lewis were with SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com.
    • Don Quinn was interviewed by Owen Cunningham in 1951,
    • Frank Sinatra was with Walter Cronkite in 1965,
    • Lurene Tuttle spoke with Same Time, Same Station in 1972.
    ——————————
    Selected music featured in today’s episode was:
    • I Can Dream, Can't I — By The Andrews Sisters
    • Salute to Charlie Christian — By Barney Kessel
    • Holo Holo Haa — With Lani McIntyre
    • It All Depends on You — By Frank Sinatra
    • The Look of Love — By Billy May
    • Moon Moods — By Les Baxter
    • Spooky — By Dusty Springfield
    ——————————
    Special thanks to
    The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society
    https://www.ghoulishdelights.com/series/themorls/
    The Fireside Mystery Theatre
    https://www.firesidemysterytheatre.com/
    Terror on the Air
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbviBTC1CamzamykVCqN0A
    https://soundcloud.com/terrorontheair
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/terror-on-the-air/id1477581905
    https://open.spotify.com/show/63o0AY4Zhv5hQsjGVbMbLk?si=YN_vUk3yTgqvOw73u59BtQ
    ——————————
    Subscribe to Burning Gotham—the new audio drama set in 1835 New York City. It’s available everywhere you get your podcasts and at BurningGotham.com.
    ——————————
    A special thank you to Ted Davenport and Jerry Haendiges: two radio show collectors who helped supply material for this episode. They’re who the large retailers go to.
    Ted’s got a Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/otrteddavenport/
    For Jerry, please visit http://otrsite.com/
    I’d also like to thank Walden Hughes and John and Larry Gassman of SPERDVAC - http://sperdvac.com/
    ——————————
    Thank you to:
    Tony Adams
    Steven Allmon
    Orson Orsen Chandler
    Briana Isaac
    Thomas M. Joyce
    Ryan Kramer
    Gary Mollica
    Barry Nadler
    Christian Neuhaus
    Aimee Pavy
    John Williams
    ——————————
    WallBreakers Links:
    Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers
    Social Media - @TheWallBreakers
    2 hr 39 min
  • BW - EP111: NBC Answers the CBS Talent Raids (1949)
    In Breaking Walls episode 111 we resume our mini-series in January of 1949. CBS is now the nation’s number one network, and NBC is left to come up with programming answers. We’ll focus on the shows they launched in the spring and summer of 1949.
    ——————————
    Highlights:
    • Jack Benny: Now on CBS
    • First The News
    • Network Radio Opens 1949 with Record Earnings
    • John Wayne, Claire Trevor, John Ford, and Ward Bond Open The NBC Theater
    • David Sarnoff and the Mass NBC Exodus
    • It’s the Martin and Lewis Show!
    • Alan Young and Henry Morgan
    • Richard Diamond
    • Jack Webb Launches Dragnet
    • Fred Allen Finally Has Enough
    • William Conrad, The Killers, and The Four Star Playhouse
    • Dangerous Assignment
    • San Francisco’s YUkon 3-8309 Lady Detective
    • Looking Ahead to the Fall of 1949
    ——————————
    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:
    • Billboard Magazine
    • Broadcasting Magazine
    • Radio Daily
    ——————————
    On the interview front:
    • Virginia Gregg, Lurene Tuttle, Herb Vigran, Mike Wallace, Don Wilson were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com.
    • Parley Baer, Lilian Buyeff, Herb Ellis, Betty Lou Gerson, Virginia Gregg, and Peggy Webber were with SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com
    • Arnold Stang was with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear these at Goldenage-WTIC.org.
    • Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin were with Cedric Adams
    • Fred Allen was on Tex and Jinx
    • Donald Vorhees was interviewed for Allen’s Biography In Sound
    • Jack Kruschen was with Jim Bohannon
    • John Dehner was with Neil Ross
    • William Conrad was with Chris Lambesis
    • E. Jack Neuman was with John Dunning
    • Frank Sinatra was with Walter Cronkite
    ——————————
    Selected music featured in today’s episode was:
    • Takin’ A Chance on Love — By Helen Forrest
    • The Pavane — By Steve Erquiaga
    • Lenore Overture Number 3 — By Ludwig Van Beethoven
    • And Fly Me To The Moon — By Frank Sinatra
    ——————————
    Special thanks to
    The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society
    https://www.ghoulishdelights.com/series/themorls/
    The Fireside Mystery Theatre
    https://www.firesidemysterytheatre.com/
    Terror on the Air
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbviBTC1CamzamykVCqN0A
    https://soundcloud.com/terrorontheair
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/terror-on-the-air/id1477581905
    https://open.spotify.com/show/63o0AY4Zhv5hQsjGVbMbLk?si=YN_vUk3yTgqvOw73u59BtQ
    ——————————
    Subscribe to Burning Gotham—the new audio drama set in 1835 New York City. It’s available everywhere you get your podcasts and at BurningGotham.com.
    ——————————
    A special thank you to Ted Davenport and Jerry Haendiges: two radio show collectors who helped supply material for this episode. They’re who the large retailers go to.
    Ted’s got a Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/otrteddavenport/
    For Jerry, please visit http://otrsite.com/
    I’d also like to thank Walden Hughes and John and Larry Gassman of SPERDVAC - http://sperdvac.com/
    ——————————
    Thank you to:
    Tony Adams
    Steven Allmon
    Orson Orsen Chandler
    Briana Isaac
    Thomas M. Joyce
    Ryan Kramer
    Barry Nadler
    Christian Neuhaus
    Aimee Pavy
    ——————————
    WallBreakers Links:
    Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers
    Social Media - @TheWallBreakers
    URL - thewallbreakers.com
    3 hr 8 min
  • BW - EP75: We Are Echoes—The Birth Of Radio (1887 - 1912) Remastered
    In our remastered Breaking Walls Episode 75 we go back in time to the beginning of radio to tell the story of how this medium began. This episode was originally released on 2/1/2018.
    ——————————
    Highlights:
    * Why the Blizzard of 1888 played such an important role in the need for wireless telegraphy
    * Who Was Heinrich Hertz? What experiment made him the father of Hertzian Waves?
    * What Oliver Lodge, Nikola Tesla, Alexander Graham Bell, and Amos DollBear have in common
    * Guglielmo Marconi, father of radio?
    * The benefits to wireless telegraphy
    * David Sarnoff — His start between 1900 - 1906
    * Why the press want to get involved
    * Lee Deforest — Inventor, Fraud, or both?
    * What incredibly important event happened in December of 1901 in New Foundland
    * Why the American Government wanted to regulate wireless telegraphy
    * Reginald Fessenden, Christmas Eve, Oh Holy Night, and Brant Rock
    * The Titanic Disaster — How it changed wireless telegraphy forever
    * The Radio Box Memo
    * What’s next?
    ——————————
    The WallBreakers:
    http://thewallbreakers.com
    Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts.
    To support the show:
    http://patreon.com/TheWallBreakers
    ——————————
    A tremendous thank you to today’s cast:
    Samantha De Gracia
    Olga Lysenko
    Justin Peele
    Nancy Pop
    Fernando Sanabria
    William Schallert &
    John Stephenson
    ——————————
    The reading material used in today’s episode was:
    • Inventing American Broadcasting 1899-1922 by Susan J. Douglas
    • Empire of the Air by Tom Lewis
    • A Pictorial History of Radio’s First 75 Years by B. Eric Rhoads
    • Hello Everybody! The Dawn of American Radio by Anthony Rudel &
    • The Network by Scott Woolley
    ——————————
    The interview clips in today’s open:
    • Chuck Schaden, who’s interviews can be found at http://www.speakingofradio.com and
    • Dick Bertel and the late Ed Corcoran’s Golden Age of Radio program that ran on Hartford, CT’s WTIC in the 1970s, who’s interviews can be found at http://otrrlibrary.org
    ——————————
    Todays’ introduction music of Clair de lune was arranged for harp and vibraphone by David DePeters and played by Elizabeth Hainen. You can pick up her album, Home: Works for Solo Harp on iTunes and Amazon, and listen on Spotify and Pandora. Her website is ElizabethHainen.com and she is on youtube @Elizabethhainenharp
    ——————————
    I’d also like to thank Walden Hughes and John and Larry Gassman of SPERDVAC - http://sperdvac.com/
    That thank you also extends to the late Les Tremayne and late Jack Brown for their wonderful 1986 documentary series, Please Stand By: A History of Radio.
    ——————————
    Thank you to:
    Tony Adams
    Steven Allmon
    Orson Orsen Chandler
    Briana Isaac
    Thomas M. Joyce
    Ryan Kramer
    Barry Nadler
    Christian Neuhaus
    Aimee Pavy
    ——————————
    WallBreakers Links:
    Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers
    Social Media - @TheWallBreakers
    URL - thewallbreakers.com
    1 hr 13 min
  • BW - EP110: Christmas Week 1948—The CBS Talent Raids
    In Breaking Walls episode 110 we continue our mini-series on the 1948-49 radio season by focusing on news and programming during Christmas week, 1948.
    ——————————
    Highlights:
    • Jack Benny: Leaving for CBS
    • A northeast blizzard starts holiday week
    • Edgar Bergen: Also leaving NBC
    • Walter Winchell’s big new ABC deal
    • Soaps, Queens, and the Chesterfield Supper Club
    • Monday night belongs to CBS
    • Lunch with WOR while NBC still owns Tuesday evenings
    • Fred Waring and Yukon King Gear up For Xmas
    • Blackie, Gildy, Duffy, and Bing
    • Abbott, Costello, and Jolson fade, while Suspense soars on Thursday
    • ABC wins Friday while Skelton gets ready to leave NBC too
    • Merry Christmas from the Royal Roost in Manhattan
    • Mary Lee, Grand Central, and Elgin Celebrate Xmas
    • Sinatra’s up-and-down 1948
    • Benny and Bergen say goodbye to NBC
    ——————————
    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
    • The Los Angeles Times
    • NationalParkService.gov
    • The New York Daily News
    • Radio Daily
    • WhiteHouseHistory.org
    ——————————
    On the interview front:
    • Edgar Bergen, Mel Blanc, Himan Brown, Ken Carpenter, Gale Gordon, Jim Jordan, Harold Peary, Alan Reed, Lurene Tuttle, and Don Wilson were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com.
    • Edgar Bergen, Hans Conried, John Gibson, Jim Jordan, and Jan Miner were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear these at Goldenage-WTIC.org.
    • Ralph Bell, Himan Brown, and Jack Johnstone were with SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com
    • Bing Crosby and John Scott Trotter were with Same Time, Same Station
    • Eve Arden was with John Dunning
    • Phil Harris with Jack Carney
    • Bob Hope with Johnny Carson
    • Jo Stafford with Michael Feinstein
    • Frank Sinatra with Larry King
    • Red Skelton was with Dini Petty
    ——————————
    Selected music featured in today’s episode was:
    • It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year — By Andy Williams
    • Christmas Dreaming — By Frank Sinatra
    • Somewhere in My Memory and Star of Bethlehem — By John Williams for Home Alone
    • Christmas Blues — By Washboard Pete
    • Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day — By The Marlborough Cathedral Choir
    • Christmas Carols for 1928 — By Elsie Holt
    • White Christmas — By Bing Crosby
    • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas — By Mel Torme
    • Ya Viene La Vieja — By JP Torres
    ——————————
    Subscribe to Burning Gotham—the new audio drama set in 1835 New York City. It’s available everywhere you get your podcasts and at BurningGotham.com.
    ——————————
    A special thank you to Ted Davenport and Jerry Haendiges: two radio show collectors who helped supply material for this episode. They’re who the large retailers go to.
    Ted’s got a Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/otrteddavenport/
    For Jerry, please visit http://otrsite.com/
    I’d also like to thank Walden Hughes and John and Larry Gassman of SPERDVAC - http://sperdvac.com/
    ——————————
    Thank you to:
    Tony Adams
    Steven Allmon
    Orson Orsen Chandler
    Briana Isaac
    Thomas M. Joyce
    Ryan Kramer
    Barry Nadler
    Christian Neuhaus
    Aimee Pavy
    ——————————
    WallBreakers Links:
    Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers
    Social Media - @TheWallBreakers
    URL - thewallbreakers.com
    5 hr 9 min
  • BW - EP109: Thanksgiving 1948—The Changing Radio Landscape
    In Breaking Walls episode 109 we continue our mini-series on the 1948-49 radio season by focusing on news and programming from Thanksgiving Day, 1948.
    ——————————
    Highlights:
    • Tex and Jinx for WNBC with photographer Robert Capa
    • John Nesbitt’s Passing Parade for WOR while CBS broadcasts the Macy’s parade
    • Cornell vs. Penn in the Turkey Bowl Game
    • Norma Young’s Happy Homes for KHJ in Los Angeles
    • Let’s Get Married with Bride and Groom on KECA
    • The Elgin Thanksgiving Special with Don Ameche
    • Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis with Vera Vague
    • Jack Benny Gets a Turkey on the Cheap — Signs A Big Contract with CBS
    • David Sarnoff Overplays his Hand
    • Fulton Lewis Jr. with the News from Mutual Broadcasting
    • Henry Aldrich’s Turkey Run
    • Burns and Allen Loose a Wedding Ring
    • Pre-teen Margaret O’Brien Stars on Suspense
    • Casey, Crime Photographer’s Holiday
    • James Hilton Hosts The Hallmark Playhouse with Free Land
    • Virginia Gregg and Willard Waterman Guest-Star on The First Nighter Program
    • Thanksgiving Leftovers and Looking Ahead to Christmas
    ——————————
    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
    • The fantastic work by Doctor Joseph Webb on
    Suspense — https://sites.google.com/view/suspense-collectors-companion?fbclid=IwAR1L18Vl___MNGzqrDnJQd9fMgoyzxFboroMVC2akJBkfhDe5DHJHXgrYsE)
    Casey Crime Photographer — https://sites.google.com/view/ethelbertsarchives/home?fbclid=IwAR1MRDebzXn8uVYd36uaJBcwIcKV-PEu_IFMKOqOo12S38ka3UXlT39wAmo
    As well as articles from the archives of
    • Broadcasting Magazine
    • Radio Daily
    • The New York Times
    I’d also like to thank Mark Greenspan for supplying the audio from Penn vs. Cornell.
    ——————————
    On the interview front:
    • Virginia Gregg, Barbara Luddy, Margaret O’Brien, Olan Soule, Ezra Stone, Willard Waterman, and Don Wilson, were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at http://www.speakingofradio.com/
    • Don Ameche, Hans Conried, Staats Cotsworth, John Gibson, Jan Miner, and Vincent Price were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear these at https://goldenage-wtic.org/
    • Cedric Adams spoke with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin in 1952.
    • Jack Poppele spoke with Westinghouse in 1970.
    • Jack Benny was interviewed for a 1972 PBS Documentary on Great Radio Comedians.
    • Barbara Walters spoke with George Burns in 1979.
    • Virginia Gregg spoke with SPERDVAC on August 14th, 1982. For more information, go to https://www.sperdvac.com/
    ——————————
    Selected music featured in today’s episode was:
    • Sleigh Ride and Jingle Bells — By Al Caiola, Riz Ortolani & Jimmy McGriff
    • Thanksgiving — By Michael Silverman
    • Greensleeves — By Steve Erquiaga
    • Night Pt. 1 - Snow — By George Winston
    • Deck The Halls — By J.P. Torres
    ——————————
    Subscribe to Burning Gotham—the new audio drama set in 1835 New York City. It’s available everywhere you get your podcasts and at BurningGotham.com.
    ——————————
    Special thanks to:
    The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society
    https://www.ghoulishdelights.com/series/themorls/
    Twelve Chimes, It’s Midnight
    https://www.twelvechimesradio.com/
    The Fireside Mystery Theatre
    https://www.firesidemysterytheatre.com/
    ——————————
    A special thank you to Ted Davenport and Jerry Haendiges: two radio show collectors who helped supply material for this episode. They’re who the large retailers go to.
    Ted’s got a Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/otrteddavenport/
    For Jerry, please visit http://otrsite.com/
    I’d also like to thank Walden Hughes and John and Larry Gassman of SPERDVAC - http://sperdvac.com/
    ——————————
    Thank you to:
    Tony Adams
    Steven Allmon
    Orson Orsen Chandler
    Briana Isaac
    Thomas M. Joyce
    Ryan Kramer
    Barry Nadler
    Christian Neuhaus
    Aimee Pavy
    2 hr 45 min
  • BW - EP108: Halloween 1948—Dewey Vs. Truman
    In Breaking Walls episode 108 we go back to October 31st, 1948 and open a five-part mini series on that season’s business and programming.
    ——————————
    Highlights:
    • You Are There
    • Dewey V Truman
    • Let’s Sit This One Out
    • Halloween 1948 in New York over the Mutual Broadcasting System
    • Ozzie and Harriet Visit a Haunted House
    • Jack Benny Goes Trick-or-Treating for a New Network
    • Phil Harris and Alice Faye
    • Sam Spade, Rocky Jordan, and Connie Brooks
    • Walter Winchell Spits Fire
    • Cabin B-13
    • A Tremendous Election Upset
    • Looking Ahead to Thanksgiving 1948
    ——————————
    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:
    • Sunday Nights at Seven — By Jack and Joan Benny
    • On the Air — By John Dunning
    • Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 — By Jim Ramsburg
    • WOR Radio 1922-1982
    As well as articles from the archives of
    • The Los Angeles Times
    • The New York Daily News
    • The New York Times
    • Radio Daily
    • The Saturday Evening Post.
    ——————————
    On the interview front:
    • Eve Arden, Jack Benny, Alice Faye, Phil Harris, Elliott Lewis, Bret Morrison, and Lurene Tuttle were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com.
    • Hans Conried, Howard Duff, and June Havoc were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear these at Goldenage-WTIC.org.
    • Dick Joy spoke with John Dunning for 71KNUS.
    • Ben Grauer spoke with Westinghouse in 1970.
    ——————————
    Selected music featured in today’s episode was:
    • Danse Macabre — by Camille Saint-Saëns (Camille San Sons)
    • I’ll Take Manhattan — By Blossom Dearie
    • Ghost Bus Tours — By George Fenton
    • The Look of Love — By Nelson Riddle
    • Verdi’s Macbeth Overture — Conducted by Giuseppe Sinopoli
    • Flag of Columbia — By Jacqueline Schwab
    • Over The River and Through The Woods — By the U.S. Air Force Band
    ——————————
    Subscribe to Burning Gotham—the new audio drama set in 1835 New York City. It’s available everywhere you get your podcasts and at BurningGotham.com.
    ——————————
    A special thank you to Ted Davenport and Jerry Haendiges: two radio show collectors who helped supply material for this episode. They’re who the large retailers go to.
    Ted’s got a Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/otrteddavenport/
    For Jerry, please visit http://otrsite.com/
    I’d also like to thank Walden Hughes and John and Larry Gassman of SPERDVAC - http://sperdvac.com/
    ——————————
    Thank you to:
    Tony Adams
    Steven Allmon
    Orson Orsen Chandler
    Briana Isaac
    Thomas M. Joyce
    Ryan Kramer
    Barry Nadler
    Christian Neuhaus
    Aimee Pavy
    Chris Pilkington
    ——————————
    WallBreakers Links:
    Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers
    Social Media - @TheWallBreakers
    URL - thewallbreakers.com
    2 hr 55 min
  • BW - EP107: Back to School with The Nelsons (1933 - 1954)
    In Breaking Walls episode 107, we go back to school with the Nelson family and find out why David and Ricky joined the program, and how it affected the entertainment industry forever.
    ——————————
    Highlights:
    • Oswald George Nelson—Boy from New Jersey
    • The Ukulele Craze and the Boy scout Jamboree
    • Ozzie Starts a Band
    • Splitting Time Between Football and Music
    • Cleaning Up Around Town
    • On the Banks of the Old Raritan
    • Law School and WMCA
    • Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra Gets on Radio
    • Ozzie Meet Harriet
    • Harriet Hilliard—One Heck of a Talent
    • Harriet Joins the Band
    • Joe Penner and Robert Ripley
    • Getting Married—Harriet Becomes a Film Star
    • Touring—David and Eric Are Born
    • Red Skelton
    • The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet is Born
    • Changing Networks in 1948
    • Jack Benny Jumps to CBS—David and Ricky Join the Show
    • Finding Their Groove as a Family
    • ABC and a Ten-Year Contract
    • Here Come The Nelsons to Television
    • Looking Ahead to Halloween
    ——————————
    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
    • Ozzie — By Ozzie Nelson
    • Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 — By Jim Ramsburg
    • Before Television — By Glenhall Taylor
    • As well as articles from the archives of Broadcasting Magazine, Sponsor Magazine, Radio Daily, and Radio Mirror.
    ——————————
    On the interview front:
    • Ozzie Nelson spoke with: Johnny Carson, Chuck Cecil, and James Day
    • Ricky Nelson spoke with Johnny Carson and David Hartman
    • David Nelson spoke with David Hartman, and KRLA
    • Jack Wagner and Johnny Hayes were also with KRLA
    • While Harriet Nelson spoke with David Hartman and Chuck Schaden
    • Chuck Schaden also interviewed Jack Benny, Lurene Tuttle and Janet Waldo Hear these chats and others from Chuck’s forty-year career at SpeakingOfRadio.com
    ——————————
    Selected music featured in today’s episode was:
    • Theme from A Summer Place — By The Ventures
    • Colorado Trail — From Stephen Ives’ The West
    • On The Banks of the Old Raritan — By The Rutgers Alma Mater Choir
    • Auld Lang Syne — By the Manhattan Strings
    • Dream a Little Dream of Me and Jersey Bounce — By Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra
    • Get Thee Behind Me Satan — By Harriet Hilliard Nelson
    • I Will Follow You — By Ricky Nelson
    • The Haunted House Boogie — By Jack Rivers and Happy Wilson
    ——————————
    Subscribe to Burning Gotham—the new audio drama set in 1835 New York City. It’s available everywhere you get your podcasts and at BurningGotham.com.
    ——————————
    Special thanks to:
    The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society
    https://www.ghoulishdelights.com/series/themorls/
    Twelve Chimes, It’s Midnight
    https://www.twelvechimesradio.com/
    The Fireside Mystery Theatre
    https://www.firesidemysterytheatre.com/
    ——————————
    A special thank you to Ted Davenport and Jerry Haendiges: two radio show collectors who helped supply material for this episode. They’re who the large retailers go to.
    Ted’s got a Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/otrteddavenport/
    For Jerry, please visit http://otrsite.com/
    I’d also like to thank Walden Hughes and John and Larry Gassman of SPERDVAC - http://sperdvac.com/
    ——————————
    Thank you to:
    Tony Adams
    Steven Allmon
    Orson Orsen Chandler
    Briana Isaac
    Thomas M. Joyce
    Ryan Kramer
    Barry Nadler
    Christian Neuhaus
    Aimee Pavy
    ——————————
    WallBreakers Links:
    Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers
    Social Media - @TheWallBreakers
    URL - thewallbreakers.com
    3 hr 9 min
  • BW - EP106: Summer Vacation with Our Miss Brooks (1948 - 1954)
    In Breaking Walls episode 106, we join Eve Arden at Madison High School and find out why we all love Our Miss Brooks.
    ——————————
    Highlights:
    • Who is Eunice Quedens?
    • Eve the heroine with Elizabeth Arden cosmetics.
    • Starting out in Hollywood
    • Getting on the Radio
    • Teaming with Danny Kaye, Jack Haley, and Jack Carson
    • William Paley and his Packaged Program Initiative
    • My Friend Irma and Two New Proposed Female-driven Situation Comedies
    • Our Miss Booth—Not Happening
    • Eve Arden, meet Connie Brooks
    • Our Miss Brooks—The New Summer Hit
    • Colgate Signs on in the Fall of 1948
    • Cast Camaraderie
    • Eve Arden—Radio’s Top Comedienne
    • Miss Brooks Gains Traction
    • Taking the Show into TV without Jeff Chandler
    • Winding down the Radio Show
    • Looking Ahead to September
    ——————————
    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 the archives of Broadcasting Magazine, Radio Daily, and Radio Mirror.
    ——————————
    On the interview front:
    Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, Jack Haley and Gloria McMillan were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingofRadio.com.
    Eve Arden was also with John Dunning on July 25th, 1982 for 71KNUS
    Mary Jane Croft was with SPERDVAC on March 14th, 1992. For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com.
    Shirley Booth was with Dick Cavett in 1971.
    And Ozzie and Harriet Nelson were on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show on November 18th, 1969.
    ——————————
    Selected music featured in today’s episode was:
    • It’s Been a Long Long Time — By The Harry James Band
    • Easy Street — By June Christy
    • Living Without You — By George Winston
    • Hello Mary Lou — By Ricky Nelson
    ——————————
    Subscribe to Burning Gotham—the new audio drama set in 1835 New York City. It’s available everywhere you get your podcasts and at BurningGotham.com.
    ——————————
    Special thanks to our Sponsors:
    The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society
    https://www.ghoulishdelights.com/series/themorls/
    Twelve Chimes, It’s Midnight
    https://www.twelvechimesradio.com/
    The Fireside Mystery Theatre
    https://www.firesidemysterytheatre.com/
    ——————————
    A special thank you to Ted Davenport and Jerry Haendiges: two radio show collectors who helped supply material for this episode. They’re who the large retailers go to.
    Ted’s got a Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/otrteddavenport/
    For Jerry, please visit http://otrsite.com/
    I’d also like to thank Walden Hughes and John and Larry Gassman of SPERDVAC - http://sperdvac.com/
    ——————————
    A Special Thank you to:
    Tony Adams
    Steven Allmon
    Orson Orsen Chandler
    Briana Isaac
    Thomas M. Joyce
    Ryan Kramer
    Barry Nadler
    Christian Neuhaus
    Aimee Pavy
    ——————————
    WallBreakers Links:
    Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers
    Social Media - @TheWallBreakers
    URL - thewallbreakers.com
    2 hr 44 min
  • BW - EP105: Sam Spade Comes to Radio (1946 - 1951)
    In Breaking Walls Episode 105 we pour shots and take dictation with The Adventures of Sam Spade.
    ——————————
    Highlights:
    • Bill Spier’s Musical Beginnings Lead to Suspense
    • Howard Duff: Unknown Actor
    • How About Now For Sam Spade?
    • CBS and ABC compete for Spade
    • Spade Versus Bergen & McCarthy
    • 1947-48: Radio’s Highest-Rated Season
    • Spade Hits Its Stride
    • Stop The Music
    • June Havoc, Uncredited Spade Actress
    • Unamerican Hammett? Unamerican Duff?
    • Spade Gets Cancelled—Twice
    • Howard Duff: Radio Preservationist
    • What’s Next
    ——————————
    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 the archives of Billboard Magazine, Broadcasting Magazine, Radio Daily, and Variety.
    ——————————
    On the interview front:
    • Eve Arden, Howard Duff, and Lurene Tuttle were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingofRadio.com.
    • Dick Joy, Elliott Lewis, and E. Jack Neuman were with John Dunning for his 71KNUS program from Denver.
    • Howard Duff, June Havoc, and Bill Spier were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear their full chats at https://goldenage-wtic.org/
    • Lurene Tuttle remembered radio with Same Time, Same Station on February 6th, 1972.
    • Frank Stanton spoke with CBS in honor of their 50th anniversary in 1977.
    • Mary Jane Croft was with SPERDVAC on March 14th, 1992. For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com.
    ——————————
    Selected music featured in today’s episode was:
    • Fever — By Peggy Lee
    • Smoke Gets In Your Eyes — By The Mallett Men
    • Young At Heart — By Frank Sinatra
    • The Prologue and Main Title piece from High Spirits — By George Fenton
    • Atomic Cocktail — By Slim Gaillard
    ——————————
    Subscribe to Burning Gotham—the new audio drama set in 1835 New York City. It’s available everywhere you get your podcasts and at BurningGotham.com.
    ——————————
    A special thank you to Ted Davenport and Jerry Haendiges: two radio show collectors who helped supply material for this episode. They’re who the large retailers go to.
    Ted’s got a Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/otrteddavenport/
    For Jerry, please visit http://otrsite.com/
    I’d also like to thank Walden Hughes and John and Larry Gassman of SPERDVAC - http://sperdvac.com/
    ——————————
    A Special Thank you to:
    Tony Adams
    Briana Isaac
    Ryan Kramer
    Barry Nadler
    Christian Neuhaus
    Aimee Pavy
    Terry Wallace
    ——————————
    WallBreakers Links:
    Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers
    Social Media - @TheWallBreakers
    URL - thewallbreakers.com
    2 hr 45 min
  • BW - EP104: Orson Welles' Radio Career From Pearl Harbor to the End of Radio’s Peak (1941—1948)
    Here is the full episode as one track for those who requested! — In Breaking Walls Episode 104 we focus on Orson Welles’ radio career from Pearl Harbor through the end of radio’s peak, and pick up where we left off in Breaking Walls episode 79.
    ——————————
    Highlights:
    • Orson Returns to Radio In the Fall of 1941
    • The Magnificent Ambersons Enters Productions
    • December 7th, 1941
    • Orson and Norman Corwin Collaborate
    • Orson is Named Pan-American Goodwill Ambassador
    • It’s All True and Brazil
    • Problems with RKO
    • Endings Changed, Others Destroyed
    • Orson gets fired—Returns to the United States in the fall of 1942
    • Ceiling Unlimited And Hello Americans
    • Jane Eyre
    • Jack Benny Gets Sick, Orson filles in as host
    • The Mercury Wonder Show
    • Rita
    • Marriage, again
    • Busy Radio Days in 1944
    • The Orson Welles Almanac
    • Campaigning for FDR
    • Donovan’s Brain
    • D Day
    • Election Day—1944
    • Rita and Orson meet Rebecca
    • Christmas 1944
    • This is My Best
    • Our President is Dead
    • More Collaborations with Corwin
    • The War Ends
    • The Stranger
    • Around the World in Eighty Days
    • The Mercury Summer Theater
    • The Lady From Shanghai
    • Divorce
    • Macbeth
    • Europe and the end for Welles on American radio
    ——————————
    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:
    • Citizen Welles by Frank Brady
    • This is Orson Welles by Welles and Peter Bogdanovich
    • On the Air — By John Dunning
    • Discovering Orson Welles by Jonathan Rosenbaum
    • Orson Welles on the Air, at OrsonWelles.Indiana.edu
    • Wellesnet.com.
    ——————————
    On the interview front:
    • Orson Welles was with Peter Bogdonavich, Dick Cavett, Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Leslie MeGahey, Dinah Shore, and Huw Wheldon.
    • Byron Kane and Jeanette Nolan were with SPERDVAC, the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety, and Comedy. For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com
    • Norman Corwin was with Chuck Schaden. Hear the full chat at SpeakingofRadio.com.
    • Howard Duff was with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear their full chat at Goldenage-WTIC.org.
    • Robert Wise was with Leslie MeGahey.
    • Jack Benny spoke with Jack Carney.
    • Lurene Tuttle spoke with Same Time, Same Station in 1972.
    • Agnes Moorehead was with Dick Cavett in 1973.
    ——————————
    Selected music featured in today’s episode was:
    • Perfida — By Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra
    • The Klezmer’s Wedding — By Andre Moisan
    • The Third Man — By Anton Karas
    • Hooray for Hollywood — By Don Swan
    • The Battle Cry of Freedom — By Jacqueline Schwab
    • Star of Bethlehem — Conducted by John Williams
    ——————————
    Subscribe to Burning Gotham—the new audio drama set in 1835 New York City. It’s available everywhere you get your podcasts and at BurningGotham.com.
    ——————————
    A special thank you to Ted Davenport and Jerry Haendiges: two radio show collectors who helped supply material for this episode. They’re who the large retailers go to.
    Ted’s got a Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/otrteddavenport/
    For Jerry, please visit http://otrsite.com/
    I’d also like to thank Walden Hughes and John and Larry Gassman of SPERDVAC - http://sperdvac.com/
    ——————————
    A Special Thank you to:
    Tony Adams
    Briana Isaac
    Ryan Kramer
    Barry Nadler
    Christian Neuhaus
    Aimee Pavy
    Terry Wallace
    ——————————
    WallBreakers Links:
    Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers
    Social Media - @TheWallBreakers
    URL - thewallbreakers.com
    3 hr 58 min

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

From the publisher's feed

Launched in the summer of 2014 and hosted by James Scully, Breaking Walls is the podcast on the history of American network radio broadcasting.