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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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/

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Thank you to:

Tony Adams

Steven Allmon

Orson Orsen Chandler

Briana Isaac

Thomas M. Joyce

Ryan Kramer

Barry Nadler

Christian Neuhaus

Aimee Pavy

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WallBreakers Links:

Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers

Social Media - @TheWallBreakers

URL - thewallbreakers.com