In Breaking Walls episode 124 we pick up our 1954 mini series in February. We’ll focus on radio programming and national news from that month.

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Highlights:

• Radio Billings Are Down. Now What?

• Dragnet—Still Going Strong

• Lee Deforest and The Hallmark Hall of Fame

• Americana

• Jack Benny Turns 39? 40? 60?

• Guest Star and The McCarthy News

• The College Quiz Bowl

• Mr and Mrs North

• Polio

• Stars Over Hollywood

• Ending with Bergen and McCarthy

• Looking Ahead to March with Edward R. Murrow

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The reading material used in today’s episode was:

• On the Air — By John Dunning

• Network Radio Ratings — by Jim Ramsburg

As well as articles from

• Broadcasting Magazine

• LIFE Magazine

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On the interview front:

• Jack Benny, Frank Nelson, and Don Wilson spoke to Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com.

• Jack Benny also spoke for Great Radio Comedians in 1972.

• Harry Bartell, Himan Brown, Lilian Buyeff, Bill Froug, Virginia Gregg, Lou Krugman, and Peggy Webber were with SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com

• Hans Conried and Edgar Bergen spoke with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear this full interview at Goldenage-wtic.org.

• Dennis Day spoke with John Dunning for his 71KNUS program from Denver.

• Lee Deforest spoke at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York.

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Selected music featured in today’s episode was:

• Sh-Boom — By The Crewcuts

• Serious Serenade — By Duke Ellington

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A special thank you to Ted Davenport, Jerry Haendiges, and Gordon Skene.

For Ted go to RadioMemories.com, for Jerry, visit OTRSite.com, and for Gordon, please go to PastDaily.com.

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Thank you to:

Tony Adams

Steven Allmon

Orson Orsen Chandler

Phil Erickson

Jessica Hanna

Briana Isaac

Thomas M. Joyce

Ryan Kramer

Gary Mollica

Barry Nadler

Christian Neuhaus

Aimee Pavy

Ray Shaw

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WallBreakers Links:

Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers

Social Media - @TheWallBreakers