Breaking Walls

BW - EP146—002: December 1973 With Rod Serling And The Zero Hour—The Show Debuts


Listen Later

Arizona Republic, June 11th, 1973
“If you loved the old radio shows, you'll like what KOOL-FM has in store for you. The station has bought the brand-new radio drama series, The Zero Hour, which promises to revive the good old days, but in a modern format.
“Announcing the new series was E. Morgan Skinner Jr., promoted last week from KOOL-AM account executive to KOOL-FM assistant station manager. Judging from the pilot tape, it should be an interesting show. Each story lasts a week. A half-hour episode is presented nightly, Monday through Friday, with the climax coming on Friday. A new show starts the following Monday.
“KOOL has bought twenty-six weeks of the series, all that Hollywood Radio Theater has available so far. The program originally was to be started in mid-June, but the unsettled Writers Guild of America strike apparently has created some delay.
“Current plans are to begin in mid-July. Each show will be broadcast at 7:30 p.m. on KOOL-FM and then rebroadcast on KOOL-AM at 10:30 p.m. "But that's during television's prime time," you say? That's the whole point. "Zero Hour is contemporary, but reflective of radio's golden era," said Skinner. “And they're doing the thing in such a way as to leave people free to utilize their minds.
“By Beginning in July, it takes the series into the fall to compete against the new shows on TV. A lot of us have become disenchanted with what television has to deliver. "It's going to be interesting to see what a top-quality radio series will do against prime-time TV. The quality of this show is superb. It's crisp and well-done."
“Hollywood Radio Theater is the brainchild of Jay M. Kholos, a veteran in the advertising and communications field. Rod Serling hosts the series. The first episode, titled "The Wife of the Red-Haired Man," stars Patty Duke Astin, John Astin and Howard Duff. The yarn is about the pursuit of a dead couple. Duff, of course, does the pursuing.” — Jack Swanson
Before this September 3rd, 1973 debut episode of The Zero Hour, over WRVR 106.7FM in New York, Kholos spent the summer of 1973 traveling around, selling the series to stations in Syndication. After that, he was joined by Rod Serling on a promotional tour.
Radio legend Les Tremayne played Patty Duke’s husband Albert. In November 1973, Howard Duff was a guest of Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran’s WTIC Golden Age of Radio program. He spoke positively about his experience with The Zero Hour.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Breaking WallsBy James Scully

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

106 ratings


More shows like Breaking Walls

View all
The History of WWII Podcast by Ray Harris Jr

The History of WWII Podcast

3,979 Listeners

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine by Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroy

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

14,820 Listeners

Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast by Starburns Audio

Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast

3,936 Listeners

This Day in Jack Benny by John Henderson

This Day in Jack Benny

393 Listeners

Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio) by Mean Streets Podcasts

Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio)

429 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

87,279 Listeners

Old Time Radio Mystery, Suspense, & Horror by Dakoda Black

Old Time Radio Mystery, Suspense, & Horror

713 Listeners

The Secret History Of Hollywood by Adam Roche

The Secret History Of Hollywood

1,011 Listeners

History That Doesn't Suck by Prof. Greg Jackson

History That Doesn't Suck

6,104 Listeners

Ridiculous History by iHeartPodcasts

Ridiculous History

4,560 Listeners

Conspirituality by Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker

Conspirituality

2,050 Listeners

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio by Choice Classic Radio

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

206 Listeners

History Daily by History Daily

History Daily

2,124 Listeners

American History Hit by History Hit

American History Hit

1,571 Listeners

Fun for All Ages with Frank Santopadre by Fun for All Ages

Fun for All Ages with Frank Santopadre

424 Listeners