In Breaking Walls episode 151 it’s the spring of 1944 and Jack Benny’s sponsor, General Foods, thinks he’s in a slump. Benny got mad and it changed the broadcasting landscape forever. Tonight, we’ll find out how and why.

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Highlights:

• Benny's Early Radio Career in the 1930s and Ratings Peak

• Early Problems with General Foods

• Dennis Day Leaves for World War II

• Jack Fires General Foods, Signs with American Tobacco

• Dick Haymes Replaces Dennis Day as Singer

• The Importance of Benny’s Supporting Cast

• Jack’s Split Personality

• Danny Kaye Guest Stars To Play Jack in A Movie

• The Last General Foods Sponsored Show

• Looking Ahead to D-Day’s 80th Anniversary

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The WallBreakers:

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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 — By Jim Ramsburg

As well as articles from

• Broadcasting Magazine

• Radio Daily

• Variety

And a massive special thank you to William Cairns for providing me with invaluable research on Benny’s 1940s run. William has a Jack Benny book on its way.

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On the interview front:

• Jack Benny, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Frank Nelson, and Don Wilson spoke with Chuck Schaden. Hear these full chats at Speakingofradio.com.

• Mel Blanc and Mary Jane Higby spoke to Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear these interviews at Goldenage-WTIC.org

• Jack Benny, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, and Don Wilson were with Jack Carney

• Dennis Day was also with John Dunning for his 1980s 71KNUS Radio program from Denver.

• Orson Welles spoke to Johnny Carson

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Selected music featured in today’s episode was:

• The Hut on Fowl's Legs — By Modest Mussorgsky

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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

Gerrit Lane

Jessica Hanna

Perri Harper

Thomas M. Joyce

Ryan Kramer

Earl Millard

Gary Mollica

Barry Nadler

Christian Neuhaus

Ray Shaw

Filipe A Silva

John Williams

Jim W.

WildEyeWheel

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WallBreakers Links:

Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers

Social Media - @TheWallBreakers