Breaking Walls

James Scully
  • 4.8 (108)
  • HISTORY
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Breaking Walls: The Podcast on the History of American Network Radio Broadcasting.

  1. BW - EP116: The Launch of NBC’s Monitor (1955) [Rewind]

    6D AGO

    BW - EP116: The Launch of NBC’s Monitor (1955) [Rewind]

    This episode was originally released on 6/1/2021. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 116, it’s June of 1955 and network radio is in uncharted territory. TV’s encroachment has the entire industry looking for new ideas. We’ll focus on the launch of one of the most successful—Monitor—which will air in some form or fashion until January of 1975. —————————— Highlights: • The Changing Network Radio Landscape • Who Is Sylvester “Pat” Weaver? • Monitor Origins • Building the Team • Radio Central • The Soft Launch • An Auto Tragedy at Le Mans • Going to San Quentin Prison • Lots of Tunes in Remote • A Potential United Automobile Workers Strike • Dave Garroway Interviews Marilyn Monroe, live on Monitor • Fibber McGee and Gildy Too • Here’s Henry Morgan • Monitor’s Last Hour • Miss Monitor Finally Makes an Appearance • The Full Launch • Looking Ahead in Time and Space —————————— The WallBreakers: thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: patreon.com/TheWallBreakers —————————— The reading material used in today’s episode was: On the Air - By John Dunning Monitor: Take 2: By Dennis Hart Network Radio Ratings — by Jim Ramsburg Articles from: Broadcasting-Telecasting Magazine Monthly Labor Review The New York Daily News The New York Times Newsweek Printer’s Ink Variety As well as the websites: accordions.com/ for their interview with Art Van Damme Dennis Hart’s monitorbeacon.net/ tipsontables.com/ —————————— On the interview front: • Pat Weaver was interviewed for Fred Allen’s May 29th, 1956 Biography In Sound. • Ben Grauer was interviewed for NBC’s 50th Anniversary and Westinghouse’ 50th Anniversary. • Dave Garroway and Willard Waterman spoke with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Jim Jordan was with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear this full interview at Goldenage-WTIC.org.

    3h 27m
  2. BW - EP115: The CBS Radio Workshop (1956 - 1957) [Rewind]

    FEB 18

    BW - EP115: The CBS Radio Workshop (1956 - 1957) [Rewind]

    This episode was originally released on 5/1/2021. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 115, we focus on one of the last experimental programs on the air, The CBS Radio Workshop, and the man at its Hollywood helm, William Froug. We’ll listen to episodes, hear interviews with men and women known and unknown, and find out why this show was so critically acclaimed in its day. —————————— Highlights: • Who is Bill Froug and what does he do? • What do Norman Corwin, Orson Welles, Ray Bradbury, Burgess Meredith, and Bernard Hermann have in common? • Network radio in 1936 • Network radio in 1956 • The CBS Radio Workshop is revived • Season Of Disbelief & Hail And Farewell • A Report on ESP • Subways Are For Sleeping • Winding down the Workshop • Looking ahead to Monitor —————————— The WallBreakers: thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: patreon.com/TheWallBreakers —————————— The reading material used in today’s episode was: On the Air - By John Dunning As well as articles from: Broadcasting Magazine The New York Daily News —————————— On the interview front: • Lilian Buyeff, Don Diamond, John Dehner, Lawrence Dobkin, Bill Froug, Jack Johnstone, Byron Kane, Elliott Lewis, and Peggy Webber were with SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com. • Norman Corwin, Virginia Gregg, Carlton E. Morse, Alan Reed, and Russell Thorson spoke with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Bill Robson spoke with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear this full interview at Goldenage-WTIC.org. • William Paley spoke while receiving a citation in November of 1958. • Ray Bradbury was interviewed by Jerry Haendiges in October of 1976. —————————— Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • Don’t Fence Me In — By Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters • February Sea — By George Winston • Heartbreak Hotel — By Elvis Presley • Seance on a West Afternoon — By John Barry

    3h 29m
  3. BW - EP114: Sunday Afternoons at Fort Laramie (1956) [Rewind]

    FEB 10

    BW - EP114: Sunday Afternoons at Fort Laramie (1956) [Rewind]

    This episode was originally released on 4/1/2021. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 114, as America moves to the suburbs in the mid-1950s, we move with them and examine a radio western called Fort Laramie. Although it only aired for ten months, it’s one of the most critically acclaimed western shows the genre ever produced. —————————— Highlights: • The Network Radio Landscape in 1956 • Norman MacDonnell loses Gunsmoke’s TV Production • Who Is William Raymond Stacy Burr and What Has He Really Done? • Launching Fort Laramie • Easter Sunday, 1956 • Lost Child • The Birth of Rock and Roll • Jeanette Nolan’s Stagecoach Stop • The New Recruit • Fort Laramie Dies, Gunsmoke Lives On • Looking Ahead to the CBS Radio Workshop —————————— The WallBreakers: thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: 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 —————————— On the interview front: • Eve Arden, Dick Beals, Edgar Bergen and Shirley Mitchell, spoke to Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Harry Bartell, Lilian Buyeff, Lawrence Dobkin, Lou Krugman, Jeanette Nolan, and Vic Perrin were with SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com. • John Dehner, John Dunkel, Norman MacDonnell and John Meston were with John Hickman for his History of Gunsmoke documentary. • John Dehner and Vic Perrin were with Neill Ross for KMPC. • Jack Kruschen and Shirley Mitchell were with Jim Bohannon. • Raymond Burr was with Jack Webster. —————————— Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • Don’t Fence Me In — By Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters • February Sea — By George Winston • Heartbreak Hotel — By Elvis Presley • Seance on a West Afternoon — By John Barry

    3h 2m
  4. BW - EP113: A Week With Elliott Lewis in 1953 [Rewind]

    FEB 2

    BW - EP113: A Week With Elliott Lewis in 1953 [Rewind]

    This episode was originally released on 3/1/2021. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 113 it’s September of 1953 and Elliott Lewis is one of the busiest men in radio. He’s the producer/director of four shows and the star of two. We’ll join him that fall, following for a week to find out what life was like for the man affectionately dubbed by his peers as “Mr. Radio.” —————————— Highlights: • Phil and Alice Court Elliott Lewis • Broadway is My Beat, Still Going Strong • Agnes Moorehead Guest-Stars on Suspense • Finding and Losing Love On Stage • The Very Suspicious Borden Family Murders • Radio’s Golden Age Draws to a Close • Looking Ahead to Go Back in time to Wyoming —————————— The WallBreakers: thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: 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 —————————— On the interview front: • Sam Edwards, Alice Faye, Phil Harris, Elliott Lewis, Agnes Moorehead, Arch Oboler, and Paula Winslowe were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Lilian Buyeff, Mary Jane Croft, Sam Edwards, Betty Lou Gerson, Byron Kane, Lou Krugman, Elliott Lewis, and Jeanette Nolan were with SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com. • Elliott Lewis and E. Jack Neuman were with John Dunning for his 71KNUS program from Denver. • Elliott Lewis was also with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear this full interview at Goldenage-WTIC.org. • Jack Kruschen, Shirley Mitchell, and George Walsh were with Jim Bohannon. • Morton Fine spoke with Dan Hafele for SPERDVAC in 1988. • WIlliam Conrad spoke with Chris Lambesis. • Norman MacDonnell with John Hickman. • Raymond Burr was with Jack Webster. —————————— Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • Rags to Riches — By Tony Bennett • Manhattan — By Blossom Dearie • Pyramid of the Sun — By Les Baxter • The Venice Dreamer Parts 1 & 2 — By George Winston • I’ll Be Seeing You — By the Harry James Band • Caravan — By Gordon Jenkins

    3h 35m
  5. BW - EP112: Drama At NBC (1949 - 1950) [Rewind]

    JAN 21

    BW - EP112: Drama At NBC (1949 - 1950) [Rewind]

    This episode was originally released on 2/1/2021. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ 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 • 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

    2h 39m
  6. BW - EP111: NBC Answers the CBS Talent Raids (1949) [Rewind]

    JAN 2

    BW - EP111: NBC Answers the CBS Talent Raids (1949) [Rewind]

    This episode was originally released on 1/1/2021. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ 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

    3h 7m
  7. BW - EP110: Christmas Week 1948—The CBS Talent Raids [Rewind]

    12/17/2025

    BW - EP110: Christmas Week 1948—The CBS Talent Raids [Rewind]

    This episode was originally released on 12/1/2020. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ 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

    5h 8m
  8. BW - EP109: Thanksgiving 1948—The Changing Radio Landscape [Rewind]

    12/04/2025

    BW - EP109: Thanksgiving 1948—The Changing Radio Landscape [Rewind]

    This episode was originally released on 11/1/2020. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ 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 ——————————

    2h 44m
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4.8
out of 5
108 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    James Scully
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    507
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Breaking Walls

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