Breaking Walls

• 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 ——————————

  --------  

  2:44:19

  --------

  2:44:19
• BW - EP108: Halloween 1948—Dewey Vs. Truman [Rewind]

  This episode was originally released on 10/1/2020. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 108 we go back to October 31st, 1948 and open a five-part mini series on that season’s business and programming. —————————— Highlights: • You Are There • Dewey V Truman • Let’s Sit This One Out • Halloween 1948 in New York over the Mutual Broadcasting System • Ozzie and Harriet Visit a Haunted House • Jack Benny Goes Trick-or-Treating for a New Network • Phil Harris and Alice Faye • Sam Spade, Rocky Jordan, and Connie Brooks • Walter Winchell Spits Fire • Cabin B-13 • A Tremendous Election Upset • Looking Ahead to Thanksgiving 1948 —————————— 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: • Sunday Nights at Seven — By Jack and Joan Benny • On the Air — By John Dunning • Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 — By Jim Ramsburg • WOR Radio 1922-1982 As well as articles from the archives of • The Los Angeles Times • The New York Daily News • The New York Times • Radio Daily • The Saturday Evening Post. —————————— On the interview front: • Eve Arden, Jack Benny, Alice Faye, Phil Harris, Elliott Lewis, Bret Morrison, and Lurene Tuttle were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Hans Conried, Howard Duff, and June Havoc were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear these at Goldenage-WTIC.org. • Dick Joy spoke with John Dunning for 71KNUS. • Ben Grauer spoke with Westinghouse in 1970. —————————— Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • Danse Macabre — by Camille Saint-Saëns (Camille San Sons) • I’ll Take Manhattan — By Blossom Dearie • Ghost Bus Tours — By George Fenton • The Look of Love — By Nelson Riddle • Verdi’s Macbeth Overture — Conducted by Giuseppe Sinopoli • Flag of Columbia — By Jacqueline Schwab • Over The River and Through The Woods — By the U.S. Air Force Band

  --------  

  2:54:32

  --------

  2:54:32
• BW - EP107: Back to School with The Nelsons (1933 - 1954) [Rewind]

  This episode was originally released on 9/1/2020. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 107, we go back to school with the Nelson family and find out why David and Ricky joined the program, and how it affected the entertainment industry forever. —————————— Highlights: • Oswald George Nelson—Boy from New Jersey • The Ukulele Craze and the Boy scout Jamboree • Ozzie Starts a Band • Splitting Time Between Football and Music • Cleaning Up Around Town • On the Banks of the Old Raritan • Law School and WMCA • Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra Gets on Radio • Ozzie Meet Harriet • Harriet Hilliard—One Heck of a Talent • Harriet Joins the Band • Joe Penner and Robert Ripley • Getting Married—Harriet Becomes a Film Star • Touring—David and Eric Are Born • Red Skelton • The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet is Born • Changing Networks in 1948 • Jack Benny Jumps to CBS—David and Ricky Join the Show • Finding Their Groove as a Family • ABC and a Ten-Year Contract • Here Come The Nelsons to Television • Looking Ahead to Halloween —————————— 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 • Ozzie — By Ozzie Nelson • Network Radio Ratings, 1932-53 — By Jim Ramsburg • Before Television — By Glenhall Taylor • As well as articles from the archives of Broadcasting Magazine, Sponsor Magazine, Radio Daily, and Radio Mirror. —————————— On the interview front: • Ozzie Nelson spoke with: Johnny Carson, Chuck Cecil, and James Day • Ricky Nelson spoke with Johnny Carson and David Hartman • David Nelson spoke with David Hartman, and KRLA • Jack Wagner and Johnny Hayes were also with KRLA • While Harriet Nelson spoke with David Hartman and Chuck Schaden • Chuck Schaden also interviewed Jack Benny, Lurene Tuttle and Janet Waldo Hear these chats and others from Chuck’s forty-year career at SpeakingOfRadio.com —————————— Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • Theme from A Summer Place — By The Ventures • Colorado Trail — From Stephen Ives’ The West • On The Banks of the Old Raritan — By The Rutgers Alma Mater Choir • Auld Lang Syne — By the Manhattan Strings • Dream a Little Dream of Me and Jersey Bounce — By Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra • Get Thee Behind Me Satan — By Harriet Hilliard Nelson • I Will Follow You — By Ricky Nelson • The Haunted House Boogie — By Jack Rivers and Happy Wilson

  --------  

  3:08:58

  --------

  3:08:58
• BW - EP106: Summer Vacation with Our Miss Brooks (1948 - 1954) [Rewind]

  This episode was originally released on 8/1/2020. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 106, we join Eve Arden at Madison High School and find out why we all love Our Miss Brooks. —————————— Highlights: • Who is Eunice Quedens? • Eve the heroine with Elizabeth Arden cosmetics. • Starting out in Hollywood • Getting on the Radio • Teaming with Danny Kaye, Jack Haley, and Jack Carson • William Paley and his Packaged Program Initiative • My Friend Irma and Two New Proposed Female-driven Situation Comedies • Our Miss Booth—Not Happening • Eve Arden, meet Connie Brooks • Our Miss Brooks—The New Summer Hit • Colgate Signs on in the Fall of 1948 • Cast Camaraderie • Eve Arden—Radio’s Top Comedienne • Miss Brooks Gains Traction • Taking the Show into TV without Jeff Chandler • Winding down the Radio Show • Looking Ahead to September —————————— 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, and Radio Mirror. —————————— On the interview front: Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, Jack Haley and Gloria McMillan were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingofRadio.com. Eve Arden was also with John Dunning on July 25th, 1982 for 71KNUS Mary Jane Croft was with SPERDVAC on March 14th, 1992. For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com. Shirley Booth was with Dick Cavett in 1971. And Ozzie and Harriet Nelson were on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show on November 18th, 1969. —————————— Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • It’s Been a Long Long Time — By The Harry James Band • Easy Street — By June Christy • Living Without You — By George Winston • Hello Mary Lou — By Ricky Nelson

  --------  

  2:43:44

  --------

  2:43:44
• BW - EP105: Sam Spade Comes to Radio (1946 - 1951) [Rewind]

  This episode was originally released on 7/1/2020. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls Episode 105 we pour shots and take dictation with The Adventures of Sam Spade. —————————— Highlights: • Bill Spier’s Musical Beginnings Lead to Suspense • Howard Duff: Unknown Actor • How About Now For Sam Spade? • CBS and ABC compete for Spade • Spade Versus Bergen & McCarthy • 1947-48: Radio’s Highest-Rated Season • Spade Hits Its Stride • Stop The Music • June Havoc, Uncredited Spade Actress • Unamerican Hammett? Unamerican Duff? • Spade Gets Cancelled—Twice • Howard Duff: Radio Preservationist • What’s Next —————————— 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 Billboard Magazine, Broadcasting Magazine, Radio Daily, and Variety. —————————— On the interview front: • Eve Arden, Howard Duff, and Lurene Tuttle were with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingofRadio.com. • Dick Joy, Elliott Lewis, and E. Jack Neuman were with John Dunning for his 71KNUS program from Denver. • Howard Duff, June Havoc, and Bill Spier were with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear their full chats at https://goldenage-wtic.org/ • Lurene Tuttle remembered radio with Same Time, Same Station on February 6th, 1972. • Frank Stanton spoke with CBS in honor of their 50th anniversary in 1977. • Mary Jane Croft was with SPERDVAC on March 14th, 1992. For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com. —————————— Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • Fever — By Peggy Lee • Smoke Gets In Your Eyes — By The Mallett Men • Young At Heart — By Frank Sinatra • The Prologue and Main Title piece from High Spirits — By George Fenton • Atomic Cocktail — By Slim Gaillard

  --------  

  2:44:26

  --------

  2:44:26

More History podcasts

Trending History podcasts

About Breaking Walls

Breaking Walls: Podcasts in Family