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

In Breaking Walls Episode 73 we spotlight the 1970s CBS and Mutual Broadcasting dramatic radio revival and why it ultimately failed. Highlights:

 • Go Inside the November 1, 1973 Mutual Broadcasting closed circuit press conference from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City announcing Zero Hour
 • How Jay M. Kholos came to create The Zero Hour • How Elliot Lewis came to produce and direct the...

In Breaking Walls Episode 72 we tell some of the story of American dramatic radio’s last decade on the air through one of the last shows to air, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar. Highlights • The cautionary tale of the Mutual Broadcasting System and why CBS, NBC, and ABC killed their own radio business • The 3rd Floor of NBC and Colby's Restaurant • Why Johnny Dollar was relaunched as a 15 minute, 5x per...

In Breaking Walls Episode 71, we offer season’s greetings, glad tidings, and a preview of what our next episode (72) of Breaking Walls will be on January 1st. We've been getting a lot of traction with the golden age of radio mini-documentaries we've have been producing. If this is foreign to you, check out episode 70 which delves into the life and career of comedian Jack Benny, featuring show clip...

In Breaking Walls Episode 70, we’re celebrating the month of December by spotlighting The Jack Benny Program. Jack Benny was the highest rated comedian of his era. Beginning on radio in 1932, he was a radio mainstay until 1958. The programs’ Christmas shows are some of their most famous. Highlights: • Jack’s beginnings in Waukegan, IL • How Jack began playing the violin. • His transition to comedy...

In Breaking Walls Episode 69, I talk about some of the things I’m most grateful for this year. For the past four months I’ve been working on a podcast that will launch in January on The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300. These 17 goals are an incredibly important initiative to end world poverty, reduce inequality, provide climate action, take care...

In Breaking Walls Episode 68, we welcome November’s theme of “Gratitude” with an interactive look back at Norman Corwin’s radio plays, originally heard on U.S. radio around Thanksgiving of 1941. There are a lot of parallels that could be drawn from 1941 in 2017. That’s a scary thought! Perhaps the world isn’t in nearly as bad of a place today as we imagine? If we want to learn some lessons from th...

Breaking Walls Episode 67, we’ve got a return guest in Staten Island based recording artist Brodie Jaymz. Brodie was a guest on Breaking Walls episode 26 in October of 2015, and Breaking Walls episode 42 in October of 2016. The reason for the third October conversation in three years? Brodie has recently released a new LP, entitled Chasing Summer (available on all major music outlets). Brodie and...

In Breaking Walls episode 66, we weave the history of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense, into an interactive story told by producer and directors William Spier, William N. Robson, and Elliot Lewis, and actors and actresses June Havoc, Cary Grant, Vincent Price, Hans Conreid, Howard Duff, Robert Taylor, and Cathy Lewis. Suspense aired on CBS Radio from June 17, 1942 to September 30,...

On Breaking Walls Episode 65, we open up a forum to discuss what we can do about the United States' rising student loan debt crisis which has now reached 1.4 TRILLION DOLLARS. WNYC Link - http://www.wnyc.org/story/student-debt-paralyzing-lives-one-student-time/ This show features: Pratt Institute Undergraduate Advisor, Mike Farnham Xavier High School Art Professor Denise Iacovone Comedian, podcast...

In episode 64 of Breaking Walls, we sit down with New York City-based professional ballet dance Laura DeLaurentis for a chat about her life, career, and lessons she’s learned along the way. in order to see what her experiences can help teach us about our own. Highlights • How being adopted and growing up in Connecticut influenced Laura • "There is only right now" • The importance of working hard a...

On Breaking Walls Episode 63, we head to Mana Contemporary Studios in Jersey City, New Jersey for a chat with groundbreaking artist Shantell Martin. Shantell produces large scale murals and installations designed to invoke high vibrations from the audience, and get them asking more questions about life. If you haven’t seen Shantell’s creations and are now hearing this, I’d suggest you definitely g...

In episode 62 of Breaking Walls we profile Lucille Ball's life and career in honor of her upcoming 106th birthday. From chorus girl, to 1940s movie starlet, to radio comedian, to television star, to studio executive, to mother, to ambassador for women, we'll cover Lucy's career from her own mouth with tons of interviews and other multimedia clips. You'll hear what she was most proud of, what she f...

In Breaking Walls Episode 61, we head to Governor's Island to explore the participatory art project Writing On It All, and speak with artistic director Alexandra Chasin. Highlights • An abridged history of Governor's Island • Audio from “Here,” by Ana-Maurine Lara and LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs at the day of this event • Where Alexandra's inspiration for Writing on It All Comes From • Why it's so imp...

On episode 60 of Breaking Walls, we present a look at the history of audio in America on the fourth of July in honor of the 241st anniversary of America's Independence Day. We’ll laugh, we’ll cry, we’ll get angry, and perhaps, we’ll all be able to answer what it means to be an American. Highlights: • Norman Corwin Presents: Home for the Fourth, which originally aired on July 4, 1944. • A little-kn...

On Breaking Walls Episode 59, we go inside the New York City-based Maggie Flanigan acting studio for an in-depth conversation with studio head and teacher Charlie Sandlan, and an exclusive listen in on Charlie and studio founder Maggie Flanigan teaching the Meisner technique to students. Highlights: • Why having humble confidence is so important • The importance of going all the way when becoming...

On Breaking Walls EP58, we continue our Radio Chronicles series with a look at old-time radio plays that took place on, or around, the New York City Subway system. The main story throughout is from the CBS Radio Workshop's August 3rd, 1956 episode, Subways Are For Sleeping, which comes from a short story of the same name that written by Edmund G. Love, and published by Harper's Magazine in their M...

On Breaking Walls Episode 57, we examine the unique connection between radio during its golden age, and Coney Island during the last of its heyday between the 1930s and 1960s. Many of the original radio performers were vaudeville performers before radio began. In New York, while some found work on Broadway, others found their start at Coney Island. Similarly, during the American radio drama’s dyin...

On Breaking Walls episode 56, we go behind the scenes at The American Museum of Natural History’s new #Mummies Exhibit. You'll hear from museum President Ellen V. Futter, Senior vice-president and Paleontology Curator Michael Novacek, and Curator and Mummies Co-creator David Hurst Thomas on how this exhibit came to be, and why it's so revolutionary. We'll also journey back in time to ancient Egypt...

In episode 55 of Breaking Walls, join myself and author David Shields for brunch at the famous #Jewish restaurant Russ and Daughters in the #LowerEastSide. David and I last spoke in November of 2015 shortly after the #Paris bombings and after the release of his previous novel #War is #Beautiful (Episodes 29-30 of BW). This conversation at Russ & Daughters centers around David’s views on life, #Pre...

In Breaking Walls Episode 54, we go exploring at Industry City! https://industrycity.com The former Bush Terminal in on 3rd avenue in Sunset Park has been transformed into an office and community space with both retail and great food on the grounds. It's an incredible, growing hub of innovation and entrepreneurialism. I sit down with Cristal Rivera, Chief of Staff and Director of Community Engagem...

In Breaking Walls Episode 53 we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a look at some of the on-air St. Paddy’s Day shenanigans throughout the Golden Age of Radio. Highlights: • A profile on Fred Allen, born John Sullivan, and his feud with Jack Benny, which culminated (for the first time) at the Pierre Hotel in New York on March 14, 1937, and again three days later on Fred’s show on St. Patrick’s Day i...

In Breaking Walls Episode 52 we present a chat with Radio Hall of Fame member Chuck Schaden about his life and career. Chuck was on the air on Chicago radio between 1970-2009 The Radio Hall of Fame lists him as the man who’s done more to preserve and grow the Golden Age of Radio than anyone in America. His earliest radio memory was listening to The Shadow on the afternoon of Sunday, December 7, 19...

In episode 51 of Breaking Walls, we attend the debut gallery event for Brooklyn-based art collective Noumenal Space. InARTguration took place on 1.19.2017, the evening before President Donald Trump's inauguration at a Brooklyn Boulders location in Long Island City, Queens, New York. This event was designed to help spread awareness and unity within the art community during a very socially uncertain...

In episode 50 of Breaking Walls, we pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Norman Corwin with an uplifting audio piece in honor of our rights and duties as citizens of the United States of America. Among the cast are: Neil Armstrong Lucille Ball Lionel Barrymore Charles Calvart Kieran Culkin Ted De Corsia Alice Frost Wendell Holmes Dr. Martin. Luther King Jr. Howard McNear Jack Moyles Presi...

In Breaking Walls Episode 49, in honor of the last day of 2016, we present to you an up close look at how New Year’s Eve was handled on radio during what’s come to be known as the Golden Age of Radio, between the early 1930s and 1962. Highlights Include: • A profile on Jack Benny, the most famous comedian of the 1st half of the 20th century • Do you remember Madge the Manicurist? New York radio ve...