About this episode

This episode explores the state of radio in January 1954, highlighting key shows and events of the time.

This episode was originally released on 1/1/2022. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 123 we open 2022 with a six-part mini-series on radio business and programming in 1954. We’ll begin with January, in a radio half-season that was for many, the end of the line. —————————— Highlights: • Ringing in the New Year with Fibber McGee and Molly • Gunsmoke’s Stage Holdup • People Are Funny is Radio’s Top-Rated Show • January 1954 with Ozzie, Harriet, David, and Ricky • Jack Benny’s Face is Familiar on Suspense • Smog and Other Current Events • Beulah • The Death of Edward Howard Armstrong • Looking Ahead to February 1954 —————————— 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: •The General: David Sarnoff & The Rise of the Communications Industry - by Kenneth Bilby • On the Air — By John Dunning • Network Radio Ratings — by Jim Ramsburg As well as articles from • Broadcasting Magazine • LIFE Magazine • Time Magazine…

People in this episode

Host: James Scully

Guests: John Guedel, Phil Leslie, Don Wilson, Norman MacDonnell, George Walsh

Topics covered

• radio history
• 1954 programming
• New Year
• top-rated shows
• current events
• radio business

Keywords

• radio
• 1954
• Fibber McGee and Molly
• Gunsmoke
• People Are Funny
• Edward Howard Armstrong
• Jack Benny
• current events

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The WallBreakers, Broadcasting Magazine, LIFE Magazine, Time Magazine

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