BW - EP124: February 1954—Benny, McCarthy, and McCarthy [Rewind]

About this episode

This episode revisits February 1954, focusing on radio programming and national news of the time.

This episode was originally released on 2/1/2022. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 124 we pick up our 1954 mini series in February. We’ll focus on radio programming and national news from that month. —————————— Highlights: • Radio Billings Are Down. Now What? • Dragnet—Still Going Strong • Lee Deforest and The Hallmark Hall of Fame • Americana • Jack Benny Turns 39? 40? 60? • Guest Star and The McCarthy News • The College Quiz Bowl • Mr and Mrs North • Polio • Stars Over Hollywood • Ending with Bergen and McCarthy • Looking Ahead to March with Edward R. Murrow —————————— 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 — by Jim Ramsburg As well as articles from • Broadcasting Magazine • LIFE Magazine —————————— On the interview front: • Jack Benny, Frank Nelson, and Don Wilson spoke to Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Jack Benny…

People in this episode

Host: James Scully

Topics covered

• radio programming
• national news
• 1954
• Jack Benny
• McCarthy
• Dragnet
• polio

Keywords

• February 1954
• Benny
• McCarthy
• radio ratings
• Dragnet
• Hallmark Hall of Fame
• College Quiz Bowl
• polio
• Americana
• Stars Over Hollywood

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The WallBreakers, SPERDVAC, WTIC

Books & works: On the Air, Network Radio Ratings, Great Radio Comedians, Broadcasting Magazine, LIFE Magazine

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