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Artwork for Breaking Walls

Breaking Walls

James Scully
Suspense
Radio Broadcasting
World War II
Orson Welles
CBS
Christmas
Thanksgiving
NBC
Television
Jack Benny
Hollywood
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar
Halloween
Radio Drama
Johnny Dollar
New York City
New York
Golden Age Of Radio
Radio
CBS Radio

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes515Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for Breaking Walls

Latest Episodes

This episode was originally released on 5/1/2022. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 127 we keep on with our look at 1954 by picking up in May d... more

This episode was originally released on 4/1/2022. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 126 we continue our mini-series in April of 1954. —————————... more

This episode was originally released on 3/1/2022. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 125 we continue our mini-series in March of 1954. —————————... more

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 focu... more

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Recent Guests

Alan Shivers
Governor of Texas
Texas Governor's Office
Episode: BW - EP126: April 1954—Joseph McCarthy vs. The US Army [Rewind]
Mandel Kramer
Radio actor and producer discussed in interview
The Golden Age of Radio
Episode: BW - EP125: March 1954—A World In Turmoil [Rewind]
Dick Beals
Voice actor and guest discussing radio history
Episode: BW - EP122: December With The Six Shooter (1953 - 1954) [Rewind]
Norman Corwin
Pioneering radio writer/producer, associated with Columbia Presents Corwin and Columbia Workshop
Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)
Episode: BW - EP121: Radio and The Homecoming (1942 - 1972) [Rewind]
Mel Blanc
Voice actor known for numerous radio and animation roles
Self/Industry
Episode: BW - EP120: Radio and The Harvest (1936 - 1954) [Rewind]
Dennis Day
Singer and radio performer, star of The Dennis Day Show
Columbia Broadcasting System / NBC
Episode: BW - EP120: Radio and The Harvest (1936 - 1954) [Rewind]
Gale Gordon
Actor associated with Granby's Green Acres and Gildersleeve era
Radio/Television
Episode: BW - EP120: Radio and The Harvest (1936 - 1954) [Rewind]
Phil Harris
Bandleader and actor, connected to Benny program era
Radio/Entertainment
Episode: BW - EP120: Radio and The Harvest (1936 - 1954) [Rewind]
Jim Jordan
Part of Fibber McGee and Molly duo, radio star
NBC/Radio
Episode: BW - EP120: Radio and The Harvest (1936 - 1954) [Rewind]

Host

James Scully
Host of Breaking Walls; focused on the history and context of American network radio broadcasting.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 130 ratings
  • Enchanted with Context

    The historical context provided enhances the shows so much. We’re very lucky to have someone doing research for us to level up not only our listening experience but also our understanding of history.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    erikeric
    United States3 years ago
  • Background music

    Could do with out the loud music during the narration, it’s distracting. Otherwise, I really enjoy it.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Iowa Flight Design
    United States3 years ago
  • Love it when they break down the fourth wall!

    I can getOTR from any number of sources but I love the background interviews on this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fphillips52
    United States4 years ago
  • A Treasure for OTR fans

    Old Time Radio behind the scenes archive!!! This is gold! A compilation of interviews with stars, producers & directors, and pertinent portions of radio shows. It is not only entertaining and well crafted, but it’s an invaluable historical record. Everyone interviewed has been gone for so long; their genius is back on display. I am so impressed and loving it!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RehanKhan510
    United States4 years ago
  • Long podcasts the best…

    …the longer podcasts, I.e. over an hour, some as long as a couple hours, are really the best way to spend some of my time with my iPod. My old time radio hobby addiction can only be treated in this manner. Keep up the absolutely wonderful work producing these programs. Thank you very much.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    timmersj
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Long-form and well-produced—great for dedicated fans of Old Time Radio and media history.
In-depth research and high-quality archival sourcing make every episode feel valuable.
The host does a superb job of stitching interviews, clips, and history into a cohesive narrative.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BW - EP120: Radio and The Harvest (1936 - 1954) [Rewind]
Q: How did Mel Blanc describe his path to becoming a voice actor and his big break on Jack Benny's show?
Blanc described how Benny noticed his range and asked him to growl like a bear first, then later wrote in a script for him, leading to a long-running voice career.
BW - EP113: A Week With Elliott Lewis in 1953 [Rewind]
Q: What was the atmosphere like for radio as television started to rise?
Elliott Lewis noted that the fall 1953 season saw television decimate radio's at-home audiences, meaning radio ratings had significantly dropped since the late 40s.
BW - EP113: A Week With Elliott Lewis in 1953 [Rewind]
Q: How busy were you at your busiest as far as being?
Elliott Lewis mentions that he counted doing 20 shows in one week in various capacities including production and acting, showcasing his intense schedule during this period.
BW - EP105: Sam Spade Comes to Radio (1946 - 1951) [Rewind]
Q: What is your favorite memory about the early days of the program?
I always liked to work with the top people; I'm not very good when I work with people who are not very good.
BW - EP105: Sam Spade Comes to Radio (1946 - 1951) [Rewind]
Q: Did you have a feeling for drama? Did you have an interest in it even then?
Yes, I did. I had always been, as Jimmy Durante says, a carnivorous reader.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Breaking Walls

What is Breaking Walls about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program offers deep dives into the history of American network radio, blending host narration with archival interviews, clips, and context to illuminate how radio shaped culture, advertising, and entertainment from the Golden Age through the rise of television. Episodes concentrate on show origins, production choices, sponsorship dynamics, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from writers, producers, and actors, often linking landmark programs to broader shifts in media and society. A standout feature is the careful weaving of primary-era voices with historical analysis, creating a rich, documentary-style narrative that appeals to history buffs, media historians, and audio-drama enthusiasts alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Breaking Walls?

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How many listeners does Breaking Walls get?

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What are the audience demographics for Breaking Walls?

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How many subscribers and views does Breaking Walls have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Breaking Walls has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Breaking Walls are there?

Breaking Walls launched 12 years ago and published 515 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Breaking Walls?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Breaking Walls?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Breaking Walls from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Breaking Walls?

Recent guests on Breaking Walls include:

1. Alan Shivers
2. Mandel Kramer
3. Dick Beals
4. Norman Corwin
5. Mel Blanc
6. Dennis Day
7. Gale Gordon
8. Phil Harris

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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