This episode was originally released on 9/1/2021. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes.

____________


In Breaking Walls episode 119 we continue our Americana mini-series by bringing our appetites to the diner. We’ll hear stories from some of radio’s best and center ourselves around shows taking place in establishments.

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Highlights:
• What Exactly is a Diner?
• Lux Presents Hollywood
• Suspense At the End of World War II
• The Diner After World War II
• Bill Conrad, Burt Lancaster, and The Killers
• ABC Takes Friday Nights With This Is Your FBI
• Frank Sinatra and His Rocky Fortune
• Going Back to Gunsmoke
• James Earl Jones and Theater Five

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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:
• From Hash House to Family Restaurant: The Transformation of the Diner and Post-World War II Consumer Culture — By Andrew Hurley from The March 1997 Journal of American History.

And other articles from:
• Paste Magazine
• Smithsonian Magazine

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On the interview front:
• Parley Baer, Conrad Binyon, Norman Corwin, and Lurene Tuttle spoke to Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com.

• Parley Baer, Jerry Devine, Lawrence Dobkin, Fred Foy, and Bob Maxwell, were with SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com.

• William Spier spoke with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear this full interview at Goldenage-WTIC.org.

• John Dehner was with Neil Ross for KMPC.

• Frank Sinatra spoke with Arlene Francis, Walter Cronkite, and Larry King.

• William Conrad with Chris Lambesis.

• Norman Macdonnell with John Hickman of WAMU for his Gunsmoke documentary.

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Selected music featured in today’s episode was:
• Theme From A Summer Place — By Percy Faith
• I’ve Got The World on a String and Why Try To Change Me Now — By Frank Sinatra
• The Venice Dreamer Pt1 and 2 — By George Winston
• Across the Alley from the Alamo — By The Mills Brothers

Breaking Walls

James Scully

BW - EP119: Radio and The Diner (1937 - 1965) [Rewind]

MAR 27, 2026185 MIN
Breaking Walls

BW - EP119: Radio and The Diner (1937 - 1965) [Rewind]

MAR 27, 2026185 MIN

Description

This episode was originally released on 9/1/2021. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 119 we continue our Americana mini-series by bringing our appetites to the diner. We’ll hear stories from some of radio’s best and center ourselves around shows taking place in establishments. —————————— Highlights: • What Exactly is a Diner? • Lux Presents Hollywood • Suspense At the End of World War II • The Diner After World War II • Bill Conrad, Burt Lancaster, and The Killers • ABC Takes Friday Nights With This Is Your FBI • Frank Sinatra and His Rocky Fortune • Going Back to Gunsmoke • James Earl Jones and Theater Five —————————— 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: • From Hash House to Family Restaurant: The Transformation of the Diner and Post-World War II Consumer Culture — By Andrew Hurley from The March 1997 Journal of American History. And other articles from: • Paste Magazine • Smithsonian Magazine —————————— On the interview front: • Parley Baer, Conrad Binyon, Norman Corwin, and Lurene Tuttle spoke to Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Parley Baer, Jerry Devine, Lawrence Dobkin, Fred Foy, and Bob Maxwell, were with SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com. • William Spier spoke with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear this full interview at Goldenage-WTIC.org. • John Dehner was with Neil Ross for KMPC. • Frank Sinatra spoke with Arlene Francis, Walter Cronkite, and Larry King. • William Conrad with Chris Lambesis. • Norman Macdonnell with John Hickman of WAMU for his Gunsmoke documentary. —————————— Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • Theme From A Summer Place — By Percy Faith • I’ve Got The World on a String and Why Try To Change Me Now — By Frank Sinatra • The Venice Dreamer Pt1 and 2 — By George Winston • Across the Alley from the Alamo — By The Mills Brothers