BW - EP72: Johnny Dollar and The Death of Dramatic Radio (1948 - 1962)

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

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-week serial in 1955 • Jack Johnstone's unusual and effective directing methods • The many voices of Johnny Dollar • Why Bob Bailey was so popular as Johnny Dollar • The many actors and actresses who doubled and tripled parts on various broadcasts • Why these stories were so strong • What the dying radio industry was like in the late 1950s • How the death of the radio industry ruined Bob Bailey and so many other people’s careers • Life after the Golden Age of Radio… what happened next and what is yet to come Today’s episode of Breaking Walls could not have been possible without the interviews by Chuck Schaden, Dick Bertel, Ed Corcoran, SPERDVAC, and John Dunning. • Chuck’s interviews are available at http://www.speakingofradio.com • Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran’s interviews are at http://otrrlibrary.org by searching for The Golden Age of Radio program. • John Dunning’s interviews are also located at http://otrrlibrary.org under “John Dunning interviews” Editor's Note: I incorrectly stated the OTRR Library URL vocally. The above is correct. • The Society To Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy can be found at http://sperdvac.com The complete list of today’s interviewees is: Chuck Schaden with Hans Conreid - 1.1971 with Norman Corwin - 8.1976 with Virginia Gregg - 3.1984 with Parley Baer - 3.1984 with Shirley Mitchell - 10.1984 Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran with Bill Spier - 11.1970 with Hans Conreid - 8.1971 with Vincent Price - 11.1972 with Mandel Kramer - 9.1974 and with William Robson - 1.1976 SPERDVAC with director Jack Johnstone - 8.8.1987 John Dunning with Roberta Bailey-Goodwin - 2.1982 E. Jack Neuman - 5.1982. The reading material used in today’s episode was: Raised on Radio - Gerald Nachman Speaking of Radio - Chuck Schaden On The Air - The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio - John Dunning The Who Is Johnny Dollar Matter - John C. Abbott - who also edited this week’s show as well as numerous articles from the Radio Recall archives, courtesy of The Metropolitan Washington Old-Time Radio Club, who’s website is http://mwotrc.com The podcast growth statistical information I mentioned can be found at http://edisonresearch.com WallBreakers Links: Social Media - @TheWallBreakers URL - http://thewallbreakers.com Online Store - jamesthewallbreaker.com/shop/