BW - EP116: The Launch of NBC’s Monitor (1955)

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

In Breaking Walls episode 116, it’s June of 1955 and network radio is in uncharted territory. TV’s encroachment has the entire industry looking for new ideas. We’ll focus on the launch of one of the most successful—Monitor—which will air in some form or fashion until January of 1975. —————————— Highlights: • The Changing Network Radio Landscape • Who Is Sylvester “Pat” Weaver? • Monitor Origins • Building the Team • Radio Central • The Soft Launch • An Auto Tragedy at Le Mans • Going to San Quentin Prison • Lots of Tunes in Remote • A Potential United Automobile Workers Strike • Dave Garroway Interviews Marilyn Monroe, live on Monitor • Fibber McGee and Gildy Too • Here’s Henry Morgan • Monitor’s Last Hour • Miss Monitor Finally Makes an Appearance • The Full Launch • Looking Ahead in Time and Space —————————— The WallBreakers: http://thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: http://patreon.com/TheWallBreakers —————————— The reading material used in today’s episode was: On the Air - By John Dunning Monitor: Take 2: By Dennis Hart Network Radio Ratings — by Jim Ramsburg Articles from: Broadcasting-Telecasting Magazine Monthly Labor Review The New York Daily News The New York Times Newsweek Printer’s Ink Variety As well as the websites: http://accordions.com/ for their interview with Art Van Damme Dennis Hart’s http://monitorbeacon.net/ http://tipsontables.com/ —————————— On the interview front: • Pat Weaver was interviewed for Fred Allen’s May 29th, 1956 Biography In Sound. • Ben Grauer was interviewed for NBC’s 50th Anniversary and Westinghouse’ 50th Anniversary. • Dave Garroway and Willard Waterman spoke with Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Jim Jordan was with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC’s The Golden Age of Radio. Hear this full interview at Goldenage-WTIC.org. —————————— Selected music featured in today’s episode was: • Shangri-La — By the New Spike Jones Band • Maris’ Farewell — By George Winston • Moon Moods — By Les Baxter & His Orchestra —————————— Special thanks to: The Fireside Mystery Theatre https://www.firesidemysterytheatre.com/ The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society https://www.ghoulishdelights.com/ Twelve Chimes, It’s Midnight https://www.twelvechimesradio.com/ —————————— Subscribe to Burning Gotham—the new audio drama set in 1835 New York City. It’s available everywhere you get your podcasts and at BurningGotham.com. —————————— A massive thank you to Gordon Skene and Dennis Hart for their contributions to this episode. Gordon maintains a tremendous sound collection. You can visit his site at PastDaily.com. Dennis Hart is the preeminent Monitor researcher. If this subject interests you pick up Monitor: Take 2, or go to MonitorBeacon.net. —————————— Thank you to: Tony Adams Steven Allmon Orson Orsen Chandler Phil Erickson Briana Isaac Thomas M. Joyce Ryan Kramer Gary Mollica Barry Nadler Christian Neuhaus Aimee Pavy Chris Pilkington —————————— WallBreakers Links: Patreon - patreon.com/thewallbreakers Social Media - @TheWallBreakers