Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersWhat you’re about to hear is the Sunday, December 24th, 1944 at 3PM WMCA broadcast of New World A’ Coming. It’s a Christmas musical show. For more info on New World A’ Coming, please tune into the previous act on this series within this episode of Breaking Walls.…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersWhat you’re about to hear is the Sunday, December 24th, 1944 at 3PM WMCA broadcast of New World A’ Coming. It’s a Christmas musical show. For more info on New World A’ Coming, please tune into the previous act on this series within this episode of Breaking Walls.…

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the industry, including Asad Syrkett’s forthcoming departure from Elle Decor, RH’s latest earnings call and why millionaire renters are on the rise. Later, designer Leanne Ford joins the show to talk about her new book, The Slow Down. This episode is sponsored by …

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersEdgar Bergen came to the attention of American audiences on Rudy Vallée’s NBC Royal Gelatin Hour on December 17th, 1936. How could ventriloquism work on radio? Perhaps Rudy Vallée himself put it best the night Bergen debuted.Five months later NBC gave Bergen his own show Sundays at 8P…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersEdgar Bergen came to the attention of American audiences on Rudy Vallée’s NBC Royal Gelatin Hour on December 17th, 1936. How could ventriloquism work on radio? Perhaps Rudy Vallée himself put it best the night Bergen debuted.Five months later NBC gave Bergen his own show Sundays at 8P…

By day, Peter Dunham runs a busy design firm, but he’s also the owner of one of LA’s most notable showrooms—Hollywood at Home. The last time Dunham was on the podcast, he was navigating the confusions of Covid. Now he’s going bicoastal and opening a new showroom in New York under his own name. On this episode of the show he speaks with host Dennis …

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersJubilee first took to the air on October 9th, 1942 transcribed by the Special Services Division of the War Department, then by the Armed Forces Radio Service. It featured Jazz and Swing bands and filled an important gap in the musical history of radio, gearing itself towards African A…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersJubilee first took to the air on October 9th, 1942 transcribed by the Special Services Division of the War Department, then by the Armed Forces Radio Service. It featured Jazz and Swing bands and filled an important gap in the musical history of radio, gearing itself towards African A…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersIn October 1944, in conjunction with the Jewish Theological Seminary, NBC began one of the longest-running religious programs in radio history. It was called The Eternal Light. The dramatized stories from ancient Judaea, along with contemporary works like The Diary of Anne Frank. It w…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersIn October 1944, in conjunction with the Jewish Theological Seminary, NBC began one of the longest-running religious programs in radio history. It was called The Eternal Light. The dramatized stories from ancient Judaea, along with contemporary works like The Diary of Anne Frank. It w…

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the industry, including more challenges for furniture brands, whether the American dream still includes a house with a white picket fence, and a look at how paint colors get their names. Later, Tori Mellott joins the show to talk about her new book, Southern Inter…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersThe woman you just heard is Gene Tierney. She was born on November 19th, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. Raised in Connecticut, she excelled in poetry, took up student acting, and eventually spent two years attending school in Switzerland, where she learned to speak French. On a family tr…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersThe woman you just heard is Gene Tierney. She was born on November 19th, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. Raised in Connecticut, she excelled in poetry, took up student acting, and eventually spent two years attending school in Switzerland, where she learned to speak French. On a family tr…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersJohn Herbert “Jackie” Gleason was born on February 26th, 1916, on Chauncey Street in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The younger of two children, his brother Clement died from meningitis at fourteen in 1919.Six years later his father left the family. Gleason’s mother Mae got a job as a …

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersJohn Herbert “Jackie” Gleason was born on February 26th, 1916, on Chauncey Street in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The younger of two children, his brother Clement died from meningitis at fourteen in 1919.Six years later his father left the family. Gleason’s mother Mae got a job as a …

A veteran of the hospitality world, Nicole Hollis was part of the team that developed the W Hotels before going out on her own and pivoting to residential work. Over the course of two decades, Hollis built up an impressive firm, with a team of nearly 100 working out of her San Francisco office. Hollis herself has won numerous accolades for her work…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersBroadcast over WMCA in New York, New World A’ Coming was based on the work of journalist Roi Ottley. Ottley was a journalist for The Amsterdam News from 1931 to 1937 before joining The New York City Writers' Project as an editor. In 1943 Ottley published New World A-Coming: Inside Bla…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersBroadcast over WMCA in New York, New World A’ Coming was based on the work of journalist Roi Ottley. Ottley was a journalist for The Amsterdam News from 1931 to 1937 before joining The New York City Writers' Project as an editor. In 1943 Ottley published New World A-Coming: Inside Bla…

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the industry, including the ongoing controversy over quartz countertops, why college students are embracing luxury design for their dorms, and how brown became the color of wealth. Later, stylist Mieke ten Have joins the show to talk about her new book. This episo…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersThe man you just heard is Norman Corwin. The piece of his, which Orson Welles is narrating, that you’ve heard thus far throughout this episode of Breaking Walls, is “New York: A Tapestry For Radio.” The first broadcast of this piece originally aired on May 16th, 1944 as part of a City…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersThe man you just heard is Norman Corwin. The piece of his, which Orson Welles is narrating, that you’ve heard thus far throughout this episode of Breaking Walls, is “New York: A Tapestry For Radio.” The first broadcast of this piece originally aired on May 16th, 1944 as part of a City…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersIt’s February 1944 and we’re in the U.S. Fleet Post Office at 80 Varick Street. 80 Varick Street is in the Hudson Square area of Manhattan just north of Canal Street and southeast of the Holland Tunnel to New Jersey. The street itself is named for Richard Varick, an early New York law…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersIt’s February 1944 and we’re in the U.S. Fleet Post Office at 80 Varick Street. 80 Varick Street is in the Hudson Square area of Manhattan just north of Canal Street and southeast of the Holland Tunnel to New Jersey. The street itself is named for Richard Varick, an early New York law…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersOur first stop is January, 1944. We’re at Central Park. By 1944 Central Park, nearly one-hundred years old, was in the midst of renewal. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses had spent the past decade developing playgrounds, ballfields, handball courts, and other working class elements. In …

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersOur first stop is January, 1944. We’re at Central Park. By 1944 Central Park, nearly one-hundred years old, was in the midst of renewal. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses had spent the past decade developing playgrounds, ballfields, handball courts, and other working class elements. In …

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the industry, including Kaiyo’s abrupt closure, Ikea’s new secondhand marketplace, and a look at why Crypton is suing Williams Sonoma. Later, New York Times real estate reporter Debra Kamin joins the show to explore how a massive legal ruling has reshaped the way …

https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersI’ve mentioned a few times before within Breaking Walls episodes that I try to be as unbiased as possible. I want Breaking Walls to be a true documentary, so I leave the op-eds for everyone else. But this is my tenth anniversary as a podcaster so I’ll share. I spent the first ten years of my life living in a h…

https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersI’ve mentioned a few times before within Breaking Walls episodes that I try to be as unbiased as possible. I want Breaking Walls to be a true documentary, so I leave the op-eds for everyone else. But this is my tenth anniversary as a podcaster so I’ll share. I spent the first ten years of my life living in a h…

A luxury resort tucked away in the foothills of Tennessee’s smoky mountains, Blackberry Farm defies easy categorization. Spread across thousands of acres, it encompasses everything from world class restaurants and spas to a fly fishing program, equestrian facility, farmstead and larder. Blackberry Farm also boasts a surprisingly robust design depar…

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the design industry, including Perigold’s plans for brick-and-mortar stores, a housing check-in, and why the DCOTA is back on the auction block. Later, fashion designer Jenni Kayne joins the show to talk about her home line and her new hospitality venture. This ep…

Born in New York, Jamie Bush studied architecture in New Orleans before finally making his way to Los Angeles, where his career took off. His multifaceted work is regularly featured in national magazines, and his firm is featured on the both the AD100 and Elle Decor’s A-List. On this episode of the podcast, Bush speaks to host Dennis Scully about w…

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the design industry, including another retail bankruptcy, why donating furniture is so challenging, and a look at how designers dress. Later, Rob Van Varick of Michael Graves Design joins the show to talk about the company's new accessibility collection with Potte…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersThat brings our look at the early years of Suspense to a close. Suspense would remain a hollywood production until the waning days of radio drama in 1959 when Bill Robson was directing it and this happened.Ordinarily here’s where you’d get a sneak peek at next month’s episode of Break…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersThat brings our look at the early years of Suspense to a close. Suspense would remain a hollywood production until the waning days of radio drama in 1959 when Bill Robson was directing it and this happened.Ordinarily here’s where you’d get a sneak peek at next month’s episode of Break…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersBack on December 2nd, 1943 when Suspense first became sponsored by Roma Wines, the script chosen for the first Roma episode was “The Black Curtain” starring Cary Grant. Of the performance Grant said, “If I ever do any more radio work, I want to do it on Suspense, where I get a good ch…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersBack on December 2nd, 1943 when Suspense first became sponsored by Roma Wines, the script chosen for the first Roma episode was “The Black Curtain” starring Cary Grant. Of the performance Grant said, “If I ever do any more radio work, I want to do it on Suspense, where I get a good ch…

Ernie Hershberger is the founder and CEO of the furniture brand Abner Henry. Born and raised in an Amish community in Fredericksburg, Ohio, Hershberger grew up in his family’s century-old cabinetry workshop before launching his own furniture business. Over time, he got into the higher-end, custom side of the market and Abner Henry became a source f…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersBy November of 1944 Suspense was pulling a rating of 10.4. There were now more than eight million people tuning in. Roma wines was satisfied as Suspense was providing stiff competition to The Frank Morgan Show running opposite on NBC Thursday nights at 8PM eastern time. On November 9t…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersBy November of 1944 Suspense was pulling a rating of 10.4. There were now more than eight million people tuning in. Roma wines was satisfied as Suspense was providing stiff competition to The Frank Morgan Show running opposite on NBC Thursday nights at 8PM eastern time. On November 9t…

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the design industry, including the return of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, some AI experiments from Houzz, and what a stock market crash might mean for designers. Later, real estate analyst Jonathan Miller joins the show to talk about whether the frozen housing ma…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersSpeaking of actors playing roles on Suspense that went against their usual type, on September 28th, 1944 Gene Kelly guest-starred in an episode called “The Man Who Couldn't Lose.” Kelly, already known as a singer and actor, became famous in For Me and My Gal, Du Barry Was a Lady, and …

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersSpeaking of actors playing roles on Suspense that went against their usual type, on September 28th, 1944 Gene Kelly guest-starred in an episode called “The Man Who Couldn't Lose.” Kelly, already known as a singer and actor, became famous in For Me and My Gal, Du Barry Was a Lady, and …

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersBill Spier recovered from his second heart attack in the fall, just in time for cooling weather, Friday night football games, and autumn dances. While Suspense aired all-year-round, it was perfect for brisk evenings. With Spier’s musical aptitude, a swelling orchestra had become a Sus…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersBill Spier recovered from his second heart attack in the fall, just in time for cooling weather, Friday night football games, and autumn dances. While Suspense aired all-year-round, it was perfect for brisk evenings. With Spier’s musical aptitude, a swelling orchestra had become a Sus…

Hector and Emma Finch are the married couple behind the British lighting company Hector Finch. Started as an antiques business, the two have stayed true to their roots, producing a line of lighting inspired by classic early 20th century pieces. Today, the company's products are sold all over the world, including top showrooms in the U.S. In this ep…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersThe man you just heard is famed actor Vincent Price. While Price was a film star, he had a unique contract which allowed him to act in as much radio as he wanted. By early June 1944 Price was thirty-three years old and had starred on Broadway and appeared in more than ten films. On Th…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersThe man you just heard is famed actor Vincent Price. While Price was a film star, he had a unique contract which allowed him to act in as much radio as he wanted. By early June 1944 Price was thirty-three years old and had starred on Broadway and appeared in more than ten films. On Th…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersIn May of 1944 Orson Welles appeared on Suspense three times. The first of which was on May 4th in “The Dark Tower,” a play originally written by George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott. Adapted for Suspense by Peter Barry, Woollcott had died in January of 1943. In many ways, the pl…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersIn May of 1944 Orson Welles appeared on Suspense three times. The first of which was on May 4th in “The Dark Tower,” a play originally written by George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott. Adapted for Suspense by Peter Barry, Woollcott had died in January of 1943. In many ways, the pl…

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakersThe man you just heard is Joseph Cotten. In 1944 he was guest-starring on various shows while also hosting Ceiling Unlimited.On March 23rd, 1944 Cotten starred in “Sneak Preview” written by Robert L. Richards. It’s a story about a film director who becomes a temporary detective as he …