The Wall Breakers

09/26/2024

Looking north towards One Times Square from West 41st Street along 7th Avenue, Sunday, February 16th. 1958. The day prior 2 inches of snow had fallen in NYC, and on this day 6 inches of snow fell. The Quiet American, starring Audie Murphy and Michael Redgrave, had premiered on February 5th. — Photo by Pete Turner.

09/25/2024

Just saw this article by Kirsten Nelson "Learning How to Listen Again with Audio Fiction" which features an interview with Jocelyn Kuritsky and myself on the state of audio fiction and ways we think it can grow has been published — https://www.getdante.com/blog/learning-how-to-listen-again-with-audio-fiction/ ... the time is now for a more organized approach to audio fiction through network-based collaboration, cooperation, and corporation.

By Kirsten Nelson

09/12/2024

I'm leading a tour of City Hall this Sunday 9/15/2024 at 12PM! This tour deals with the wild, unruly, and still very much relevant 1830s NYC history

https://untappedcities.com/tours/NYC/newspaper-row-tour/

While New York is a city continually changing and evolving in almost every aspect, 1835 was particularly notable. Two penny papers went to war with each other; New York's premier real estate mogul — and the country's richest man — sunk his fortune into building the finest hotel in the U.S.; a local entertainer became the country's biggest showman. It's time to hit the streets and explore a small part of Manhattan that was home to some of the largest events and egos of the 19th century, which altered the social and physical landscape of New York and beyond.

Tour Highlights
• An overview of important events in 1835 NYC, including the vote to build the Croton Aqueduct, Moving Day, why the U.S. was on the verge of war with France, and the story behind several riots and strikes of the 1830s

• Details about the life and career of John Jacob Astor, from how he became the richest man in America to what remains of his vast fortune and massive hotel in the City Hall area today

• A visit to the former headquarters for one of the city’s first two penny papers, with a discussion about The Great Moon Hoax of 1835 and how their publishers and editors both capitalized on — and helped transform — the hopes and fears of New York’s rapidly expanding population

• Separating fact and fiction with P.T. Barnum’s life and career, with a trip to the site of his first museum and a discussion about his 1835 start as a showman exhibiting Joice Heth, the purported 161 year-old nursemaid to George Washington

• A walk past other important sites and remnants dating back to 1835 New York

Dive into the most captivating headlines and events of 1835 NYC!

09/07/2024

Interested in learning the nuts and bolts of what have coloquially come to be known as the late 1940s CBS Talent Raids? I've got a webinar Thursday September 12th at 8PM eastern time on the subject! Tickets are very affordable and those who can't make it live have 7 days to watch the repeat as much as they like — https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/the-cbs-talent-raids-part-1-post-war-radio-era-webinar-registration-981844582577/

Highlights Include:
• An overview of the radio and TV networks in the late 1940s, from how the radio industry grew from wireless telegraphy in the 1910s to one of the largest businesses in the United States

• A look at the biggest stars of the day and their programs like Jack Benny, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Eve Arden, and Lucille Ball

• Some of the big news stories of that era, including why the United States experienced so much labor turmoil as the baby boomer era began following the end of World War II

• A play-by-play of the CBS Talent Raid, including why CBS head William S. Paley happily agreed to these capital gains deals when NBC's David Sarnoff was vehemently opposed; and which yet unknown stars benefited the most

• How and why this deal changed the balance of power in the entertainment industry leading into the Television era

09/01/2024

September’s current tour and webinar schedule! My current tour schedule features tours and webinars with New York Adventure Club, Boroughs of the Dead and Untapped New York. You can get tix for any of these things here — https://linktr.ee/thewallbreakers
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08/26/2024

189 years ago at this exact moment both The New York Sun AND P.T. Barnum were both individually creating two of the greatest hoaxes in New York City history.

The New York Sun was portending intelligent life on the moon in the form of upright man bats thanks to Halley's Comet's overhead flight creating a huge interest in star gazing.

While P.T. Barnum was latching on to New Yorkers' desire to harken back to the dying Revolutionary generation, exhibiting Ms Joice Heth, the purported 161-year old nursemaid to George Washington.

Interested in learning more? I've got two tours next month around the City Hall area dealing with these events and many others.

Dive into the most captivating headlines and events of 1835 NYC!

08/19/2024

Interested in the wild and incredible 1830s in NYC? I've got a webinar tomorrow at 5:30PM on 1835 New York City Hall Park: Hoaxes, Hotels, & Humbugs

Tix Link — https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1835-new-york-city-hall-park-hoaxes-hotels-humbugs-webinar-registration-956334621597

While New York is a city continually changing and evolving in almost every aspect, 1835 was particularly notable. Two penny papers went to war with each other; New York's premier real estate mogul — and the country's richest man — sunk his fortune into building the finest hotel in the U.S.; a local entertainer became the country's biggest showman. It's time to hit uncover the history behind a small part of Manhattan that was home to some of the largest events and egos of the 19th century, which altered the social and physical landscape of New York and beyond.

Join me as we virtually explore the 1830s around the City Hall area with a focus on:

- An overview of important events in 1835 NYC, including the vote to build the Croton Aqueduct, Moving Day, why the U.S. was on the verge of war with France, and the story behind several riots and strikes of the 1830s

- Details about the life and career of John Jacob Astor, from how he became the richest man in America to what remains of his vast fortune and massive hotel in the City Hall area today

- The former headquarters for one of the city’s first two penny papers, with a discussion about The Great Moon Hoax of 1835 and how their publishers and editors both capitalized on — and helped transform — the hopes and fears of New York’s rapidly expanding population

- Separating fact and fiction with P.T. Barnum’s life and career, with a trip to the site of his first museum and a discussion about his 1835 start as a showman exhibiting Joice Heth, the purported 161 year-old nursemaid to George Washington

- A virtual walk past other important sites and remnants dating back to 1835 New York

Afterwards there'll be a Q&A where any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week!

08/03/2024

The Astor House, built on Broadway between Vesey and Barclay Street in 1836, seen here in 1913 with demolition of its southerly portion imminent. I have a City Hall walking tour next weekend, "Hoaxes, Hotels, & Humbugs" centering around John Astor, PT Barnum, and the Penny Press War. Tix here — https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/exploring-1835-new-yorks-hoaxes-hotels-humbugs-around-city-hall-registration-947981457057/

While New York is a city continually changing and evolving in almost every aspect, 1835 was particularly notable. Two penny papers went to war with each other; New York's premier real estate mogul — and the country's richest man — sunk his fortune into building the finest hotel in the U.S.; a local entertainer became the country's biggest showman. It's time to hit the streets and explore a small part of Manhattan that was home to some of the largest events and egos of the 19th century, which altered the social and physical landscape of New York and beyond.

Join me as we explore the City Hall area with a focus on the people, places, and remnants from 1835 New York City, a single year that transformed New York City in seismic ways:

• An overview of important events in 1835 NYC, including the vote to build the Croton Aqueduct, Moving Day, why the U.S. was on the verge of war with France, and the story behind several riots and strikes of the 1830s

• Details about the life and career of John Jacob Astor, from how he became the richest man in America to what remains of his vast fortune and massive hotel in the City Hall area today

• A visit to the former headquarters for one of the city’s first two penny papers, with a discussion about The Great Moon Hoax of 1835 and how their publishers and editors both capitalized on — and helped transform — the hopes and fears of New York’s rapidly expanding population

• Separating fact and fiction with P.T. Barnum’s life and career, with a trip to the site of his first museum and a discussion about his 1835 start as a showman exhibiting Joice Heth, the purported 161 year-old nursemaid to George Washington

• A walk past other important sites and remnants dating back to 1835 New York

This tour is roughly 90 minutes and begins in front of St. Paul's Chapel. It ends on the corner of Broadway, Ann Street, and Park Row. It's a very light amount of walking for a walking tour. So much history happened in this one spot!

07/24/2024

Map showing the damage area from the Great Fire of 1835 which burned a large portion of the financial district down on 12/16/1835. It's the worst fire in NYC history and did the modern equivalent of $.5B in damage. I've purposely turned the map so it faces the cardinal directions.

I do walking tours in conjunction with a historical audio fiction soap opera I created about this time called Burning Gotham — https://burninggotham.com/. The show made the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022 as an audio selection. If you are in the NYC area, I've got three walking tours this weekend. Tix are very affordable — https://linktr.ee/thewallbreakers.

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The first tour Friday 7/26/2024 at 7:30PM is Forgotten Dark Histories of Lower Manhattan through Boroughs of the Dead. It begins at 1 Bowling Green. The historical ghost tour begins with the Dutch settling on Lower Manhattan and moves through the early 1800s.

In the oldest part of New York City, the spirits of our past are palpable as we stand in its crooked, shadowy streets. There's a wealth of ghastly, grim tales ranging from the heart-wrenching and horrific to the ghoulishly funny to the flat-out frightening.

Visit burial sites and sacred spaces, haunted taverns, parks and potter’s fields. Meet witches and wretches, pirates and prisoners, and be prepared to shift your perspective of this urban pocket of the material world. Total tour runtime is 2 hours.

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The second tour takes place Sunday, 7/28/2024 at 4PM through Untapped NY. It begins at 1 Bowling Green (Alexander Hamilton Customs House) and deals with the wild and incredible 1830s in NYC.1835 was this incredibly wild year in NYC history. Between April of 1835 and April of 1836 within New York City:

• The citizens voted to build the Croton Aqueduct,

• Several Major riots took place,

• Several Major Union Strikes took place,

• The Penny Press Wars began with the greatest literary hoax of the 19th century,

• P.T. Barnum achieved fame as a showman,

• John Jacob Astor constructed the finest hotel in the United States,

• The worst fire in New York City history burned the entire financial district to the ground,

• Helen Jewett, considered the City’s most beautiful woman, was brutally murdered.

This year directly led to the Croton Aqueduct, Central Park, Hartford, C.T. becoming the insurance capital of the U.S. and many more things! Guest come away from this tour with their minds generally blown lol! Total tour runtime is 90 minutes.

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The final tour is a West Village Ghost Tour through Boroughs of the Dead on Sunday 7/28/2024 at 7:30PM and begins at 12 Gay Street in the West Village, from there we'll weave real stories of visual, sonic, and smell-based haunts around the winding, easy-to-get-lost-in streets of the West Village. Total tour runtime is 90 minutes.

https://linktr.ee/thewallbreakers

07/21/2024

Breaking Walls EP154: Stars on Suspense in 1944 is out early on Patreon.

Get more from The WallBreakers on Patreon

07/18/2024

In NYC this weekend and interested in wild, incredible and/or spooky walking tours? I've got two walking tours in the area this weekend. Tix are very affordable — https://linktr.ee/thewallbreakers. Both tours begin at the Alexander Hamilton Custom House.

The first tour (at 4PM) deals with the wild and incredible 1830s in NYC.1835 was this incredibly wild year in NYC history. Between April of 1835 and April of 1836 within New York City:

• The citizens voted to build the Croton Aqueduct,
• Several Major riots took place,
• Several Major Union Strikes took place,
• The Penny Press Wars began with the greatest literary hoax of the 19th century,
• P.T. Barnum achieved fame as a showman,
• John Jacob Astor constructed the finest hotel in the United States,
• The worst fire in New York City history burned the entire financial district to the ground,
• Helen Jewett, considered the City’s most beautiful woman, was brutally murdered.

This year directly led to the Croton Aqueduct, Central Park, Hartford, C.T. becoming the insurance capital of the U.S. and many more things! Guest come away from this tour with their minds generally blown lol!

The second tour (at 7:30PM) is Forgotten Dark Histories of Lower Manhattan through Boroughs of the Dead.

Here in the oldest part of New York City, the spirits of our past are palpable as we stand in its crooked, shadowy streets. In Lower Manhattan, there are a wealth of histories ghastly, grim, and stranger-than-fiction. Join us for the Forgotten Dark Histories of Lower Manhattan tour to uncover the eerie legends and haunting tales that have shaped this historic area.

The tales told on this tour range from the heart-wrenching and horrific to the ghoulishly funny to the flat-out frightening. Our guides lead you through 400 years of legends and history––across burial grounds, sites of rebellion and revolution––that haunt us still today.

Visit burial sites and sacred spaces, haunted taverns, parks and potter’s fields. Meet witches and wretches, pirates and prisoners, and be prepared to shift your perspective of this urban pocket of the material world.

Part historical tour, part ghost tour, this spirited stroll is perfect for history lovers with a curiosity for the macabre, and for fans of all things paranormal, creepy, and strange.

07/15/2024

Eve Arden and Jeff Chandler reading over their script for Our Miss Brooks, ca. 1948. Ms. Arden debuted in her most famous role 76 years ago this week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hCYm29Ueac&list=PLPWqNZjcSxu5oY-EcvRfube6qTQB3BXnc&index=3

On April 9th, 1948 Shirley Booth recorded an audition for a new sitcom based on the misadventures of a high school english teacher. It was first to be titled Meet Miss Brooks, then Our Miss Booth. Shirley Booth felt the script was weak. She backed out, leaving the show’s future up in the air.

The writers CBS brought in were Arthur Alsberg, Joe Quillan, and Al Lewis, who would also direct. Larry Berns would produce and Wilber Hatch would conduct the music. Bob Lamond announced. A new audition with Eve Arden was recorded on June 23rd.

Less than a month later on Monday July 19th, 1948, Our Miss Brooks debuted as a summer fill-in for The Lux Radio Theater. Four days later, Lucille Ball debuted in My Favorite Husband.

Joseph Forte played Osgood Conklin in the first two episodes. Noreen Gammill was Mrs. Conklin, Jane Morgan played Mrs. Davis, while Jeff Chandler was Philip Boynton, Dick Crenna was Walter Denton, and Gloria McMillon was Harriet Conklin. From the beginning teachers everywhere identified with Connie Brooks. The role would come to define Eve Arden’s career.