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addition to comedy performances, vocal groups and soloists, and instrumental dance music, regular segments included inspirational verse, conversations with members of the studio audience, and a moment of silent prayer. There was often a "trip down memory lane," as audience members recalled their decades-earlier encounters with the show, such as being born while it was on the air, or knitting socks for Don McNeill's baby when he announced the birth on-air. Riddles and jokes were submitted and performed by audience members, shout-outs were made to the home towns of those in attendance. and brief interviews were conducted with groups of high school students and members of clubs and trade organizations who were visiting
Chicago.
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aired every weekday on the ABC radio network (originally NBC's Blue
Network). Millions of Americans tuned in to hear songs, jokes, interviews, the "March Around the Breakfast Table," the "Moment of Silent Prayer" and other regular features. (Except for his strong support of public prayer, McNeill
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The show's structure was tightly formatted to fit the needs of its audience, who could wake up and eat breakfast while it was on, and then leave for work or school. Every quarter-hour came the "Call to
Breakfast" — including the popular "march around the breakfast table," a rousing band march. In
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McNeill's revamped show premiered in 1933, combining music with informal talk and jokes often based on topical events, initially scripted by McNeill but later ad-libbed. The series eventually gained a sponsor in the
Chicago-based meat packer
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309:) on ABC in the 1950-51 prime time season in a 60-minute version, Wednesdays at 9pm ET. From September to December 1951, the show returned to ABC in a 30-minute version, Wednesdays from 9pm to 9:30pm ET.
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Before
Garrison was even a twinkle in Mr. Keillor's eye, Don McNeill launched a radio show with a unique mix of humor, music and audience participation. From 1933 to 1968, the Chicago-based
44:, the radio program ran from June 23, 1933, through December 27, 1968. McNeil's 35½-year run as host remains the longest tenure for an emcee of a network entertainment program, greater than
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eschewed politics, though he did run for president in 1948 on the Laugh Party ticket.) In this thoroughly researched and highly readable account, Doolittle reminds us just how popular
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211:. In 1948, after 4,500 broadcasts from the Merchandise Mart, the program moved to the new ABC Civic Studio. It was also heard from other Chicago venues: the Terrace Casino (at the
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promoted this special television event by running newspaper advertisements which invited fans in the participating cities to view the show at a local Philco dealership.
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on
Chicago's Magnificent Mile," as well as tour broadcasts from other locations in the U.S. It remained a fixture on the ABC radio network (formerly the
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recordings survive of these telecasts, including a
February 17, 1954 "test kinescope," produced a week before the regular ABC simulcasts began.
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191:, who later became an Illinois congresswoman for five terms (1962–71). Eileen Parker was a regular vocalist with the program in 1953.
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The last broadcast of the
Breakfast Club. The program was taped on December 20, 1968, at the Allerton Hotel and aired on December 27.
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97:, beginning February 8, 1941. McNeill is credited as the first performer to make morning talk and variety a viable radio format.
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In
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266:" with the ABC radio show as an experimental broadcast. The show, which originated that day from the
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was moved to the new
American Entertainment network, and was known for its last months on the air as
226:; it became known as ABC in 1945), maintaining its popularity for years and counting among its fans
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and Justice William O. Douglas. Many show business celebrities were guests on the show, including
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albeit split between radio and television, whereas Carson and Barker were on television only.
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However, the show failed to make a successful transition to television in either version.
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really was, especially with homemakers of modest means but also with the likes of
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McNeill with comedian Sam Cowling on a broadcast remote from San Francisco, 1956.
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215:), the College Inn Porterhouse (at the Sherman House) and the Cloud Room of the
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372:(University of Notre Dame Press, 2001), was reviewed by Susan M. Colowick in
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The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present
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dividing it into four segments which McNeill labeled "the Four Calls to
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television stations, stretching up from the ABC television station
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1948 kinescope of DuMont TV and ABC Radio simulcast (May 12, 1948)
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The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television
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Beginning on February 22, 1954, and ending on February 25, 1955,
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577:(9 ed.). New York: Random House Publishing. p. 378.
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The program showcased many musicians and comedians, including
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Marquette University: Donald T. McNeill Collection, 1928-69
541:"Breakfast Clubbers… Don McNeill for President (Philco Ad)"
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220:
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as a guest host. Featured vocalists on the show included
655:
The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows
207:
initially was broadcast from the NBC studios in the
187:, and, under her professional name of Annette King,
16:
American network radio breakfast program (1933–1968)
301:Beginning on September 13, 1950, the show aired as
806:American Broadcasting Company original programming
698:on December 8, 1941 (interrupted by war bulletins)
123:, and comedy bits by Sam Cowling. Guests included
423:1951-52 United States network television schedule
418:1950-51 United States network television schedule
36:radio (and briefly on television) originating in
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563:
561:
194:
674:On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio.
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316:was simulcast in its regular morning slot on
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821:American English-language television shows
456:(18): 13. February 8, 1941. Archived from
368:John Doolittle's book about this program,
816:Black-and-white American television shows
274:, was televised on several participating
516:"Thousands at Station Greet Don McNeill"
100:
776:1955 American television series endings
771:1954 American television series debuts
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545:The Herald-News (Passaic, New Jersey)
81:. McNeill re-organized the hour as
13:
609:Don McNeill and His Breakfast Club
370:Don McNeill and His Breakfast Club
262:On May 12, 1948, the program was "
14:
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121:Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers
77:, with an 8 a.m. timeslot on the
483:"What's New from Coast to Coast"
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826:NBC Blue Network radio programs
811:American variety radio programs
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676:Oxford University Press, 1998.
612:University of Notre Dame Press
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796:1960s American radio programs
791:1950s American radio programs
786:1940s American radio programs
781:1930s American radio programs
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195:Broadcast venues and networks
119:fame) as "Aunt Fanny", plus
719:Don McNeill's Breakfast Club
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653:Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh,
639:, Fourth edition (New York:
314:Don McNeill's Breakfast Club
21:Don McNeill's Breakfast Club
7:
723:National Radio Hall of Fame
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24:was a long-running morning
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443:"This Week's Radio Events"
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703:Rich Samuels' tribute to
520:The Philadelphia Inquirer
522:. 1948-05-12. p. 27
245:split into four networks
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623:Temple University Press
571:; Marsh, Earle (2007).
547:. 1948-05-11. p. 4
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189:Charlotte Thompson Reid
496:(6): 10. November 1953
217:Warwick Allerton Hotel
149:Fibber McGee and Molly
307:Don McNeill's TV Club
294:in New York. Sponsor
253:The Don McNeill Show.
116:Kukla, Fran and Ollie
101:Format and performers
290:television station
83:The Breakfast Club,
801:ABC radio programs
705:The Breakfast Club
696:The Breakfast Club
463:on 20 January 2015
249:The Breakfast Club
234:William O. Douglas
205:The Breakfast Club
169:Charlie Applewhite
153:Anita Kerr Singers
61:The Price Is Right
617:David Weinstein,
584:978-0-345-49773-4
450:Movie-Radio Guide
231:Associate Justice
95:Swift and Company
38:Chicago, Illinois
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748:Internet Archive
659:Ballantine Books
637:Total Television
607:John Doolittle,
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209:Merchandise Mart
79:NBC Blue Network
51:The Tonight Show
30:NBC Blue Network
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324:. At least two
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58:(34⅔ years) on
48:(29½ years) on
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602:Bibliography
588:. Retrieved
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498:. Retrieved
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465:. Retrieved
458:the original
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161:Lucille Ball
129:Emmett Kelly
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111:Fran Allison
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40:. Hosted by
26:variety show
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19:
18:
569:Brooks, Tim
500:18 November
405:Jerry Lewis
165:Jerry Lewis
137:Warren Hull
42:Don McNeill
765:Categories
590:2024-05-27
551:2024-05-28
526:2024-05-28
467:20 January
429:References
276:East Coast
258:Television
133:Ilka Chase
113:(later of
56:Bob Barker
689:Listen to
326:kinescope
318:ABC Radio
264:simulcast
247:in 1968,
241:ABC Radio
177:Dick Noel
87:Breakfast
756:timeline
661:, 1964)
643:, 1980)
625:, 2004)
614:, 2001),
412:See also
173:Ted Mack
125:Bob Hope
746:at the
734:TV Club
721:at the
303:TV Club
286:to the
280:WMAL-TV
171:, with
69:History
681:
665:
647:
629:
581:
296:Philco
288:DuMont
239:After
167:, and
151:, the
486:(PDF)
461:(PDF)
446:(PDF)
305:(aka
200:Radio
739:IMDb
679:ISBN
663:ISBN
645:ISBN
627:ISBN
579:ISBN
502:2014
469:2015
403:and
364:Book
320:and
292:WABD
243:was
143:and
54:and
737:at
282:in
270:in
221:NBC
147:of
141:Jim
89:".
34:ABC
28:on
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560:^
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518:.
494:40
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