The Breakfast Club'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 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.

The program showcased many musicians and comedians, including Fran Allison (later of Kukla, Fran and Ollie fame) as "Aunt Fanny", plus Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers, and comedy bits by Sam Cowling. Guests included Bob Hope, Emmett Kelly, Ilka Chase, Warren Hull, Jim and Marian Jordan of Fibber McGee and Molly, the Anita Kerr Singers, Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Jerry Lewis, and Charlie Applewhite, with Ted Mack as a guest host. Featured vocalists on the show included Dick Noel, Anita Bryant, Cathie Taylor, and, under her professional name of Annette King, Charlotte Thompson Reid, who later became an Illinois congresswoman for five terms (1962–71). Eileen Parker was a regular vocalist with the program in 1953.[2]