On This Day, August 22: Edward R. Murrow and Marx Brothers Flywheel
Also featured: Your Hit Parade.
August 22 Exhaustive Update
This report documents the comprehensive provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and story synopses for 6 historical broadcasts transmitting on August 22 across American, British, and Canadian broadcasting history (1936–1992):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Uncle Abner (The Rich Uncle's Will)" | BBC Radio 4 1992-08-22 1:30 PM |
Non-commercial British Broadcasting Corp. |
Michael Roberts (Groucho Marx), Frank Lazarus (Chico Marx), Lorelei King | Mark Brisenden (Adapter), Dirk Maggs (Producer & Director) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Vaudeville"] |
Shyster lawyer Waldorf T. Flywheel and bumbling assistant Emmanuel Ravelli attempt to prevent their wealthy client Uncle Abner from rewriting his last will and testament, resulting in uproarious Marxian legal chaos in a runaway motorboat. |
| "The Rubber Tire Hoarding Hoax (OWI Fact Check)" | Mutual (WOR) 1943-08-22 4:15 PM EWT |
OWI / Non-commercial Office of War Information |
Troman Harper (The Rumor Detective), dramatic reenactment cast | Mitchell Grayson (Director), OWI Radio Bureau | ["Educational", "Public Affairs", "War", "Historical"] |
Wartime investigator Troman Harper tracks down and exposes the origin of a malicious Axis-inspired whispering rumor claiming federal authorities were confiscating civilian spare tires from private garages, debunking the hoax with verified War Production Board facts. |
| "How Did You Get My Name?" | CBC Radio 1980-08-22 10:30 PM |
Non-commercial Canadian Broadcasting Corp. |
Henry Ramer (Host), Neil Dainard, Elva Mai Hoover, Frank Perry | Arthur Samuels (Writer), Bill Howell (Director), Bill Robinson (SFX) | ["Horror", "Psychological Thriller", "Mystery", "Drama"] |
A terrified woman begins receiving late-night telephone calls from a soft-spoken stranger who accurately describes her clothing, movements, and innermost thoughts in real-time, escalating into a deadly psychological trap inside her isolated apartment. |
| "Kharkov Retaken by Soviet Red Army & Edward R. Murrow from London" | CBS (WABC) 1943-08-22 2:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining CBS News / War Bonds |
Douglas Edwards (New York), Edward R. Murrow (London), Farnsworth Fowle | Paul White (News Director), John Daly (Announcer) | ["News", "War", "Public Affairs", "Historical"] |
Douglas Edwards anchors global wartime reports as the Soviet Red Army recaptures the strategic Ukrainian citadel of Kharkov from retreating Nazi forces, while Edward R. Murrow in London analyzes Allied naval strategy following the Quebec Conference between Roosevelt and Churchill. |
| "Freddie Rich Orchestra: 'The Glory of Love' & Top American Tunes (Lucky Strike)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1936-08-22 10:00 PM EDT |
American Tobacco Co. Lucky Strike ("It's Toasted") |
Freddie Rich and his Orchestra, Buddy Clark, Margaret McCrae, Hit Paraders | Lord & Thomas Agency, Andre Baruch (Announcer) | ["Music", "Variety", "Big Band", "Pop"] |
Freddie Rich leads the orchestra through the top fifteen bestselling songs in America, counting down with vocalists Buddy Clark and Margaret McCrae on 'The Glory of Love', 'These Foolish Things', and the week's number-one song for Lucky Strike Cigarettes. |
| "Sunday Down South: Marguerite Piazza & Beasley Smith Orchestra" | WSM Nashville / NBC 1954-08-22 1:30 PM CST |
National Life & Accident "We Shield Millions" |
David Cobb (Host), Beasley Smith Orchestra, Marguerite Piazza, Curt Purnell | David Cobb (Writer), Vito Pelosi (Director) | ["Music", "Easy Listening", "Cultural", "Southern"] |
Master of ceremonies David Cobb presents an afternoon of traditional Southern hospitality and light classical melodies from WSM Nashville, featuring the Beasley Smith Salon Orchestra and operatic soprano Marguerite Piazza performing 'Carry Me Back to Old Virginny' and 'Summertime'. |