On This Day, August 23: Ed Wynn and Bob Hope
Also featured: Nero Wolfe.
August 23 Exhaustive Update
This report documents the comprehensive provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and story synopses for historical broadcasts transmitting on August 23 across American network broadcasting history (1932–1953):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Texaco Star Theatre Summer Show: Jane Froman & Al Goodman (Texaco)" | CBS (WABC) 1942-08-23 9:30 PM EWT |
The Texas Company Texaco Fire-Chief & Havoline |
Jane Froman, Al Goodman Orchestra, Merrill Staton Voices | William N. Robson (Producer), Jimmy Wallington | ["Variety", "Music", "Big Band", "Vocal", "War"] |
Songstress Jane Froman and Al Goodman's Orchestra headline the summer edition of the Texaco Star Theatre, performing swinging wartime numbers including Glenn Miller's 'I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo' and romantic ballads. |
| "The Texaco Fire Chief: Ed Wynn with Graham McNamee (Texaco Gasoline)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1932-08-23 9:30 PM EDST |
The Texas Company Texaco Fire-Chief Gasoline |
Ed Wynn (The Fire Chief), Graham McNamee, Don Voorhees | Ed Wynn (Writer/Director), Graham McNamee | ["Comedy", "Vaudeville", "Variety", "Music"] |
"Tonight's the night!" Giggle-voiced vaudevillian Ed Wynn dons his fireman's helmet as the Texaco Fire Chief, driving straight man Graham McNamee to tears of laughter with his zany inventions, pun-filled bedtime stories, and classic comedic banter. |
| "Wally Ballou in the Quiet New Subway (Bob and Ray — WHDH Boston)" | WHDH / CBS 1949-08-23 2:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Local Boston Advertisers |
Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding (All Characters) | Bob Elliott & Ray Goulding (Writers/Producers) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Sketch", "Improvisational"] |
Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding present deadpan satiric sketches, including ace roving reporter Wally Ballou broadcasting live from a brand-new ultra-quiet subway line where the acoustics are so silent that nobody can hear the trains arriving. |
| "The Bob Hope Show: Summer Encore with Margaret Whiting & Les Brown (Jell-O)" | NBC (WNBC) 1953-08-23 8:00 PM EDT |
General Foods Jell-O Puddings & Swans Down |
Bob Hope, Margaret Whiting, Les Brown Band | Larry Gelbart & Sherwood Schwartz, Jack Kirkwood | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Standup", "Music"] |
Rapid-fire comedian Bob Hope delivers stinging monologues roasting summer beach vacations, Hollywood politics, and golf games, followed by vocal performances from Margaret Whiting and swing tunes by Les Brown and His Band of Renown. |
| "The Stolen Diamond Clip (Starring Spring Byington as Lily Ruskin — Maxwell House)" | CBS (KNX) 1953-08-23 7:00 PM EDT |
General Foods Instant Maxwell House Coffee |
Spring Byington (Lily Ruskin), Harry Morgan, Dean Miller | Parke Levy (Writer), Norman Macdonnell, Bob LeMond | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Family"] |
Sprightly widow Lily Ruskin intervenes to soothe tempers in the Henshaw household when son-in-law Matt suspects that Pete Porter's anniversary surprise for Gladys is actually a stolen antique jewelry clip. |
| "The Case of the Departed Guest (Starring Santos Ortega as Nero Wolfe)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1943-08-23 8:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining NBC Mystery Presentation |
Santos Ortega (Nero Wolfe), Luis van Rooten (Archie) | Rex Stout (Author), Louis Vittes, Ed Michael | ["Detective", "Hardboiled", "Mystery", "Crime", "Culinary"] |
Orchestrating his investigation from his brownstone greenhouse without leaving his orchid collection, corpulent detective Nero Wolfe reports legman Archie Goodwin to solve the poisoning murder of an unwelcome houseguest at a lavish Hamptons estate. |