On This Day, August 24: Black Dahlia (Somebody Knows) and Winston Churchill
Also featured: Railroad Hour.
August 24 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 24 across American network, British BBC Home Service, and international wartime address history (1940–1959):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Unsolved Murder of Elizabeth Short, The Black Dahlia (Somebody Knows)" | CBS (WCBS) 1950-08-24 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining True Crime Series |
Jack Johnstone (Host / Narrator), Herb Butterfield | Sidney Marshall (Writer), Jack Johnstone, Arthur Gilmore | ["True Crime", "Documentary", "Investigative", "Noir", "Police"] |
Host Jack Johnstone investigates the notorious unsolved January 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia) in Los Angeles, reconstructing her final movements and offering a $5,000 cash reward for listeners who can supply the missing clue to unmask the killer. |
| "Desert Island Discs: Paul Martel (Roy Plomley — BBC Home Service)" | BBC Home Serv. 1959-08-24 1:10 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC Cultural Presentation |
Roy Plomley (Host), Paul Martel (Guest) | Roy Plomley (Creator), Monica Chapman | ["Interview", "Music", "Talk", "British", "Biographical"] |
Guest Paul Martel joins creator and host Roy Plomley on the mythical desert island, sharing his personal reflections, his eight essential musical recordings, a luxury item, and a chosen book of solace. |
| "The Biggest Job in the World: The Presidency (Ben Grauer — Living: 1948)" | NBC (WNBC) 1948-08-24 10:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining NBC Public Affairs |
Ben Grauer (Narrator), Karl Swenson, Roger De Koven | Lou Hazam (Writer), Wade Arnold, Kenneth Banghart | ["Documentary", "Public Affairs", "Political", "Educational", "Historical"] |
Narrator Ben Grauer examines the immense constitutional powers, grueling physical demands, and global responsibilities facing the American Presidency as Harry S. Truman and Thomas E. Dewey campaign in the 1948 election. |
| "Hope Is a Woman (Starring Gordon MacRae & Dorothy Kirsten — Railroad Hour)" | NBC (WNBC) 1953-08-24 8:00 PM EDT |
Assn. American Railroads American Railroads |
Gordon MacRae, Dorothy Kirsten, Carmen Dragon Orch. | Jean Holloway, Bud Dant, Marvin Miller | ["Music", "Musical", "Vocal", "Romance", "Operetta"] |
Baritone Gordon MacRae and Metropolitan Opera soprano Dorothy Kirsten star in an original musical romance, singing lush orchestral arrangements of 'Hope Is a Woman' accompanied by Carmen Dragon's Orchestra for the Association of American Railroads. |
| "CBS Special: London After Dark (Edward R. Murrow Live in the Blitz)" | CBS (WABC) 1940-08-24 6:30 PM EDST |
Sustaining CBS News Live Relay |
Edward R. Murrow, Larry Lesueur, Eric Sevareid | CBS News Special Events Unit Transatlantic Transmission | ["News", "Documentary", "Historical", "World War II", "Journalism"] |
The complete CBS News live special London After Dark, taking American listeners directly to the blackout-shrouded streets of wartime London as Edward R. Murrow broadcasts the rhythmic rumble of anti-aircraft artillery and searchlight crews during the Blitz. |
| "Prime Minister Winston Churchill: Report on the Atlantic Charter Meeting (CBS Relay)" | CBS (WABC) 1941-08-24 4:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Historical Address |
Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Bob Trout (Anchor) | BBC London / CBS News Transatlantic Relay | ["Speech", "Historical", "World War II", "Political", "Public Affairs"] |
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivers a momentous worldwide radio address reporting on his secret Atlantic Charter summit off Newfoundland with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, declaring unwavering Anglo-American unity against Axis tyranny. |