On This Day, August 24: Boston Blackie and Walter Winchell
Also featured: Dorothy Lamour.
August 24 Exhaustive Update
This report documents the comprehensive provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial multi-part narrative arcs, and story synopses for historical broadcasts transmitting on August 24 across American network, British BBC, and post-war radio news history (1945–1998):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Black Market Fur Ring (Richard Kollmar as Boston Blackie — Mutual)" | Mutual (WOR) 1949-08-24 8:30 PM EDT |
Terre Haute Brewing Champagne Velvet Beer |
Richard Kollmar (Blackie), Lesley Woods, Maurice Tarplin | Jack Boyle, Jeanne Harrison, Arthur Henley | ["Detective", "Hardboiled", "Mystery", "Noir", "Crime"] |
"Enemy to those who make him an enemy, friend to those who have no friends..." Boston Blackie and Mary Wesley unravel a lethal warehouse robbery and black market mink fur smuggling operation while keeping one step ahead of Inspector Faraday's handcuffs. |
| "Allied Preparations for Tokyo Entry & Post-War Demobilization (Walter Winchell — Jergens)" | Blue Net (WJZ) 1945-08-24 9:00 PM EWT |
Andrew Jergens Co. Jergens Lotion & Cream |
Walter Winchell (Commentator), Ben Grauer | ABC Radio City New York Live Transmission | ["News", "Journalism", "Commentary", "World War II", "Public Affairs"] |
"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. North America and all the ships at sea, let's go to press!" Walter Winchell's staccato telegraph-key commentary covers Allied preparations for General MacArthur's formal entry into Tokyo Bay and urgent post-war American troop demobilization plans. |
| "Moonlight and Shadows (Starring Dorothy Lamour — U.S. Army Recruiting)" | NBC (WNBC) 1947-08-24 4:30 PM EDT |
U.S. Army / Air Force Recruiting Service |
Dorothy Lamour, Victor Young Orchestra, Crew Chiefs | N.W. Ayer & Son, Joe Rines, Frank Goss | ["Music", "Variety", "Vocal", "Military", "Big Band"] |
Paramount star and sarong queen Dorothy Lamour hosts a spirited musical variety broadcast for American armed forces enlistment, performing 'Moonlight and Shadows' alongside Victor Young's Orchestra and swinging military choral arrangements. |
| "Desert Island Discs: Bandleader Paul Martel (Roy Plomley — BBC)" | BBC Home 1959-08-24 1:10 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC Light Programme |
Paul Martel (Guest), Roy Plomley (Host) | BBC Light Programme Production | ["Music", "Interview", "Easy Listening", "Big Band", "British"] |
Bandleader and conductor Paul Martel joins host Roy Plomley on the desert island to discuss his international musical career and share eight treasured gramophone recordings, including big band classics and symphonic dance favorites. |
| "The Ring of Truth (Starring Tony Roberts — E.G. Marshall — CBSRMT)" | CBS Synd. 1998-08-24 (CBSRMT) |
Sustaining Radio Mystery Theater |
E.G. Marshall (Host), Tony Roberts, Marian Seldes | Sam Dann (Writer), Himan Brown (Producer/Dir.) | ["Mystery", "Drama", "Psychological", "Crime", "Suspense"] |
"Welcome to the sound of suspense... the fear of what may happen!" Host E.G. Marshall presents a psychological thriller about a defense attorney whose client claims a mystical antique signet ring compels whoever wears it to confess their deepest, darkest criminal secrets under hypnosis. |
| "Murder Wears a Veil (Part 5 — Patrick Barr as Inspector West — BBC)" | BBC Radio 4 1970-08-24 7:30 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC Radio Drama |
Patrick Barr (Inspector West), Avril Angers, John Hollis | John Creasey (Author), Cynthia Pughe, John Browell | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Procedural", "British", "Crime"] |
Chief Inspector Roger West unravels the final links of a Mayfair extortion conspiracy after discovering that the veiled assassin attended the same London beauty institute as the murder victim. |