On This Day, August 24: Counterspy and Joe E. Brown
Also featured: FDR Young Democrats.
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, espionage thriller, comedy quiz, and British sitcom radio history (1935–1969):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Masked Partners (Starring Brace Beemer as The Lone Ranger — Cheerios)" | ABC (WABC) 1955-08-24 7:30 PM EDT |
General Mills, Inc. Cheerios & Sugar Jets |
Brace Beemer (Lone Ranger), John Todd (Tonto) | Fran Striker (Writer), Charles D. Livingstone, Fred Foy | ["Western", "Adventure", "Action", "Hero", "Americana"] |
"A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty Hi-Yo, Silver!" The Lone Ranger and Tonto ride into a range conflict where an outlaw gang uses black masks to masquerade as the legendary vigilantes and rob local mining claims. |
| "President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Address to Young Democrats (1935)" | CBS & NBC 1935-08-24 10:30 PM EDST |
Sustaining Presidential Address |
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Speaker) | White House Diplomatic Reception Room Broadcast | ["Speech", "Historical", "Political", "Public Affairs", "Presidential"] |
President Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses the National Convention of Young Democratic Clubs in Milwaukee from the White House, urging young Americans to reject reactionary obstruction and champion the New Deal. |
| "The Traffic Signal Quiz (Starring Joe E. Brown — Bexel Vitamins)" | Blue Net (WJZ) 1944-08-24 8:30 PM EWT |
McKesson & Robbins Bexel B-Complex |
Joe E. Brown (Master of Ceremonies) | Ruthrauff & Ryan, Dave Elton, Ken Niles | ["Quiz", "Game Show", "Comedy", "Audience Participation", "Variety"] |
Wide-mouthed comedy star Joe E. Brown hosts the hilarious audience-participation traffic-signal quiz game Stop or Go, challenging contestant drivers and pedestrians to answer rapid-fire general knowledge questions before the traffic signal turns red for Bexel Vitamins. |
| "The Munitions Shipyard Saboteurs (Don MacLaughlin as Counterspy — Blue Net)" | Blue Net (WJZ) 1942-08-24 9:00 PM EWT |
Sustaining Blue Network Feature |
Don MacLaughlin (David Harding), Mandel Kramer | Phillips H. Lord (Creator), Leonard Bass, Bob Shepherd | ["Espionage", "Detective", "World War II", "Action", "Drama"] |
"Washington, calling David Harding, Counterspy!" Chief David Harding and agent Harry Peters smash a covert Axis sabotage ring attempting to detonate underwater depth charges in a critical East Coast munitions shipyard. |
| "The Jet Propulsion Microfilm Ring (Don MacLaughlin as Counterspy — Bit-O-Honey)" | Mutual (WOR) 1947-08-24 5:30 PM EDT |
Schutter Candy Co. Bit-O-Honey Candy |
Don MacLaughlin (David Harding), Mandel Kramer | Phillips H. Lord (Creator), Leonard Bass, Bob Shepherd | ["Espionage", "Detective", "Cold War", "Action", "Drama"] |
United States Counterspy chief David Harding uncovers a post-war smuggling network trafficking classified aeronautical jet propulsion microfilms through a ring of dummy import-export houses. |
| "Take a Running Walk (Starring Jimmy Clitheroe — BBC Radio 2)" | BBC Radio 2 1969-08-24 2:00 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC Light Entertainment |
Jimmy Clitheroe, Peter Sinclair, Patricia Burke | James Casey & Frank Roscoe, James Casey, John Dunn | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "British", "Family", "Slapstick"] |
Pint-sized cheeky schoolboy Jimmy Clitheroe stirs up chaotic domestic mayhem in Lancashire when he tricks silly brother-in-law Alfie into entering an absurd walking race across the moors to win a fake trophy. |