On This Day, August 24: Duke Ellington and Bob and Ray
Also featured: Henry Aldrich.
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, big band swing jazz, Boston comedy satire, and teen sitcom radio history (1945–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Bob Is Out Sick: Ray Performs Solo (Bob and Ray — WHDH)" | WHDH Boston 1948-08-24 2:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Boston Studio Comedy |
Ray Goulding (Solo Host / All Voices) | Ray Goulding & Bob Elliott (Writers) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Improvisation", "Parody", "Sketch"] |
With Bob Elliott sidelined in bed with the summer flu, Ray Goulding soldiers on alone at the WHDH microphones in Boston, frantically playing both sides of multiple character dialogues and fielding imaginary phone calls from Mary McGoon. |
| "Remote Broadcast from the Cynthia Sweets Factory (Bob and Ray — WHDH)" | WHDH Boston 1949-08-24 2:00 PM EDT |
Cynthia Sweets Confectionery Products |
Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding (Mary McGoon) | Bob Elliott & Ray Goulding (Writers) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Improvisation", "Parody", "Sketch"] |
Bob and Ray stage an utterly absurd live remote broadcast from the Cynthia Sweets Candy Factory in Boston, interviewing eccentric confectionery workers and narrating chaotic fudge-vat mishaps. |
| "Clementine (Live at the Aquarium Restaurant — Duke Ellington — U.S. Treasury)" | ABC (WJZ) 1946-08-24 5:00 PM EDT |
U.S. Treasury Dept. United States Savings Bonds |
Duke Ellington Orchestra, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney | U.S. Treasury Radio Section, Morry Baker | ["Music", "Jazz", "Big Band", "Swing", "Concert"] |
"A Date with the Duke!" Duke Ellington leads his legendary orchestra in a swinging session broadcast live from Manhattan's Aquarium Restaurant, showcasing Billy Strayhorn's arrangement of 'Clementine', 'Transblucency', and breathtaking solos by Johnny Hodges for U.S. Savings Bonds. |
| "Lily's French Cooking Academy (Starring Spring Byington — CBS)" | CBS (WCBS) 1952-08-24 7:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Summer Comedy Preview |
Spring Byington (Lily), Hal March, Bea Benaderet | Parke Levy (Creator), Elliott Lewis, Bob Lemond | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Family", "Americana"] |
Spirited widow Lily Ruskin enrolls in a gourmet French cooking academy and attempts to prepare an elaborate escargot dinner for son-in-law Matt, causing kitchen chaos and matrimonial strife. |
| "Henry's Borrowed Tuxedo (Dick Jones as Henry Aldrich — Postum)" | CBS (WABC) 1945-08-24 8:00 PM EWT |
General Foods Corp. Postum & Jell-O Puddings |
Dick Jones (Henry), Jackie Kelk (Homer), House Jameson | Clifford Goldsmith, Bob Welch, Dan Seymour | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Teen", "Domestic", "Family"] |
"Hen-reeee! Henry Aldrich!" When Henry borrows his father's tuxedo for the Centerville Country Club formal dance without permission, he accidentally tears the satin lapels on Homer's bicycle chain and desperately schemes to repair them before Sam notices for Postum. |
| "A Tense Ride in the Country (Elspeth Eric as Dr. Joyce Jordan — Dreft)" | NBC (WNBC) 1948-08-24 10:45 AM EDT |
Procter & Gamble Dreft Soap Detergent |
Elspeth Eric (Dr. Jordan), Richard Widmark, Lesley Woods | Julian Funt (Writer), Arthur Hanna, Ken Roberts | ["Drama", "Soap Opera", "Serial", "Medical", "Psychological"] |
Dr. Joyce Jordan uncovers psychological friction between her clinic patients when Rolfe takes a tense country motor drive with Karen and Mrs. Wheatley, leading to a sudden confrontation over hidden medical diagnoses. |