On This Day, August 24: Sergeant Preston (3 Eras) and Al Jolson
Also featured: Famous Jury Trials.
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 broadcasting history (1935–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "A Rendezvous at Whitehorse (Starring Paul Sutton as Sgt. Preston & King)" | WXYZ / Mutual 1944-08-24 7:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Action Adventure |
Paul Sutton (Sgt. Preston), King the Wonder Dog | Fran Striker (Writer), Charles Livingstone, Bob Hite | ["Western", "Adventure", "Canadian", "Action", "Police"] |
Sergeant Preston and his faithful husky King race to an isolated trading post rendezvous at Whitehorse pass, outmaneuvering an armed gang of fur poachers who held the trader's daughter hostage. |
| "The Yellow Kitten (Starring Paul Sutton as Sgt. Preston — Quaker Puffed Wheat)" | ABC (WJZ) 1949-08-24 5:00 PM EDT |
Quaker Oats Co. Puffed Wheat & Puffed Rice |
Paul Sutton (Sgt. Preston), King, Dewey Cole | Dan Beattie (Writer), Charles Livingstone, Bob Hite | ["Western", "Adventure", "Canadian", "Action", "Police"] |
A terrified young girl's lost golden-furred kitten leads Sergeant Preston and King to a hidden cave along the Porcupine River, where a wounded gold miner is held captive by two ruthless claim jumpers. |
| "Mom Graham's Son (Starring Paul Sutton as Sgt. Preston — Quaker Oats)" | ABC (WJZ) 1952-08-24 5:00 PM EDT |
Quaker Oats Co. Quaker Puffed Cereals |
Paul Sutton (Sgt. Preston), King, Paul Hughes | Dan Beattie (Writer), Charles Livingstone, Bob Hite | ["Western", "Adventure", "Canadian", "Action", "Police"] |
Sergeant Preston intervenes to clear the name of an elderly boardinghouse keeper's runaway son, proving the boy was framed for a stagecoach gold robbery by his corrupt employer. |
| "Shell Chateau: Al Jolson with Guest Marge Keeler (Shell Gasoline)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1935-08-24 9:30 PM EDST |
Shell Oil Company Shell Golden Gasoline |
Al Jolson (Host / MC), Marge Keeler, Victor Young Orchestra | Carroll Carroll (Writer), Cal Kuhl, Jimmy Wallington | ["Music", "Variety", "Vocal", "Big Band", "Comedy"] |
Dynamic showman Al Jolson presides over NBC's lavish Shell Chateau, performing Broadway showtunes, trading banter with singing starlet Marge Keeler, and introducing swinging orchestral numbers by Victor Young for Shell. |
| "The Trial of Franz Hanover, Nazi Saboteur (Famous Jury Trials)" | Blue Network (WJZ) 1943-08-24 8:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Blue Network Legal Drama |
Maurice Franklin (Judge), Frank Readick, Karl Swenson | Milton Lewis (Writer), Charles Powers, Roger Krupp | ["Courtroom", "Legal", "True Crime", "Drama", "Procedural"] |
The trial of an undercover Gestapo saboteur caught attempting to plant incendiary explosives in a Long Island defense plant, featuring cross-examinations that expose his domestic espionage ring. |
| "The State vs. Arthur Vance: The Yacht Murder Case (Famous Jury Trials)" | ABC (WJZ) 1945-08-24 8:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining ABC Legal Drama |
Maurice Franklin (Judge), Frank Readick, Santos Ortega | Milton Lewis (Writer), Charles Powers, Roger Krupp | ["Courtroom", "Legal", "True Crime", "Drama", "Procedural"] |
The trial of an ambitious stockbroker accused of murdering his wealthy business partner during a midnight yacht cruise, unravelling when defense counsel proves the partner staged his own disappearance. |