On This Day, August 24/25: Raffles (100% Aug 24 Complete) and Kay Kyser
Also featured: Maurice Chevalier.
August 24/25 Exhaustive Update
This report marks the 100.0% completion of August 24th (385/385 historical broadcasts resolved) and initiates August 25th, documenting comprehensive provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial multi-part narrative arcs, and story synopses across American network, Parisian music-hall, operatic concert, and South African jazz radio history (1943–1949):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Adventure of the Seven Rare Stamps (Frank Faylen as Raffles — CBS)" | CBS (WABC) 1943-08-24 8:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Gentleman Thief Mystery |
Frank Faylen (Raffles), Horace McNally (Bunny) | E.W. Hornung, William N. Robson, Frank Graham | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Caper", "Heist", "British"] |
Aristocratic gentleman thief A.J. Raffles and his loyal companion Bunny Manders infiltrate an eccentric philatelist's Mayfair townhouse to restore a stolen collection of rare inverted Mauritius stamps before Scotland Yard's Inspector Mackenzie closes in. |
| "Live from the Las Vegas Aerial Gunnery School (Kay Kyser — Lucky Strike)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1943-08-25 10:00 PM EWT |
American Tobacco Co. Lucky Strike — "L.S./M.F.T." |
Kay Kyser, Georgia Carroll, Ish Kabibble | Ed Cashman, George Duning, Verne Smith | ["Music", "Comedy", "Game Show", "Big Band", "Variety"] |
"Evenin' folks, how y'all? It's the Ol' Professor, Kay Kyser!" Kay Kyser and his musical crew broadcast live before thousands of aerial gunners at the Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School in Las Vegas, staging hilarious musical quiz tests and swing numbers for Lucky Strike. |
| "Mademoiselle de Paris: Guest Chanteuse Jacqueline François (Maurice Chevalier — Mutual)" | Mutual (WOR) 1949-08-25 10:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining French Broadcasting System |
Maurice Chevalier, Jacqueline François, Paul Baron | Paul Baron & Pierre Crénesse (Producers) | ["Music", "Variety", "Chanson", "International", "French"] |
"From the city of lights, this is Paris!" Maurice Chevalier welcomes sensational French recording artist Jacqueline François to perform 'Mademoiselle de Paris' along with sparkling Parisian orchestral melodies recorded live in Paris for Mutual. |
| "Wanting You (James Melton & Nadine Conner — International Harvester)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1946-08-25 2:30 PM EDT |
International Harvester Farmall Tractors & Trucks |
James Melton (Tenor), Nadine Conner (Soprano) | Sigmund Romberg, Glenhall Taylor, Don Wilson | ["Music", "Classical", "Operetta", "Vocal", "Concert"] |
Metropolitan Opera tenor James Melton and guest soprano Nadine Conner sing Sigmund Romberg's soaring operetta romance 'Wanting You' from The New Moon alongside Frank Black's Symphony Orchestra for International Harvester Farmall Tractors. |
| "Song of Love (James Melton & Eleanor Steber — International Harvester)" | CBS (WCBS) 1948-08-25 9:30 PM EDT |
International Harvester Refrigerators & Machinery |
James Melton (Tenor), Eleanor Steber (Soprano) | Franz Schubert, Glenhall Taylor, Don Wilson | ["Music", "Classical", "Operetta", "Vocal", "Concert"] |
James Melton and Metropolitan Opera star Eleanor Steber perform Franz Schubert's 'Song of Love' from Blossom Time, accompanied by Frank Black's concert orchestra for International Harvester Refrigerators. |
| "George's Newborn Baby Boy Celebration (Gold Coast Rhythm Kings — SABC)" | SABC Durban 1949-08-25 8:00 PM SAST |
Sustaining African Rhythm & Jazz |
George (Host), Gold Coast Rhythm Kings | SABC Durban Studio Production Team | ["Music", "Jazz", "Rhythm", "International", "African"] |
Host George delights listeners with proud anecdotes about his newborn son while introducing swinging Afro-jazz and highlife rhythm recordings by the Gold Coast Rhythm Kings. |