On This Day, August 25: BBC Sherlock Holmes and Chandu the Magician
Also featured: Skitch Henderson.
August 25 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 25 across American network, British BBC Sherlock Holmes canon adaptations, early mystic sorcery adventures starring Jason Robards Sr., late-night Manhattan orchestral serenades, educational biographical dramas, and South African jazz (1932–1978):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Camera (General Motors Squad Cars — Springbok)" | Springbok Radio 1978-08-25 8:00 PM SAST |
General Motors Chevrolet & Isuzu |
Colin Fish, Dale Cutts, Hal Orlandini | Hugh Rouse (Writer), David Gooden | ["Detective", "Procedural", "Police", "Crime", "Action"] |
Flying squad patrol officers investigate a series of violent suburban smash-and-grab burglaries in Pretoria, identifying the gang leader through undeveloped film found inside an abandoned camera. |
| "Manhattan Twilight Serenade (Skitch Henderson — NBC)" | NBC (WNBC) 1951-08-25 10:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Orchestral Serenade |
Skitch Henderson (Piano/Host), NBC String Ensemble | Thomas L. Stix (Director), Jack Costello | ["Music", "Easy Listening", "Jazz", "Piano", "Concert"] |
Conductor and pianist Skitch Henderson presents a sophisticated late-night musical portrait of Manhattan, performing lush orchestral arrangements of George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, and Rodgers & Hart for NBC. |
| "George Celebrates His Baby Boy (The Gold Coast Rhythm Show — SABC)" | SABC Durban 1949-08-25 8:15 PM SAST |
Sustaining South African Jazz |
George (Host/DJ), Gold Coast Swing Quintet | SABC Durban Music Department | ["Music", "Jazz", "Swing", "African", "Disc Jockey"] |
"Live from Durban, it's the Gold Coast Rhythm Show!" Host George jubilantly celebrates the birth of his newborn baby boy, spinning upbeat South African jazz 78s and dedicating swing tunes to his family. |
| "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place (Carleton Hobbs & Norman Shelley — BBC)" | BBC Light 1959-08-25 8:00 PM BST |
Sustaining Sherlock Holmes Drama |
Carleton Hobbs (Holmes), Norman Shelley (Watson) | Michael Hardwick, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robin Midgley | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Victorian", "Crime", "British"] |
"The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place..." Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson travel to Berkshire to investigate the erratic behavior of horse trainer Sir Robert Norberton, uncovering a morbid crypt concealment and a winning racehorse conspiracy. |
| "The Journey Across the Alps (Florence Malone as Mary Ward — NBC Blue)" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1936-08-25 3:30 PM EDST |
Sustaining Biographical Drama |
Florence Malone (Mary Ward), Selena Royle | NBC Educational Drama, Alois Havrilla | ["Drama", "Historical", "Biographical", "Educational", "Religious"] |
An inspiring historical dramatization recounting the courageous 17th-century journey of pioneering English educator Mary Ward, who crossed the snowy Alps on foot to establish schools for young women across Europe. |
| "The Secret of the Eye of Horus (Jason Robards Sr. as Chandu — White King Soap)" | Don Lee (KHJ) 1932-08-25 8:00 PM PST |
Los Angeles Soap Co. White King Granulated |
Jason Robards Sr. (Chandu), Margaret MacDonald | Harry A. Earnshaw & Vera M. Oldham, Ken Niles | ["Adventure", "Occult", "Fantasy", "Mystery", "Supernatural"] |
"Chandu the Magician! Master of the mystic arts of the Orient!" Frank Chandler utilizes astral projection and Eastern occult powers to protect his sister's family from the evil machinations of the diabolical sorcerer Roxor in Egypt for White King Soap. |