On This Day, August 25: Crime Doctor (Ray Collins) and The Clock (Lawrence Dobkin)
Also featured: Tommy Dorsey.
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, Ray Collins as Crime Doctor evaluating an ex-con's securities swindle for Philip Morris, Lawrence Dobkin in William Spier's chilling poison mystery on The Clock, Tommy Dorsey's big band swing for Lucky Strike, Elmer Davis anchoring ABC News at the 1946 Paris Peace Conference, Alexander Scourby narrating The Eternal Light, and Fletcher Wiley for Campbell's Soups (1940–1963):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Supporting Cast of the Bible (Part 8 — Alexander Scourby — Eternal Light)" | NBC (WNBC) 1963-08-25 12:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Jewish Theological Sem. |
Alexander Scourby, Leon Janney | Marc Siegel, Mel Brandt | ["Drama", "Religion", "History", "Human Interest", "Anthology"] |
"The Eternal Light, presented by the National Broadcasting Company and The Jewish Theological Seminary of America!" In Part 8 of The Supporting Cast of the Bible, Alexander Scourby narrates dramatic biographical portraits of unsung figures whose moral courage and selfless hospitality guided their communities through historic trials. |
| "Sunday Evening World News Roundup (Elmer Davis & Walter Winchell — ABC)" | ABC (WJZ) 1946-08-25 7:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining World News Analysis |
Elmer Davis, Walter Winchell, John MacVane | ABC News & Special Events | ["News", "Documentary", "Historical", "Public Affairs", "World War II"] |
"ABC brings you the Sunday Evening News Roundup!" Elmer Davis and ABC overseas correspondents report live on the tense negotiations at the 1946 Paris Peace Conference, the escalating geopolitical friction across post-war Europe, and domestic economic labor talks in Washington. |
| "Chloe & Song of India (Tommy Dorsey & Stuart Foster — Lucky Strike)" | NBC (WEAF) 1946-08-25 8:30 PM EDT |
American Tobacco Co. Lucky Strike ("L.S./M.F.T.") |
Tommy Dorsey, Stuart Foster, Charlie Shavers | Foote Cone & Belding, Lyle Van | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Jazz", "Vocal"] |
"Lucky Strike presents The Tommy Dorsey Show!" The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing opens with an electrifying swing rendition of 'Chloe (Song of the Swamp)', followed by Charlie Shavers' blazing trumpet solo on 'Opus No. 1' and Stuart Foster serenading with 'Song of India' for Lucky Strike. |
| "Professor Leonard Higgins (Lawrence Dobkin & Gene Lockhart — The Clock)" | ABC (WJZ) 1947-08-25 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Supernatural Mystery |
Lawrence Dobkin, Gene Lockhart (The Clock) | William Spier (Producer), Clark Andrews | ["Suspense", "Mystery", "Psychological", "Horror", "Anthology"] |
"Tick-tock, tick-tock... do not count the seconds, let them count for you! The Clock! A mild-mannered university chemistry professor who discovers a foolproof formula for a delayed-action odorless toxin plans the perfect murder of his blackmailing department chair, unaware that Father Time has set an unexpected mechanical trap. |
| "Happy Birthday Reflections (Fletcher Wiley — Campbell's Soups)" | CBS (WABC) 1943-08-25 4:15 PM EWT |
Campbell Soup Co. Campbell's Soups |
Fletcher Wiley (Host) | Ward Wheelock Agency, Frank Goss | ["Talk", "Human Interest", "Philosophy", "Americana", "Educational"] |
"Campbell's Soups present Fletcher Wiley!" In a warm conversational talk titled 'Happy Birthday Reflections', Fletcher Wiley reflects on the quiet joy of growing older, offering practical wisdom on gratitude, family traditions, and wartime home-front resilience for Campbell's Soups. |
| "The Reformed Bond Salesman (Ray Collins as Dr. Ordway — Philip Morris)" | CBS (WABC) 1940-08-25 8:30 PM EDST |
Philip Morris & Co. Philip Morris Cigarettes |
Ray Collins (Dr. Ordway), Everett Sloane | Max Marcin, Jack Johnstone, Ken Roberts | ["Detective", "Psychological", "Medical", "Crime", "Mystery"] |
"Philip Morris presents Crime Doctor, created by Max Marcin!" Renowned criminal psychiatrist Dr. Benjamin Ordway evaluates the parole appeal of a former bond salesman convicted of securities fraud, determining whether the ex-con's desperate efforts to go straight are genuine or part of a calculated new securities swindle for Philip Morris. |