On This Day, August 25: Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford
Also featured: Raymond Scott, Orson Welles (Lear).
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, Johnny Mercer's swinging song shop with Jo Stafford, Raymond Scott's avant-garde jazz orchestra, Orson Welles' fearless anti-censorship and civil rights commentaries, dramatic true crime storytelling by The Night Editor, Australian gothic horror, and juvenile aviation adventures (1936–1951):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Two Way Stretch (Raymond Scott & His Orchestra — CBS)" | CBS (WABC) 1944-08-25 11:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Modern Jazz Concert |
Raymond Scott Orchestra, Dorothy Collins | CBS Music Operations, Bob Dixon | ["Music", "Jazz", "Novelty", "Big Band", "Instrumental"] |
"The Raymond Scott Show!" Avant-garde jazz pioneer and electronic music visionary Raymond Scott leads his virtuosic orchestra in dazzling novelty-swing instrumentals, opening with 'Two Way Stretch' alongside intricate arrangements of 'In an 18th Century Drawing Room' for CBS. |
| "The Waterfront Framing of Captain Miller (Hal Burdick — Cardinet Candy)" | Don Lee (KFRC) 1940-08-25 8:15 PM PST |
Cardinet Candy Co. U-No Candy & Baffle Bars |
Hal Burdick (The Night Editor / Storyteller) | Hal Burdick (Writer/Dir.), Frank Hemingway | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Newspaper", "Crime", "Human Interest"] |
"Night Editor... the story of a newspaper office at night, when the city sleeps and only the copy desk and the presses are alive..." Veteran newspaperman Hal Burdick lights a cigarette and narrates the gripping true human story of a waterfront merchant marine captain falsely accused of murder for U-No Candy Bars. |
| "The Living Mannequin (Adelaide Fitz-Allen as Old Nancy — 2GB Sydney)" | 2GB Sydney 1936-08-25 9:30 PM AEST |
Sustaining Australian Gothic Horror |
Adelaide Fitz-Allen (Old Nancy), Alonzo Deen Cole | Alonzo Deen Cole (Writer/Dir.), Marie O'Flynn | ["Horror", "Macabre", "Supernatural", "Gothic", "Audio Drama"] |
"The Witch's Tale... hundred and thirteen years old she is today, eh Satan? Spun from the shadows..." In this Australian transcribed broadcast, Old Nancy the Witch spins the tale of a sculptor whose wax dress mannequin is possessed by the spirit of a murdered Parisian model. |
| "The Mountain Jet Patrol Rescue (Uncle Ned's Squadron — Mutual)" | Mutual (WOR) 1951-08-25 10:30 AM EDT |
Sustaining Aviation Club Adventure |
Ned Calmer (Uncle Ned), Cadet Tommy | Mutual Youth Programming | ["Juvenile", "Adventure", "Aviation", "Educational", "Action"] |
"Clear the runway for Uncle Ned's Squadron!" Uncle Ned and his youth aviation cadet squadron take to the skies in simulated jet flight training, coordinating emergency radar rescue procedures to guide a lost mountain survey aircraft to safety. |
| "Movie Censorship & The Blinding of Isaac Woodard (Orson Welles — Lear)" | ABC (WJZ) 1946-08-25 1:15 PM EDT |
Lear Inc. Lear Radios & Receivers |
Orson Welles (Solo Commentator & Orator) | Orson Welles (Writer), William Spier | ["Talk", "Commentary", "Civil Rights", "Journalism", "Hollywood"] |
"Orson Welles Commentaries, presented by Lear Incorporated!" Orson Welles discusses the controversial municipal censorship attempts surrounding his anti-fascist film The Stranger, before continuing his relentless civil rights crusade demanding justice for blinded veteran Isaac Woodard. |
| "I Can't Help It (Johnny Mercer & Jo Stafford — Pepsodent)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1944-08-25 10:00 PM EWT |
The Pepsodent Co. Pepsodent Toothpaste |
Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford, Pied Pipers | Paul Weston Orchestra, Ken Niles | ["Music", "Pop", "Vocal", "Big Band", "Comedy"] |
"Welcome to Johnny Mercer's Music Shop, brought to you by Pepsodent Toothpaste!" Acclaimed songwriter Johnny Mercer and sultry songstress Jo Stafford trade witty banter and perform American Songbook standards including 'I Can't Help It' and 'G.I. Jive' with Paul Weston's Orchestra. |