On This Day, August 25: The Goldbergs (3 Decades) and Perry Mason (Tide)
Also featured: Texaco Star Theater.
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, three poignant wartime and pre-war episodes of Gertrude Berg's The Goldbergs for Duz Soap, courtroom drama on Perry Mason starring John Larkin for Tide, Gordon MacRae & Evelyn Knight on The Texaco Star Theater, and U.S. Air Force big band concerts on Serenade in Blue (1941–1959):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I Want to Be Happy (Col. George S. Howard — U.S. Air Force)" | USAF Synd. 1959-08-25 (Bolling AFB) |
Sustaining Air Force Recruiting |
Col. George S. Howard, Singing Sergeants | USAF Recruiting Service, Bill Steele | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Military", "Vocal"] |
"Serenade in Blue, presented by the United States Air Force!" Col. George S. Howard conducts the elite USAF Symphony Orchestra and The Singing Sergeants in dazzling big band arrangements, opening with a swinging rendition of 'I Want to Be Happy' alongside lush vocal harmonies. |
| "The Case of Ed Beekman's Daughter (John Larkin as Perry Mason — Tide)" | CBS (WCBS) 1954-08-25 2:15 PM EDT |
Procter & Gamble Tide Laundry Detergent |
John Larkin (Perry), Joan Alexander (Della) | Erle Stanley Gardner, Arthur Hanna, Bob Dixon | ["Detective", "Courtroom", "Legal", "Soap Opera", "Mystery"] |
"Perry Mason, defender of the defenseless, brought to you by Tide!" Defense attorney Perry Mason and confidential secretary Della Street cross-examine a reluctant key witness when client Ed Beekman's estranged daughter is framed for industrial theft for Tide. |
| "Sammy's Pre-Law Dilemma (Gertrude Berg as Molly Goldberg — Duz)" | CBS (WABC) 1941-08-25 5:00 PM EDST |
Procter & Gamble Duz — "Does Everything!" |
Gertrude Berg (Molly), James R. Waters (Jake) | Gertrude Berg (Writer), Bud Collyer | ["Comedy", "Drama", "Domestic", "Family", "Jewish"] |
"Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Bloom! It's The Goldbergs, brought to you by Duz!" Molly Goldberg leans out the tenement window to dispense warm maternal advice to neighbors, before intervening to soothe Jake's anxieties over son Sammy's upcoming pre-law examinations for Duz Soap. |
| "Emma Can Stay for Nurse's Training (Gertrude Berg — Duz)" | CBS (WABC) 1942-08-25 5:00 PM EWT |
Procter & Gamble Duz — "Does Everything!" |
Gertrude Berg (Molly), James R. Waters (Jake) | Gertrude Berg (Writer), Bud Collyer | ["Comedy", "Drama", "Domestic", "Family", "Jewish"] |
"Duz does everything! Here are The Goldbergs!" Molly convinces skeptical husband Jake that their distant cousin Emma must be allowed to extend her summer stay in the Bronx apartment so she can complete her wartime nurse's training for Duz. |
| "Rosalie's Wartime Romance Secret (Gertrude Berg — Duz)" | CBS (WABC) 1943-08-25 1:45 PM EWT |
Procter & Gamble Duz — "Does Everything!" |
Gertrude Berg (Molly), James R. Waters (Jake) | Gertrude Berg (Writer), Bud Collyer | ["Comedy", "Drama", "Domestic", "Family", "Jewish"] |
"The Goldbergs, written and created by Gertrude Berg, brought to you by Duz!" Molly discovers Rosalie's secret correspondence with an overseas soldier, stepping in with characteristic warmth and humor to prevent Jake from overreacting for Duz. |
| "You Call Everybody Darling (Gordon MacRae & Evelyn Knight — Texaco)" | CBS (WCBS) 1948-08-25 9:00 PM EDT |
The Texas Co. Texaco Fire-Chief Gas |
Gordon MacRae, Evelyn Knight, Modernaires | Victor Young Orchestra, Jimmy Wallington | ["Music", "Pop", "Vocal", "Big Band", "Variety"] |
"The Texaco Star Theater, starring Gordon MacRae, brought to you by your friendly Texaco Dealer!" Golden-voiced baritone Gordon MacRae and sultry songstress Evelyn Knight perform top Billboard hits of the summer including 'You Call Everybody Darling' and 'Buttons and Bows' with Victor Young's Orchestra for Texaco. |