On This Day, August 25: The Grimké Sisters (Cicely Tyson) and Gary Crosby
Also featured: Chick Carter.
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, Cicely Tyson hosting the historical biography of abolitionist pioneers The Grimké Sisters on Mutual, Gary Crosby swinging on CBS with The Pied Pipers, two Chick Carter, Boy Detective cliffhanger serials, Marie Wilson causing chaos for Swan Soap on My Friend Irma, and Clara, Lu 'n' Em composing poetry for Super Suds (1936–1980):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Summer Swing with The Pied Pipers (Gary Crosby — CBS Summer Show)" | CBS (WCBS) 1954-08-25 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Summer Variety |
Gary Crosby, The Pied Pipers, John Scott Trotter | Bill Morrow, Ken Carpenter | ["Music", "Variety", "Vocal", "Comedy", "Big Band"] |
"The Gary Crosby Show on CBS Radio!" Bing Crosby's eldest son Gary Crosby takes over his father's summer microphone, performing lively swing duets with The Pied Pipers, bantering with announcer Ken Carpenter, and singing 'Sam's Song' with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra. |
| "The Grimké Sisters: Southern Abolitionists (Host Cicely Tyson — Mutual)" | Mutual 1980-08-25 10:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Historical Biography |
Cicely Tyson (Host), Julie Adams, Nan Martin | Fletcher Markle, Elliott Lewis, George Lowther | ["Drama", "History", "Biography", "Human Rights", "Women"] |
"Mutual Radio Theater, hosted by Cicely Tyson!" In this moving historical biographical dramatization, South Carolina aristocratic sisters Sarah and Angelina Grimké leave behind their family plantation to become pioneering, fearless public orators for the American abolitionist movement and women's suffrage. |
| "Death Strikes in Crystal Cave (Part 1 — Bill Lipton as Chick Carter)" | Mutual (WOR) 1943-08-25 5:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Juvenile Adventure Serial |
Bill Lipton (Chick), Leon Janney (Tex) | Street & Smith, Fritz Blocki, Ken Powell | ["Detective", "Juvenile", "Adventure", "Mystery", "Action"] |
"Chick Carter, Boy Detective! Adopted son of Nick Carter, America's greatest fictional sleuth!" Chick Carter and his loyal pal Tex explore the treacherous depths of Crystal Cave following the trail of an escaped fugitive, only to encounter a sinister hidden trap triggered by falling stalactites. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (The Mystery of Crystal Cave — Part 1). |
| "The Subterranean Ambush (Part 5 — Bill Lipton as Chick Carter — Mutual)" | Mutual (WOR) 1944-08-25 5:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Juvenile Mystery Serial |
Bill Lipton (Chick), Leon Janney (Tex) | Street & Smith, Fritz Blocki, Ken Powell | ["Detective", "Juvenile", "Adventure", "Mystery", "Action"] |
"Chick Carter, Boy Detective!" Chick Carter and Sue race against time through an abandoned subterranean subway tunnel to rescue Tex from the clutches of the counterfeiter known as The Shadowy Menace before the midnight express train barrels through. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (The Subway Tunnel Trap — Part 5). |
| "Irma's Acting Audition (Marie Wilson & Cathy Lewis — Swan Soap)" | CBS (WABC) 1947-08-25 8:00 PM EDT |
Lever Brothers Swan Floating Soap |
Marie Wilson (Irma), Cathy Lewis (Jane) | Cy Howard (Creator/Dir.), Bob Lemond | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Dumb Blonde", "Romance"] |
"My Friend Irma, brought to you by Swan Soap!" Level-headed Jane Stacy tries to prepare for an important business presentation, but dizzy roommate Irma Peterson decides to audition for a summer stock theater role, inadvertently turning their Manhattan living room into total pandemonium for Swan Soap. |
| "Contributions to a Poetry Book (Clara, Lu 'n' Em — Super Suds)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1936-08-25 10:15 AM EDST |
Colgate-Palmolive Super Suds Washing Powder |
Louise Starkey (Clara), Isobel Carothers (Lu), Helen King (Em) | Louise Starkey, Isobel Carothers, Helen King | ["Comedy", "Soap Opera", "Domestic", "Gossip", "Americana"] |
"Clara, Lu 'n' Em, brought to you by Super Suds!" Over back-fence gossip and morning tea, Clara, Lu, and Em try their hand at composing rhyming verse for the local women's club poetry anthology, leading to hilarious arguments over proper grammar and laundry metaphors for Super Suds. |