On This Day, August 26: Bing Crosby and One Man's Family
Also featured: The Guiding Light.
August 26 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 26 across American network radio, three delightful musical broadcasts of The Bing Crosby Show (his 200th milestone show for GE, Allen Funt and Candid Camera pranks for Ford, and duets with Rosemary Clooney), Carlton E. Morse's One Man's Family (Book 54, Chapter 21) for Fleischmann's Yeast, Irna Phillips's The Guiding Light for Duz Soap, and Fibber McGee and Molly for Prudential Insurance (1945–1960):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Great Back Porch Remodeling (Jim & Marian Jordan — Prudential Fibber)" | NBC (WNBC/KFI) 1955-08-26 10:00 PM EDT |
Prudential Insurance "Strength of Gibraltar" |
Jim Jordan (Fibber), Marian Jordan (Molly) | Phil Leslie, Ralph Goodman, Wilcox | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Family", "Americana"] |
"The Prudential Insurance Company of America presents Fibber McGee and Molly!" Fibber resolves to build a screened-in sleeping porch on the back of 79 Wistful Vista without hiring a carpenter, leading to a catastrophic collapse of Mayor LaTrivia's borrowed extension ladder for Prudential. |
| "Climax to a Manhunt (Book 54, Chapter 21 — Carlton E. Morse — Fleischmann's)" | NBC (WEAF/KPO) 1945-08-26 8:30 PM EWT |
Standard Brands, Inc. Fleischmann's Yeast & Tea |
J. Anthony Smythe, Minetta Ellen | Carlton E. Morse, Ken Carpenter | ["Drama", "Soap Opera", "Domestic", "Family", "Americana"] |
"Standard Brands presents Carlton E. Morse's One Man's Family, dedicated to the mothers and fathers of the world!" In the Sea Cliff home of Father and Mother Barbour, Paul and Jack await tense developments from local authorities as the search for an escaped fugitive reaches its critical conclusion. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (Book 54: The Manhunt — Chapter 21). |
| "The Lawyers Meet (Episode #3544 — Lyle & Charita Bauer — Duz The Guiding Light)" | CBS (WCBS/WBBM) 1950-08-26 1:45 PM EDT |
Procter & Gamble Duz Laundry Soap ("Duz Does") |
Lyle Sudrow (Bill), Charita Bauer (Bert) | Irna Phillips, Ted Corday, Bud Collyer | ["Drama", "Soap Opera", "Domestic", "Family", "Americana"] |
"Duz Does Everything! Procter & Gamble presents The Guiding Light, created by Irna Phillips!" In Five Points, Bill Bauer holds an urgent closed-door consultation with family attorneys to review emerging evidence regarding Meta's custody battle and the financial integrity of the Bauer household for Duz. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (The Bauer Family Custody Crisis — Episode 3544). |
| "Milestone Episode #200: Accentuate the Positive (Buddy Cole — GE Bing Crosby)" | CBS (WCBS/KNX) 1955-08-26 9:00 PM EDT |
General Electric Telechron Clocks & Appliances |
Bing Crosby, Buddy Cole Trio | Bill Morrow, Ken Carpenter | ["Music", "Vocal", "Pop Standards", "Jazz", "Big Band"] |
"General Electric presents The Bing Crosby Show, with Buddy Cole and the Rhythmaires!" In his milestone 200th CBS daytime broadcast, Der Bingle croons 'Accentuate the Positive', 'True Love', and 'Pennies from Heaven', trading lighthearted golf and racehorse banter with Ken Carpenter for General Electric. |
| "Guest Allen Funt & Candid Camera Pranks (Buddy Cole — Ford Bing Crosby)" | CBS (WCBS/KNX) 1958-08-26 9:30 PM EDT |
Ford Motor Co. Ford Fairlane & Edsel Cars |
Bing Crosby, Allen Funt (Candid Camera) | Bill Morrow, Ken Carpenter | ["Music", "Comedy", "Pop Standards", "Interview", "Variety"] |
"Ford Motor Company presents The Bing Crosby Show!" Bing welcomes Candid Camera prankster Allen Funt to discuss secret microphone stunts and public lookalikes, followed by Crosby's mellow renditions of 'In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening' and 'South of the Border' for Ford. |
| "Swanee & Sunny Side of the Street (Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney — CBS)" | CBS Radio 1960-08-26 10:30 AM EDT |
Sustaining CBS Musical Showcase |
Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney | Bill Morrow, Ken Carpenter | ["Music", "Vocal", "Pop Standards", "Jazz", "Big Band"] |
"CBS Radio presents The Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney Show!" Der Bingle opens with George Gershwin's classic 'Swanee', harmonizing with Rosemary Clooney on Tin Pan Alley standards including 'On the Sunny Side of the Street' and 'Lazy River'. |