On This Day, August 26: Cavalcade of America and Big Town
Also featured: Hollywood Bowl Jubilee.
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 and syndicated radio, Paul Muni portraying Revolutionary patriot Haym Salomon on DuPont's Cavalcade of America, Edward Pawley and Fran Carlon on Big Town for Lifebuoy Soap, Leopold Stokowski conducting the Hollywood Bowl Symphony for wounded veterans on AFRS, Maurice Tarplin in The Mysterious Traveler: The Big One, Vivian della Chiesa for Gulfspray, and Captains of Industry (1937–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Leopold Stokowski & Robert Merrill (AFRS Hollywood Bowl Concert for the Wounded)" | AFRS Hollywood 1946-08-26 (Jubilee Special) |
Armed Forces Radio American Red Cross Benefit |
Leopold Stokowski, Robert Merrill (Baritone) | AFRS Radio, Gene Baker | ["Music", "Classical", "Symphonic", "Military", "Live"] |
"The Armed Forces Radio Service presents the Hollywood Bowl Silver Jubilee Concert for the Wounded!" Maestro Leopold Stokowski conducts the Hollywood Bowl Symphony in Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Brahms, featuring baritone Robert Merrill in a benefit concert dedicated to wounded veterans in military hospitals across the Pacific. |
| "The Story of Philip Danforth Armour (Ted Jewett — Captains of Industry)" | Syndicated 1937-08-26 (15-Min Docudrama) |
Local Business Sponsors Industrial Biography |
Ted Jewett (Armour), John Gibson | Robert Newman, Alois Havrilla | ["Docudrama", "Historical", "Biography", "Business", "Short Form"] |
"Captains of Industry! The dramatic stories of the men who built American commerce and enterprise!" The inspiring biographical dramatization of Philip Danforth Armour, tracing his rise from California Gold Rush ditch-digger to founding the world's largest meatpacking empire in Chicago with refrigerated rail cars. |
| "The Big One (Maurice Tarplin — The Mysterious Traveler)" | Mutual (WOR) 1952-08-26 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Suspense Theater |
Maurice Tarplin (The Traveler), Lyle Sudrow | Robert A. Arthur, David Kogan | ["Mystery", "Horror", "Macabre", "Suspense", "Noir"] |
"This is the Mysterious Traveler, inviting you to walk with me into the strange and terrifying world of the unexpected!" In 'The Big One', an obsessive deep-sea fisherman plots to murder his wealthy business partner during an offshore marlin excursion, only to become entangled in the line when a giant monster swordfish pulls the boat under. |
| "Vivian della Chiesa in I Believe & Summertime (Harry Sosnik — Gulf Spray Show)" | CBS (WCBS) 1947-08-26 9:00 PM EDT |
Gulf Oil Corp. Gulfspray & Gulf Pride |
Vivian della Chiesa, Harry Sosnik Orchestra | Anton M. Leader, Dan Seymour | ["Music", "Vocal", "Pop Standards", "Operetta", "Big Band"] |
"Gulf Oil Corporation, makers of Gulfspray Insecticide and Gulf Pride Motor Oil, presents The Gulf Spray Show!" Operatic soprano Vivian della Chiesa performs 'I Believe', 'Summertime', and beloved melodic showtunes, accompanied by the Harry Sosnik Orchestra and Chorus for Gulf Oil. |
| "The Fatal Hideout (Edward Pawley & Fran Carlon — Lifebuoy Big Town)" | CBS (WCBS) 1947-08-26 8:00 PM EDT |
Lever Brothers Co. Lifebuoy Soap ("Stops B.O.!") |
Edward Pawley (Steve), Fran Carlon (Lorelei) | Jerry McGill, Ken Roberts | ["Detective", "Crime", "Newspaper", "Drama", "Noir"] |
"Lifebuoy Health Soap presents Big Town, starring Edward Pawley as Steve Wilson and Fran Carlon as Lorelei Kilbourne!" When an escaped fugitive holes up in an abandoned quarry shack with an innocent hostage, Illustrated Press managing editor Steve Wilson negotiates directly with the desperate gunman to prevent a fatal police siege for Lifebuoy. |
| "Passport to Freedom: Haym Salomon (Paul Muni — DuPont Cavalcade of America)" | NBC (WEAF) 1946-08-26 8:00 PM EDT |
DuPont "Better Things for Better Living" |
Paul Muni (Haym Salomon), Karl Swenson | Robert Tallman, Roland Winters | ["Historical", "Docudrama", "Americana", "Revolutionary", "Drama"] |
"DuPont presents The Cavalcade of America, starring Academy Award winner Paul Muni!" In 'Passport to Freedom', Paul Muni portrays American Revolutionary financier Haym Salomon, who risked his fortune, freedom, and life to raise critical funds and secure French loans for George Washington's starving Continental Army for DuPont. |