On This Day, August 26: Father Brown (Himan Brown) and Spike Jones (Chase & Sanborn)
Also featured: Guest Star.
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, Bill Adams as G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown in The Blue Cross produced by Himan Brown, Joseph Julian busting counterfeiters on Call the Police for Rinso, Spike Jones unleashing musical bedlam on The Chase and Sanborn Program, and three decades of Guest Star Treasury showcases featuring Ray Anthony, Jerry Gray, and Dick Haymes (1945–1962):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Blue Cross by G.K. Chesterton (Bill Adams as Father Brown — Mutual)" | Mutual (WOR) 1945-08-26 5:00 PM EWT |
Sustaining Classic Detective Series |
Bill Adams (Father Brown), Mandel Kramer | G.K. Chesterton, Himan Brown, Frank Waldecker | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Classics", "Cerebral", "Crime"] |
"The Adventures of Father Brown, created by G.K. Chesterton, produced by Himan Brown!" Humble Catholic parish priest Father Brown carries a silver cross set with priceless blue sapphires across London, leaving a trail of bizarre physical clues to help Parisian detective Valentin trap master jewel thief Flambeau. |
| "The Case of the Century Note (Joseph Julian as Commissioner Libby — Rinso)" | NBC (WEAF) 1947-08-26 9:00 PM EDT |
Lever Brothers Rinso with Solium & Lifebuoy |
Joseph Julian (Bill Libby), Joan Tompkins | Frank Telford (Dir.), Jay Jostyn | ["Detective", "Police Procedural", "Crime", "Mystery", "Action"] |
"Lever Brothers presents Call the Police!" Police Commissioner Bill Libby and Sgt. Maggy Davis track a ring of ruthless counterfeiters printing bogus hundred-dollar century notes, following the counterfeit currency to a corrupt downtown waterfront printing press for Rinso and Lifebuoy. |
| "Catalina Island Vacation (Frances Langford & Spike Jones — Chase & Sanborn)" | NBC (WEAF) 1945-08-26 8:00 PM EWT |
Standard Brands Chase & Sanborn Coffee |
Frances Langford, Spike Jones, Arthur Treacher | Earl Ebi, Alan Woods, Ken Carpenter | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Music", "Parody", "Big Band"] |
"The Chase and Sanborn Summer Show, starring Frances Langford and Spike Jones and his City Slickers!" Frances Langford and snooty English butler Arthur Treacher take a vacation trip to Catalina Island, only for Spike Jones and his City Slickers to turn the cruise ship into madcap musical mayhem with cowbells and washboards for Chase & Sanborn Coffee. |
| "That's My Girl (Ray Anthony & His Orchestra — U.S. Treasury Defense Bonds)" | U.S. Treasury 1951-08-26 (Syndicated) |
U.S. Treasury Defense Bonds / Series E |
Ray Anthony Orchestra, The Skylarks | U.S. Treasury, Del Sharbutt | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Vocal", "Public Affairs"] |
"Guest Star, presented by the United States Treasury Department!" Trumpet maestro Ray Anthony and his Orchestra headline with swinging performances of 'That's My Girl', 'Sentimental Journey', and vocal harmonies from The Skylarks, encouraging Americans to purchase U.S. Defense Bonds. |
| "Laura & My Foolish Heart (Jerry Gray & Johnny Desmond — U.S. Treasury)" | U.S. Treasury 1956-08-26 (Syndicated) |
U.S. Treasury Savings Bonds / Payroll |
Jerry Gray Orchestra, Johnny Desmond | U.S. Treasury, Del Sharbutt | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Vocal", "Public Affairs"] |
"Guest Star, in cooperation with the United States Treasury!" Former Glenn Miller arranger Jerry Gray leads his Orchestra in a lush arrangement of David Raksin's 'Laura', paired with Johnny Desmond singing 'My Foolish Heart' in support of United States Savings Bonds. |
| "Who Cares? & The More I See You (Dick Haymes & Fran Jeffries — U.S. Treasury)" | U.S. Treasury 1962-08-26 (Syndicated) |
U.S. Treasury Savings Bonds (Freedom) |
Dick Haymes, Fran Jeffries, USAF Band | U.S. Treasury, Del Sharbutt | ["Music", "Vocal", "Jazz", "Standards", "Public Affairs"] |
"Guest Star, presented by your United States Treasury!" Smooth baritone Dick Haymes and songstress Fran Jeffries perform George Gershwin's classic 'Who Cares?', followed by 'The More I See You', urging listeners to invest in American security with U.S. Savings Bonds. |