On This Day, August 27: Best Sellers and Hearts in Harmony
Also featured: Just a Minute.
August 27 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on August 27 across American and British radio, Robert Fontaine's French-Canadian coming-of-age serial The Happy Time on NBC Best Sellers, two chapters of Kroger's daytime serial Hearts in Harmony starring Jone Allison, two generations of BBC Just a Minute hosted by Nicholas Parsons (1973 with Kenneth Williams & Clement Freud, 2001 with Paul Merton & Graham Norton), and Richard Murdoch & Deryck Guyler in The Men from the Ministry (1945–2001):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Robert Fontaine's The Happy Time (Part 1)" | NBC (WEAF) 1945-08-27 3:00 PM EWT |
Sustaining Literary Serial |
Bret Morrison (Narrator), NBC Staff | Robert Fontaine (Author) | ["Drama", "Comedy", "Literature", "Family", "Serial"] |
Young Bibi LaPointe navigates growing up in a boisterous French-Canadian family in 1920s Ottawa under the eccentric guidance of his violin-playing father and romantic uncles. |
| "Freddie Found (Episode 122)" | Syndicated 1946-08-27 Episode #122 |
Kroger Co. Tenderay Beef |
Jone Allison (Penny), Ed Latimer | Nelson Olmsted, Kroger Staff | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Romance", "Music", "Domestic"] |
Penny Peters and the Ross family receive word that missing brother Freddie has been located safe in a nearby farming community. |
| "Memories of Barry Linger On (Episode 382)" | Syndicated 1947-08-27 Episode #382 |
Kroger Co. Clock Bread |
Jone Allison (Penny), Ed Latimer | Kroger Grocery Production | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Romance", "Music", "Domestic"] |
Penny struggles with bittersweet memories of Barry while preparing for an audition with a visiting New York orchestra conductor. |
| "Checks" | BBC Radio 4 1973-08-27 6:15 PM |
Sustaining BBC Panel Game |
Nicholas Parsons, Kenneth Williams, Clement Freud | David Hatch, Peter Jones | ["Comedy", "Panel Game", "British", "Improv", "Wordplay"] |
Nicholas Parsons challenges panellists Kenneth Williams, Clement Freud, Peter Jones, and Derek Nimmo to speak for sixty seconds on 'Checks' without hesitation, repetition, or deviation. |
| "The Cleverest Person I Know" | BBC Radio 4 2001-08-27 6:30 PM |
Sustaining BBC Panel Game |
Nicholas Parsons, Paul Merton, Graham Norton | Chris Neill, Linda Smith | ["Comedy", "Panel Game", "British", "Improv", "Wordplay"] |
Nicholas Parsons presides as Paul Merton, Clement Freud, Graham Norton, and Linda Smith tackle subjects including 'The Cleverest Person I Know' under strict game rules. |
| "Riding in State" | BBC Radio 4 1994-08-27 1:00 PM |
Sustaining BBC Comedy |
Richard Murdoch, Deryck Guyler, Norma Ronald | Edward Taylor, John Graham | ["Comedy", "Satire", "British", "Sitcom", "Workplace"] |
Bumbling civil servants 'Deryck' and 'Richard' cause diplomatic pandemonium when assigned to organize official ceremonial transport for a visiting head of state. |