On This Day, August 27: Bob and Ray
Also featured: Bob Hope, Basie on Jubilee.
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 network radio, local Boston broadcasting (WHDH), and Armed Forces Radio, three legendary comedic broadcasts by Bob & Ray (1948 WHDH morning matinee, 1949 rooftop weather satire, and 1952 NBC Mary McGoon recipe parody), Bob Hope's 1936 summer revue for Atlantic White Flash, and two scorching jazz programs on AFRS Jubilee (1945 swing pioneer Fletcher Henderson and 1948 Count Basie featuring Jimmy Rushing) (1936–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Matinee with Bob and Ray (WHDH Boston)" | WHDH Boston 1948-08-27 |
Commercial Boston Advertisers |
Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding | Bob & Ray | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Sketch", "Improv"] |
Bob and Ray satirize local Boston radio commercials, spin records at the wrong speed, and stage deadpan spoof interviews. |
| "Cliff Fleming's Weather Station" | WHDH Boston 1949-08-27 |
Commercial Boston Advertisers |
Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding | Bob & Ray | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Sketch", "Improv"] |
Bob and Ray parody local weather forecasters as meteorologist Cliff Fleming delivers increasingly absurd predictions from atop a roof. |
| "Mary McGoon Recommends Sour Cream" | NBC (WNBC) 1952-08-27 5:45 PM EDT |
Sustaining Network Comedy |
Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding | Bob & Ray | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Sketch", "Absurdist"] |
Mary McGoon shares a ridiculous domestic recipe involving excessive sour cream and Bob and Ray parody breathless network announcers. |
| "Summer Comedy Revue" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1936-08-27 |
Atlantic Refining Atlantic White Flash |
Bob Hope, Honey Chile Wilder | Red Nichols and his Five Pennies | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Stand-Up", "Jazz", "Vocal"] |
Bob Hope fires rapid-fire topical one-liners about summer vacations and golf alongside swing jazz by Red Nichols and his Five Pennies. |
| "Guest Fletcher Henderson" | AFRS Jubilee 1945-08-27 |
US Armed Forces AFRS Military Broadcast |
Ernie Whitman, Fletcher Henderson | The Four Blues | ["Music", "Jazz", "Big Band", "Swing", "Live Broadcast"] |
MC Ernie Whitman welcomes swing pioneer Fletcher Henderson and his orchestra for scorching big band jazz arrangements and jump blues for WWII troops. |
| "Count Basie and his Orchestra" | AFRS Jubilee 1948-08-27 |
US Armed Forces AFRS Military Broadcast |
Ernie Whitman, Count Basie, Jimmy Rushing | Basie Rhythm Section | ["Music", "Jazz", "Big Band", "Blues", "Live Broadcast"] |
Count Basie leads his rhythm powerhouse orchestra through propulsive Kansas City swing numbers featuring blues shouter Jimmy Rushing. |