On This Day, August 27: Cavalcade and Fibber McGee
Also featured: Molly, Bing Crosby.
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, Walter Huston in Cavalcade of America for DuPont, Bill Stern interviewing Dick Powell for Colgate, baseball quiz on Twenty Questions for Ronson, Fibber and Molly looking for their parked car on Fibber McGee and Molly for Prudential, and two classic Bing Crosby broadcasts (1929 Rhythm Boys with Paul Whiteman for Old Gold and 1956 quartet swing with Buddy Cole) (1929–1956):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Assignment for the Prof" | NBC (WEAF) 1945-08-27 8:00 PM EWT |
DuPont "Better Things for Better Living" |
Walter Huston (Star) | Donald Voorhees Orchestra | ["Docudrama", "Historical", "Military", "Wartime", "Anthology"] |
A mild-mannered college archaeology professor is recruited by military intelligence during the war to decipher covert tactical maps. |
| "Guest Dick Powell" | NBC (WNBC) 1948-08-27 10:30 PM EDT |
Colgate-Palmolive Colgate Shave Cream |
Bill Stern, Dick Powell | NBC Sports Staff | ["Sports", "News", "Interview", "Hollywood", "Variety"] |
Bill Stern recounts dramatic sports legends and welcomes Hollywood star Dick Powell to share surprising anecdotes about his athletic past. |
| "Mystery Object Hank Sauer" | Mutual (WOR) 1949-08-27 8:00 PM EDT |
Ronson Art Metal Ronson Lighters & Flints |
Bill Slater, Fred Van Deventer | Florence Rinard, Herb Polesie | ["Quiz", "Panel", "Game Show", "Live Broadcast", "Sports"] |
The panel attempts to identify mystery subject animal, vegetable, or mineral items, focusing on National League baseball home-run slugger Hank Sauer. |
| "Where Did McGee Park His Car?" | NBC (WNBC) 1954-08-27 10:00 PM EDT |
Prudential Insurance Company |
Jim Jordan, Marian Jordan | Phil Leslie (Writer) | ["Sitcom", "Comedy", "Domestic", "Marriage", "Americana"] |
Fibber and Molly wander frantically around downtown Wistful Vista trying to remember where McGee parked their sedan after a shopping trip. |
| "Waiting at the End of the Road" | CBS (WABC) 1929-08-27 |
P. Lorillard Co. Old Gold Cigarettes |
Bing Crosby, Paul Whiteman | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | ["Music", "Jazz", "Big Band", "Vocal", "Historical"] |
A young Bing Crosby croons Irving Berlin's 'Waiting at the End of the Road' backed by Paul Whiteman's pioneering jazz orchestra. |
| "Summer Swing with Buddy Cole" | CBS (WCBS) 1956-08-27 7:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Daytime Music |
Bing Crosby, Buddy Cole Trio | Ken Carpenter (Announcer) | ["Music", "Pop Standards", "Vocal", "Jazz", "Variety"] |
Bing Crosby sings breezy pop standards and trades warm humorous banter backed by Buddy Cole's intimate rhythm quartet. |