On This Day, August 27: Father Coughlin and Dr. Christian
Also featured: The Green Hornet.
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, Father Charles Coughlin's political address from Royal Oak, Paul Whiteman on The Radio Hall of Fame for Philco, a triple-bill of Jean Hersholt in Dr. Christian for Vaseline (1941, 1947, 1952), and Al Hodge battling smuggling syndicates in The Green Hornet (1936–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Challenge of the Past and the Challenge of Social Justice" | Independent (WJR) 1939-08-27 4:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Shrine Little Flower |
Father Charles E. Coughlin | Shrine Staff | ["Talk", "Political", "Religious", "History", "Public Affairs"] |
Father Charles Coughlin delivers a radio address from Royal Oak, Michigan analyzing European war tensions, monetary reform, and Christian social justice principles. |
| "Come Out, Wherever You Are & Variety Revue" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1944-08-27 6:00 PM EWT |
Philco Corp. Philco Radios |
Paul Whiteman, Martha Tilton | Ray Noble, Philco Staff | ["Music", "Variety", "Big Band", "Pop Standards", "Comedy"] |
Paul Whiteman presents an entertainment hour featuring vocal standards including 'Come Out, Wherever You Are', comedic sketches, and orchestral arrangements. |
| "A Very Young Man's Fancy" | CBS (WABC) 1941-08-27 8:30 PM EDST |
Chesebrough Vaseline Petroleum Jelly |
Jean Hersholt, Rosemary DeCamp | McCann-Erickson, CBS Staff | ["Drama", "Medical", "Americana", "Small Town", "Domestic"] |
Dr. Christian counsels a lovesick River's End teenager whose infatuation with an older visiting summer tourist leads him into financial recklessness. |
| "And the Sun Stood Still" | CBS (WCBS) 1947-08-27 8:30 PM EDT |
Chesebrough Vaseline Petroleum Jelly |
Jean Hersholt, Rosemary DeCamp | Chesebrough, CBS Staff | ["Drama", "Medical", "Americana", "Small Town", "Domestic"] |
Dr. Christian intervenes when an aging farmer stubbornly refuses medical treatment during a critical heat wave, endangering his life and harvest. |
| "A Rugged Individualist" | CBS (WCBS) 1952-08-27 8:30 PM EDT |
Chesebrough Vaseline Petroleum Jelly |
Jean Hersholt, Rosemary DeCamp | Chesebrough, CBS Staff | ["Drama", "Medical", "Americana", "Small Town", "Domestic"] |
Dr. Christian works to reconcile an eccentric hermit living outside River's End with the townspeople who wish to condemn his ancestral property. |
| "The Waterfront Smuggling Ring (Part 2)" | Mutual (WXYZ) 1936-08-27 8:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Detroit Sponsors |
Al Hodge (Britt Reid), Tokutaro Hayashi (Kato) | Fran Striker, George W. Trendle | ["Superhero", "Crime", "Action", "Mystery", "Hardboiled"] |
Britt Reid and Kato deploy the Black Beauty to infiltrate a waterfront warehouse, collecting evidence on a ring of corrupt harbor officials running contraband cargo. |