On This Day, August 27: Hour of Charm and Eddie Cantor
Also featured: The Lone Ranger.
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, Phil Spitalny and his All-Girl Orchestra on Hour of Charm for General Electric, atmospheric Welsh drama on Author's Studio, Eddie Cantor welcoming Virginia Weidler, military cavalry drama on Proudly We Hail, and two legendary Fran Striker Western adventures on The Lone Ranger for Silvercup Bread (1934 George Seaton as the masked rider, 1937 Earle Graser foil of Red Rock ambush) (1934–1975):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "This Is the Army, Mr. Jones" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-08-27 10:00 PM EWT |
General Electric GE Mazda Lamps |
Phil Spitalny, Evelyn, Vivien, Jeanie | Phil Spitalny (Leader) | ["Music", "Orchestral", "Big Band", "Vocal", "Wartime"] |
Phil Spitalny leads the all-female ensemble and vocal choir in inspirational wartime melodies, featuring Irving Berlin's 'This Is the Army, Mr. Jones'. |
| "The Strange Valley" | BBC Radio 4 1975-08-27 8:00 PM |
Sustaining BBC Literary Drama |
BBC Dramatic Repertory | T.C. Thomas (Writer) | ["Drama", "British", "Mystery", "Atmospheric", "Anthology"] |
A solitary traveler seeking shelter in a remote Welsh valley unearths ancient village secrets and a long-hidden family grievance. |
| "Guest Virginia Weidler" | NBC (WNBC) 1953-08-27 9:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Comedy Showcase |
Eddie Cantor, Virginia Weidler, Jimmy Wallington | Cookie Fairchild Orchestra | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Vaudeville", "Music", "Hollywood"] |
Eddie Cantor welcomes teenage screen star Virginia Weidler for energetic vaudeville banter, musical comedy sketches, and favorite Cantor songs. |
| "A Fool on Horseback" | Syndicated Elec 1950-08-27 |
US Armed Forces Army & Air Force Recruiting |
Kenneth Banghart (Host) | U.S. Military Dramatic Cast | ["Military", "Drama", "Cavalry", "Historical", "Anthology"] |
A reckless young cavalry scout learns discipline and battlefield maturity when his reconnaissance squad is trapped behind enemy lines. |
| "Rustlers of Dry Creek" | Mutual / WXYZ 1934-08-27 7:30 PM EST |
Gordon Baking Co. Silvercup Bread |
George Seaton (Ranger), John Todd (Tonto) | Fran Striker (Writer) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Frontier", "Juvenile", "Action"] |
The masked rider and Tonto track down a ruthless gang of cattle thieves who poisoned the water hole of an honest homesteader. |
| "Badman's Ambush at Red Rock" | Mutual / WXYZ 1937-08-27 7:30 PM EDST |
Gordon Baking Co. Silvercup Bread |
Earle Graser (Ranger), John Todd (Tonto) | Fran Striker (Writer) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Frontier", "Juvenile", "Action"] |
The Lone Ranger and Tonto foil an ambush planned by outlaw bushwhackers targeting a frontier territorial judge traveling to circuit court. |