On This Day, August 28: Jean Shepherd and Blair of the Mounties
Also featured: Town Meeting.
August 28 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 28 across American network radio and Canadian syndication, four classic late-night monologues by Jean Shepherd on WOR New York exploring Chicago childhoods, high-society fads, and summer fishing (1960–1973), Sergeant Blair tracking fur smugglers in the Yukon on Blair of the Mounties (1935), and national debates on mid-century American literature and censorship on America's Town Meeting of the Air (1935–1973):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "What is the Status of American Literature Today?" | ABC (WABC) 1955-08-28 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Public Affairs Forum |
George V. Denny Jr. | Literary Panel | ["Public Affairs", "Literature", "Debate", "Culture", "Civics"] |
Prominent literary critics and novelists debate mid-century American literature, censorship, paperback trends, and commercial publishing pressures. |
| "The Yukon Fur Ambush (Episode 9)" | Syndicated Elec 1935-08-28 |
Commercial Regional Sponsors |
Dramatic Mountie Cast | Syndicated Adventure Staff | ["Adventure", "Western", "Mounties", "Action", "Canadian"] |
Sergeant Blair of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police tracks armed fur thieves across blizzard-swept Yukon mountain passes. |
| "Givers and Takers, Fishing, and Cabin Fever" | WOR New York 1960-08-28 11:15 PM EDT |
Sustaining Late-Night Monologue |
Jean Shepherd | WOR Production Staff | ["Comedy", "Humor", "Monologue", "Storytelling", "Americana"] |
Jean Shepherd delivers an improvisational late-night monologue on human nature, summer fishing trips, cabin fever, and the cold war 'red button'. |
| "The Beautiful People" | WOR New York 1963-08-28 11:15 PM EDT |
Sustaining Late-Night Monologue |
Jean Shepherd | WOR Production Staff | ["Comedy", "Humor", "Satire", "Monologue", "Americana"] |
Jean Shepherd satirizes trendy high-society jet setters and Madison Avenue advertising definitions of 'the beautiful people'. |
| "Betty Boop and South Side Chicago" | WOR New York 1965-08-28 11:15 PM EDT |
Sustaining Late-Night Monologue |
Jean Shepherd | WOR Production Staff | ["Comedy", "Humor", "Memoir", "Storytelling", "Americana"] |
Jean Shepherd reminisces over childhood memories growing up in South Side Chicago, movie theater cartoons, and Betty Boop matinees. |
| "Mythical Creatures and Childhood Legends" | WOR New York 1973-08-28 11:15 PM EDT |
Sustaining Late-Night Monologue |
Jean Shepherd | WOR Production Staff | ["Comedy", "Humor", "Folklore", "Storytelling", "Americana"] |
Jean Shepherd reflects on suburban folklore, imaginary playground monsters, and the mysterious allure of mythical creatures. |