On This Day, August 28: Roy Rogers and Spotlight Bands
Also featured: Clean Review.
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 syndication, the Army Air Forces dance orchestra playing for factory defense workers on Spotlight Bands, three classic Western adventures starring Roy Rogers & Dale Evans (1949 Quaker Oats cattle stampede, 1952 Post Cereals sweepstakes race, and Trigger busting counterfeiters), Olan Soule in Grand Marquee, and Jim French's crime-scene cleanup sleuth Clean Review (1945–1999):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Blue Moon (AAF Dance Orchestra)" | Mutual (WOR) 1945-08-28 9:30 PM EWT |
The Coca-Cola Co. "Spotlight on Victory!" |
AAF Dance Orchestra | Sgt. Johnny Desmond | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Military", "Wartime"] |
The Army Air Forces dance band plays swing standards live for factory defense workers, opening with 'Blue Moon'. |
| "Mysterious Stampedes of Paradise Valley" | Mutual (WOR) 1949-08-28 6:00 PM EDT |
Quaker Oats Co. Puffed Wheat / Rice |
Roy Rogers, Dale Evans | Pat Brady, Gabby Hayes | ["Western", "Adventure", "Americana", "Music", "Juvenile"] |
Roy Rogers and Dale Evans investigate nocturnal cattle stampedes orchestrated by land grabbers trying to force homesteaders off their ranches. |
| "Paradise Valley Sweepstakes" | NBC (WNBC) 1952-08-28 8:00 PM EDT |
General Foods Post Toasties / Grape-Nuts |
Roy Rogers, Dale Evans | Pat Brady, Whippoorwills | ["Western", "Adventure", "Americana", "Music", "Juvenile"] |
Roy Rogers thwarts horse thieves attempting to drug a prized thoroughbred stallion before the annual county fair sweepstakes race. |
| "Trigger Shoots the Works" | NBC / Synd 1952-08-28 |
Commercial Western Sponsors |
Roy Rogers, Dale Evans | Pat Brady, Whippoorwills | ["Western", "Adventure", "Americana", "Music", "Juvenile"] |
Roy Rogers tracks a ring of counterfeiters hiding in the hills after Trigger uncovers an abandoned printing press in an old mine shaft. |
| "Wedding in Columbia" | NBC (WNBC) 1947-08-28 9:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Dramatic Showcase |
Olan Soule, Beryl Vaughn | Howard Keegan (Director) | ["Drama", "Romance", "Anthology", "International", "Adventure"] |
A young American engineer working on a South American railway falls in love with a local heiress whose family opposes the match. |
| "Clean Review — Silver Threads and Golden Needles" | Syndicated Drama 1999-08-28 |
Sustaining Mystery Theater |
John Gilbert (Clean Review) | Jim French (Creator/Writer) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Noir", "Crime", "Thriller"] |
Ex-con turned professional crime-scene cleaner Clean Review investigates blood evidence pointing to a high-society dress designer's murder. |