On This Day, August 28: Spotlight Bands and Burns
Also featured: Allen, Mr. President.
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, Armed Forces Radio (AFRTS), and syndication, Bob Crosby and his Bobcats swinging for aviation cadets at Victorville AAFB, elevator murder on Masters of Mystery, traditional mountain fiddle breakdowns on Skip to My Lou, Captain Carney's South Seas voyage on the Scarlet Queen, Gracie Allen's chaotic screen test for White Owl Cigars, and Edward Arnold portraying James Madison during the War of 1812 on Mr. President (1935–1957):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Bob Crosby and his Orchestra (Victorville AAFB)" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1943-08-28 9:30 PM EWT |
The Coca-Cola Co. "Victory Spotlight!" |
Bob Crosby and his Bobcats | Liz Tilton | ["Music", "Big Band", "Dixieland", "Swing", "Military"] |
Bob Crosby and his Bobcats perform Dixieland swing live for air cadets at Victorville Army Airfield, featuring Liz Tilton singing 'They're Either Too Young or Too Old'. |
| "Death by Design" | Syndicated Elec 1957-08-28 |
Commercial Regional Sponsors |
Dramatic Mystery Cast | Syndicated Mystery Staff | ["Mystery", "Crime", "Suspense", "Noir", "Anthology"] |
An architectural draftsman plans the perfect murder of his blackmailing business partner by rigging an elevator shaft counterweight. |
| "Backwoods Fiddling and Square Dance" | Syndicated Elec 1948-08-28 |
Commercial Regional Sponsors |
Country String Band | Square Dance Caller | ["Music", "Country", "Folk", "Bluegrass", "Americana"] |
A traditional mountain string band plays energetic Appalachian fiddle breakdowns and calls square dance figures for a community barn dance. |
| "The Barefoot Nymph and the Mother Hubbard Jacket (AFRTS)" | AFRTS / Mutual 1947-08-28 |
US Armed Forces AFRTS Broadcast |
Elliott Lewis, Ed Max | Gil Doud & Robert Tallman | ["Adventure", "Maritime", "Hardboiled", "Mystery", "South Seas"] |
Captain Carney sails the ketch Scarlet Queen into a remote Polynesian cove to rescue an island trader's daughter held captive by pearl poachers. |
| "Gracie's Hollywood Screen Test" | CBS (WABC) 1935-08-28 8:30 PM EDST |
General Cigar Co. White Owl Cigars |
George Burns, Gracie Allen | Guy Lombardo Orchestra | ["Sitcom", "Comedy", "Vaudeville", "Music", "Hollywood"] |
Gracie Allen prepares for a Hollywood screen test by taking dramatic acting coaching from George, resulting in absolute pandemonium on the soundstage. |
| "James Madison and the War of 1812" | ABC (WJZ) 1949-08-28 2:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Historical Drama |
Edward Arnold (Host) | Dwight Hauser (Creator) | ["Historical", "Docudrama", "Biography", "Politics", "Mystery"] |
President James Madison confronts British naval blockades, congressional war hawks, and the burning of Washington during the War of 1812. |