On This Day, August 28: Two on a Clue and Night Must Fall
Also featured: Challenge of the Yukon.
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, husband-and-wife sleuths Jeff & Penny Spencer in Two on a Clue for Post Bran Flakes, Emlyn Williams' chilling psychological thriller Night Must Fall, and four decades of Fran Striker's legendary Northwest Mounted Police adventures on Challenge of the Yukon starring Sgt. Preston and Yukon King (1941–1959):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Case of the Noisy Corpse (Part 11)" | CBS (WABC) 1945-08-28 2:00 PM EWT |
General Foods Post's 40% Bran Flakes |
Ned Wever, Louise Fitch | Harry Ingram (Writer) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Comedy", "Couple Sleuths", "Serial"] |
Husband-and-wife private investigators Jeff and Penny Spencer search a creaky Victorian mansion attic after strange tapping sounds emanate from a locked trunk. |
| "Night Must Fall" | CBC / Synd 1959-08-28 |
Sustaining Psychological Thriller |
CBC Dramatic Repertory | Emlyn Williams (Playwright) | ["Psychological Thriller", "Mystery", "British", "Crime", "Suspense"] |
A suspicious, charming young hotel bellboy ingratiates himself into an elderly invalid widow's isolated woodland cottage while police search for a decapitated corpse. |
| "The Last Days of a Freight Line" | WXYZ / MRN 1941-08-28 |
Commercial Regional Sponsors |
Jay Michael (Sgt. Preston), King | Fran Striker (Creator) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Canadian", "Police Procedural", "Juvenile"] |
Sergeant Preston and Yukon King investigate rival dog-team teamsters sabotaging heavy mining freight wagons on the Yukon trail. |
| "The Last Days of a Freight Line (Re-Broadcast)" | WXYZ / Synd 1943-08-28 |
Commercial Regional Sponsors |
Jay Michael (Sgt. Preston), King | Fran Striker (Creator) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Canadian", "Police Procedural", "Juvenile"] |
Sergeant Preston races through mountain passes to protect a vital supply caravan from armed bandits ambushing Klondike gold miners. |
| "Magnanimous Ghost" | WXYZ / Mutual 1945-08-28 |
Commercial Regional Sponsors |
Jay Michael (Sgt. Preston), King | Fran Striker (Creator) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Canadian", "Mystery", "Juvenile"] |
Sergeant Preston investigates sightings of a benevolent ghost in an abandoned mining settlement leaving food and gold for destitute prospectors. |
| "The Collie's Return" | Mutual (WOR) 1951-08-28 5:00 PM EDT |
Quaker Oats Co. Puffed Wheat / Rice |
Paul Sutton (Sgt. Preston), King | Fran Striker (Creator) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Canadian", "Animals", "Juvenile"] |
Yukon King befriends an abused Scotch Collie who escaped from a ruthless dog-sled smuggler and leads Mounties to a stolen gold cache. |