On This Day, August 29: Bulldog Drummond and The Railroad Hour
Also featured: Living 1948.
August 29 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 29 across American network radio, Ned Wever & Luis van Rooten solving racetrack poisonings on Bulldog Drummond (1947), Gordon MacRae saluting composer Johnny Green on The Railroad Hour (1949), Ben Grauer narrating postwar peacetime draft documentaries on Living 1948, Frank Black leading the NBC Symphony for General Motors, William Gargan's waterfront noir audition, and Mary Noble, Backstage Wife (1943–1955):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Case of the Dirty Oval" | Mutual (WOR) 1947-08-29 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining British Sleuth |
Ned Wever, van Rooten | H.C. McNeile ('Sapper') | ["Detective", "Mystery", "British", "Hardboiled", "Action"] |
Bulldog Drummond investigates the poisoning of a racetrack owner and discovers an illegal betting ring fixing thoroughbred finishes. |
| "Claudia and Oliver Are Eloping" | NBC (WNBC) 1950-08-29 4:00 PM EDT |
Procter & Gamble White Cloud / Dreft |
Claire Niesen, Meighan | Frank & Anne Hummert | ["Soap Opera", "Serial", "Drama", "Show Business", "Romance"] |
Mary Noble rushes to intercept Claudia and Oliver before their clandestine elopement causes a devastating family scandal. |
| "Frank Black Conducts Dvořák and Enescu" | NBC (WEAF) 1943-08-29 5:00 PM EWT |
General Motors Automotive Sponsor |
Dr. Frank Black (Cond) | NBC Symphony Orch | ["Concert", "Classical", "Symphony", "Orchestral", "Music"] |
Dr. Frank Black leads the NBC Symphony Orchestra in lyrical classical performances of Dvořák's New World themes and Enescu's Romanian Rhapsodies. |
| "The Harbor Smuggling Ring (Audition)" | CBS Radio 1955-08-29 |
Sustaining Audition Recording |
William Gargan | Max Miller (Creator) | ["Detective", "Hardboiled", "Noir", "Journalism", "Crime"] |
A cynical waterfront newspaper columnist investigates dockside gunrunning after finding an informant washed up near pier pilings. |
| "New Draft, New Army (New Military Requirements)" | NBC (WNBC) 1948-08-29 4:35 PM EDT |
Sustaining Docudrama |
Ben Grauer (Narrator) | Lou Hazam (Producer) | ["Documentary", "Docudrama", "Military", "Postwar", "Public Affairs"] |
A postwar documentary examining peacetime military conscription, enlistment standards, and training camp life under the new Selective Service Act. |
| "Salute to Johnny Green" | ABC (WJZ) 1949-08-29 8:00 PM EDT |
AAR Railroads American Railroads |
Gordon MacRae, Green | Carmen Dragon Orch | ["Music", "Vocal", "Broadway", "Hollywood", "Operetta"] |
Gordon MacRae and composer Johnny Green perform melodic hits from Green's famous Broadway stage scores and Hollywood film musicals. |