On This Day, August 29: Jack Benny in New Caledonia and Bing Crosby
Also featured: Meet Miss Sherlock.
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 and Armed Forces wartime broadcasting, Jack Benny performing a live frontline USO camp show for Allied soldiers in New Caledonia with Martha Tilton & Larry Adler (1944), Sondra Gair & Bill Zuckert in comedy-mystery Meet Miss Sherlock (1946), three classic Bing Crosby broadcasts featuring Rosemary Clooney & Buddy Cole (1955–1960), and the audition pilot for I Cover the Waterfront (1944–1960):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "USO Camp Show from New Caledonia with Martha Tilton" | AFRS South Pacific 1944-08-29 |
Sustaining Armed Forces Radio |
Jack Benny, Tilton | Larry Adler (Harmonica) | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Military", "USO", "Live Broadcast"] |
Jack Benny performs comedy sketches and violin duets for frontline Allied soldiers stationed at an island air base in the South Pacific. |
| "The Case of the Wilting Orchid" | CBS (WABC) 1946-08-29 10:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Detective Comedy |
Sondra Gair, Zuckert | David Vaile (Director) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Comedy", "Amateur Sleuth", "Female Lead"] |
Amateur sleuth Jane Sherlock helps her police boyfriend investigate an exotic greenhouse murder after an orchid grower collapses. |
| "The Harbor Smuggling Ring (Series Audition)" | Network Audition 1955-08-29 |
Sustaining Audition Pilot |
Dramatic Repertory | Max Miller (Inspiration) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Hardboiled", "Newspaper", "Waterfront"] |
A San Diego waterfront reporter goes undercover among dock workers to expose a maritime contraband trafficking syndicate. |
| "Episode 201 with Buddy Cole and The Keynoters" | CBS (WCBS) 1955-08-29 9:00 PM EDT |
General Foods Minute Rice / Jell-O |
Bing Crosby, Cole Trio | The Keynoters (Vocal) | ["Music", "Vocal", "Big Band", "Easy Listening", "Standards"] |
Bing Crosby performs vocal solos and harmonizes with The Keynoters on popular mid-century swing and ballad standards. |
| "Summer Songbook Melodies with Bing Crosby" | CBS (WCBS) 1956-08-29 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Musical Variety |
Bing Crosby, Cole Trio | Buddy Cole and His Trio | ["Music", "Vocal", "Easy Listening", "Jazz", "Standards"] |
Bing Crosby chats about summer recreation and sings a selection of relaxed vocal standards backed by Buddy Cole's rhythm group. |
| "I May Be Wrong with Rosemary Clooney and Buddy Cole" | CBS (WCBS) 1960-08-29 10:45 AM EDT |
Commercial Network Sponsors |
Bing Crosby, Clooney | Buddy Cole and His Trio | ["Music", "Vocal", "Variety", "Jazz", "Standards"] |
Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney exchange humorous banter and perform vocal duets featuring the swing favorite 'I May Be Wrong'. |