On This Day, August 29: Jean Shepherd and America's Town Meeting
Also featured: Blair of the Mounties.
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 syndication, Jean Shepherd delivering his famous broadcast on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington address on WOR New York (1963–1964), George V. Denny Jr. moderating America's Town Meeting of the Air on the Cold War and Korean War mobilization (1946–1950), and Royal Canadian Mounted Police wilderness serial Blair of the Mounties (1935–1964):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Are We Facing Another World War?" | ABC (WJZ) 1946-08-29 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Public Affairs Forum |
George V. Denny Jr. | Town Hall Staff | ["Public Affairs", "Debate", "History", "Talk", "Cold War"] |
Foreign policy analysts debate escalating diplomatic tensions with the Soviet Union and postwar European reconstruction. |
| "What Does the Korean War Mean to America?" | ABC (WJZ) 1950-08-29 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Public Affairs Forum |
George V. Denny Jr. | Town Hall Staff | ["Public Affairs", "Debate", "Korean War", "Military", "Talk"] |
Military analysts and political leaders debate American intervention in Korea, domestic wartime mobilization, and draft policies. |
| "The Smugglers of Moose Creek (Episode 10)" | Transcribed Synd 1935-08-29 |
Sustaining Mountie Adventure |
Colonel S.T. Wood | RCMP Production Staff | ["Adventure", "Western", "Mounties", "Juvenile", "Action"] |
Sergeant Blair tracks fur smugglers operating along the frozen Canadian wilderness border and ambushes their hidden cabin. |
| "Lord Waverton's Dilemma (Part 3)" | Transcribed Synd 1938-08-29 |
Sustaining Mountie Adventure |
Colonel S.T. Wood | RCMP Production Staff | ["Adventure", "Western", "Mounties", "Juvenile", "Serial"] |
Sergeant Blair rescues a British nobleman held hostage by timber poachers and restores stolen estate deeds in the Yukon. |
| "Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington Speech" | WOR (New York) 1963-08-29 11:15 PM EDT |
Village Voice / WOR Station Advertisers |
Jean Shepherd (Host) | Jean Shepherd (Writer) | ["Monologue", "Humor", "Civil Rights", "Commentary", "WOR New York"] |
Jean Shepherd delivers an emotional monologue praising Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington address as brilliant American oratory. |
| "Evading the Issue and Coney Island Memories" | WOR (New York) 1964-08-29 11:15 PM EDT |
Village Voice / WOR Station Advertisers |
Jean Shepherd (Host) | Jean Shepherd (Writer) | ["Monologue", "Humor", "Americana", "Nostalgia", "WOR New York"] |
Jean Shepherd reminisces about summer boardwalk excursions to Coney Island and dissects political doublespeak in modern society. |