On This Day, August 30: Cavalcade of America and The Mysterious Traveler
Also featured: Big Town.
August 30 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial story metadata, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on August 30 across American network radio and educational literature adaptations, Madeleine Carroll and Karl Swenson on Cavalcade of America for DuPont (1943, 1949), Maurice Tarplin in Treasure of Superstition Mountain on The Mysterious Traveler (1949), Edward Pawley as Steve Wilson in Big Town for Lifebuoy (1949), Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (Part 3) in The Cavalcade of Literature (1941), and comedian Mischa Auer guesting on Bill Stern's Colgate Sports Newsreel (1941–1949):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres & Serial Arc | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (Part 3)" | Syndicated Literature 1941-08-30 |
Sustaining Educational Classics |
Dramatic Cast Ensemble | William Shakespeare | ["Drama", "Classics", "Shakespeare", "Courtroom", "Adaptation"]Arc: The Merchant of Venice (Part 3 of 3) |
Portia disguises herself as a young legal scholar in the Venetian court of law to deliver the famed plea for mercy and save Antonio. |
| "Treasure of Superstition Mountain" | Mutual (WOR) 1949-08-30 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Mystery Anthology |
Maurice Tarplin, Zerbe | Robert A. Arthur & Kogan | ["Mystery", "Horror", "Suspense", "Anthology", "Maurice Tarplin"] |
Greedy prospectors braving Arizona desert canyons succumb to paranoia and violent betrayal while searching for the Lost Dutchman gold cache. |
| "The Final Decision with Edward Pawley" | NBC (WEAF) 1949-08-30 8:00 PM EDT |
Lever Brothers Lifebuoy Soap / Rinso |
Edward Pawley, Carlon | Big Town Production Staff | ["Newspaper", "Drama", "Crime", "Edward Pawley", "Lever Brothers"] |
Steve Wilson investigates a catastrophic highway collision involving an explosive chemical tanker and a courageous freight driver. |
| "Dear Funny Face with Madeleine Carroll" | NBC (WEAF) 1943-08-30 8:00 PM EWT |
DuPont Better Things for Better Living |
Madeleine Carroll, Collins | Robert Armbruster (Music) | ["Historical", "Drama", "Anthology", "DuPont", "Madeleine Carroll"] |
The biographical dramatization of the devoted wartime correspondence and personal courage of French resistance nurse Yvonne de Roussy. |
| "Wire to the West with Karl Swenson" | NBC (WEAF) 1949-08-30 8:00 PM EDT |
DuPont Better Things for Better Living |
Karl Swenson, McIntire | Homer Fickett (Director) | ["Historical", "Drama", "Western", "DuPont", "Telegraph"] |
Edward Creighton oversees the grueling construction of the first transcontinental telegraph line across hostile frontier territory. |
| "Guest Mischa Auer" | NBC (WEAF) 1946-08-30 10:30 PM EDT |
Colgate-Palmolive Colgate Shave Cream |
Bill Stern, Mischa Auer | Bill Stern Sports Staff | ["Sports", "Newsreel", "Comedy", "Bill Stern", "Colgate"] |
Bill Stern recounts dramatic sports legends and human interest anecdotes before trading comedic quips with guest Mischa Auer. |