On This Day, August 30: Ed Wynn and The Goldbergs
Also featured: Perry Mason.
August 30 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 30 across American network radio and early variety hours, Ed Wynn's legendary Fire Chief broadcast for Texaco (1932), Gertrude Berg's domestic humor on The Goldbergs for Duz (1943), John Larkin defending an estranged daughter on Perry Mason (1954), desert suspense on A Voice in the Night (1946), Rudy Vallee's Fleischmann's Yeast Hour with Elsie Mae Gordon and Jeanne Aubert (1934), and Jan Garber on Treasury Star Parade (1932–1954):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "When You Were 8 and I Was 9 We Were 17 with Ed Wynn" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1932-08-30 9:30 PM EDST |
The Texas Company Texaco Fire-Chief Gas |
Ed Wynn, Graham McNamee | Ed Wynn (Writer) | ["Comedy", "Vaudeville", "Slapstick", "Ed Wynn", "Texaco"] |
Ed Wynn spins nonsensical vaudeville puns and silly childhood rhymes while demonstrating absurd firefighting inventions for Graham McNamee. |
| "Who Has Birdie Told?" | CBS (WABC) 1943-08-30 1:45 PM EWT |
Procter & Gamble Duz Soap Powder |
Gertrude Berg, Waters | Gertrude Berg (Writer) | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "Sitcom", "Gertrude Berg", "Procter & Gamble"] |
Molly Goldberg scrambles to contain neighborhood rumors after Birdie inadvertently reveals a sensitive family secret. |
| "Ed Beekman's Daughter" | CBS (WCBS) 1954-08-30 2:15 PM EDT |
Procter & Gamble Tide / Camay Soap |
John Larkin, Alexander | Erle Stanley Gardner | ["Courtroom", "Drama", "Mystery", "Serial", "Erle Stanley Gardner"] |
Perry Mason aids a client's estranged daughter who has become entangled in a suspicious suburban inheritance dispute. |
| "The Rattlesnake" | Syndicated Mystery 1946-08-30 |
Sustaining Suspense Drama |
Dramatic Voice Cast | Voice in the Night Staff | ["Mystery", "Thriller", "Suspense", "Macabre", "Anthology"] |
A vengeful rancher plots the ultimate murder by concealing a venomous desert rattlesnake inside his business partner's sleeping bag. |
| "Crossed Roads with Elsie Mae Gordon and Jeanne Aubert" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1934-08-30 8:00 PM EDST |
Standard Brands Fleischmann's Yeast |
Rudy Vallee, Gordon, Aubert | Rudy Vallee Staff | ["Variety", "Music", "Vocal", "Rudy Vallee", "Fleischmann's"] |
Rudy Vallee hosts dramatic sketches starring mimic Elsie Mae Gordon alongside songs performed by French soubrette Jeanne Aubert. |
| "I'll Always Be in Love with You featuring Jan Garber and His Orchestra" | Treasury Dept Syndication 1943-08-30 |
U.S. Treasury Dept War Savings Bonds |
Jan Garber and His Orch | Treasury Star Parade Staff | ["Music", "Big Band", "War Bonds", "Treasury", "World War II"] |
Jan Garber leads sweet swing renditions of I'll Always Be in Love with You to promote homefront war bond purchases. |