On This Day, August 30: Frank Sinatra and Burns and Allen
Also featured: FBI in Peace and War.
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 syndicated transcription drama, Frank Sinatra and Eileen Barton for Vimms Vitamins (1944), Gracie Allen turning her Beverly Hills home into a summer boarding house on Burns and Allen for Grape-Nuts (1937), two federal crime cases on The FBI in Peace and War (Black Gold in 1945 and The Double Check in 1951 for Lava Soap), the fall of Marshal Pétain on Betrayal (1948), and Robert L. Ripley hosting screen star Linda Darnell (1937–1951):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Fall of Marshal Petain" | Syndicated Drama 1948-08-30 |
Sustaining Historical Docudrama |
Dramatic Cast Ensemble | Jerry Devine (Creator) | ["Historical", "Docudrama", "World War II", "Biography", "Politics"] |
A dramatic chronicle examines the collaboration and political downfall of French leader Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. |
| "Guest Eileen Barton with The Bobby Tucker Singers" | CBS (WABC) 1944-08-30 9:00 PM EWT |
Lever Brothers Vimms Vitamins |
Frank Sinatra, Barton | Axel Stordahl & Orchestra | ["Music", "Vocal", "Big Band", "Pop Standards", "Variety"] |
Frank Sinatra sings romantic ballad hits and banters with vocalist Eileen Barton backed by Axel Stordahl's lush arrangements. |
| "Gracie Runs a Boarding House" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1937-08-30 8:00 PM EDST |
General Foods Grape-Nuts Cereal |
George Burns, Gracie Allen | Henry King & Orchestra | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Vaudeville", "Domestic", "Americana"] |
Gracie attempts to convert their Beverly Hills home into a summer boarding house, inviting eccentric strangers and baffling George. |
| "Black Gold" | CBS (WABC) 1945-08-30 8:30 PM EWT |
Procter & Gamble Lava Soap |
Martin Blaine (Narrator) | Frederick L. Collins (Author) | ["Police", "True Crime", "Docudrama", "Federal", "Action"] |
FBI special agents dismantle an interstate black-market petroleum theft syndicate siphoning crude oil from Texas pipelines. |
| "The Double Check" | CBS (WCBS) 1951-08-30 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining / Lava Soap |
Martin Blaine (Narrator) | FBI in Peace & War Staff | ["Police", "True Crime", "Docudrama", "Federal", "Investigation"] |
Federal agents unravel an elaborate forged payroll check scheme operating across several midwestern manufacturing plants. |
| "Robert L. Ripley with Linda Darnell" | CBS (WABC) 1945-08-30 10:00 PM EWT |
Sustaining Summer Variety |
Robert L. Ripley, Darnell | Ray Bloch and Orchestra | ["Variety", "Music", "Oddities", "Interview", "Hollywood"] |
Robert Ripley introduces unbelievable historical oddities and interviews screen star Linda Darnell between romantic orchestral selections. |