On This Day, August 30: Grand Ole Opry and Mr. Chameleon
Also featured: Alan Young.
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, country music heritage, and popular comedy archives, Ray Price fronting The Cherokee Cowboys and Minnie Pearl on The Grand Ole Opry for Prince Albert Tobacco (1958), Karl Swenson as master disguiser Mr. Chameleon unmasking a society wedding killer for Bayer Aspirin (1950), Alan Young's mountain-climbing comedy for Vitalis (1944), Aunt Mary daytime drama (1946), colossal Olmec archaeology on Adventures in Research (1949), and the Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir on The Magic Key of RCA (1936–1958):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Host Ray Price with The Cherokee Cowboys" | NBC / WSM 1958-08-30 8:30 PM CST |
R.J. Reynolds Prince Albert Tobacco |
Ray Price, Minnie Pearl | WSM Opry Staff | ["Country", "Honky-Tonk", "Live Music", "Grand Ole Opry", "WSM"] |
Honky-tonk innovator Ray Price performs Texas shuffle hits and welcomes comedic monologues from Cousin Minnie Pearl at the Ryman Auditorium. |
| "The Childhood Sweetheart Murder Case" | CBS (WCBS) 1950-08-30 8:00 PM EDT |
Sterling Drug Inc. Bayer Aspirin / Phillips |
Karl Swenson, Frank Butler | Frank & Anne Hummert | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Disguise", "Hummert", "Bayer Aspirin"] |
Master of disguises Mr. Chameleon poses as a country attorney to unmask the killer of a society heiress on her wedding eve. |
| "Jessie Goes to See Brett" | NBC Pacific 1946-08-30 |
Safeway Stores Albers Milling Products |
Jane Morgan (Aunt Mary) | Aunt Mary Production Staff | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Serial", "Daytime", "Family"] |
Jessie travels to the neighboring county to confront Brett regarding his mysterious financial entanglements and sudden secrecy. |
| "Alan Goes Mountain Climbing" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-08-30 9:00 PM EWT |
Bristol-Myers Sal Hepatica / Vitalis |
Alan Young, Jim Backus | Alan Young Show Staff | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Slapstick", "Bristol-Myers", "Alan Young"] |
Alan attempts to prove his rugged outdoor masculinity by attempting a mountain ascent, encountering comic mishaps with amateur climbing gear. |
| "The Fifty-Ton Gods" | Syndicated Science 1949-08-30 |
Westinghouse Electric Corporation |
Dr. Phillips Thomas, Shannon | Westinghouse Research Staff | ["Science", "Education", "Archaeology", "History", "Westinghouse"] |
Dr. Phillips Thomas explains the engineering marvels and archaeological mysteries behind the colossal basalt heads carved by ancient Olmec sculptors. |
| "Seeing America First: Salt Lake City" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1936-08-30 2:00 PM EDST |
RCA Victor Radio & Phonographs |
Milton Cross, Tabernacle Choir | Frank Black & NBC Symphony | ["Music", "Choral", "Orchestral", "Americana", "RCA Victor"] |
The Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir performs sacred chorales and folk hymns in an expansive live broadcast saluting Utah heritage. |