On This Day, August 30: Johnny Mercer and Rudy Vallee
Also featured: This Is Jazz.
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 jazz broadcast history, Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford performing Highway Polka for Lucky Strike (1944), Rudy Vallee welcoming Carmen Miranda and Xavier Cugat (1945) and French singer Jeanne Aubert for Fleischmann's Yeast (1934), Rudi Blesh presenting Wild Bill Davison and Edmond Hall on This Is Jazz (1947), the series finale of Attorney-at-Law starring Jim Ameche (1938), and Ma Perkins for Oxydol (1934–1949):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Highway Polka with Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-08-30 8:00 PM EWT |
American Tobacco Lucky Strike Cigarettes |
Johnny Mercer, Stafford | Paul Weston and Orchestra | ["Music", "Vocal", "Pop Standards", "Swing", "Big Band"] |
Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford perform upbeat novelty hits including Highway Polka backed by Paul Weston's orchestra. |
| "The Case of the Man with Two Minds (Series Finale)" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1938-08-30 3:00 PM EDST |
S.C. Johnson & Son Johnson's Wax |
Jim Ameche, Carlon | Milton Geiger (Creator) | ["Legal Drama", "Courtroom", "Crime", "Mystery", "Serial"] |
Young lawyer Terry Regan exposes a fraudulent amnesia defense fabricated by a corrupt estate administrator to seize family assets. |
| "At the Jazz Band Ball with Wild Bill Davison" | Mutual (WOR) 1947-08-30 2:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Traditional Jazz |
Wild Bill Davison, Hall | Rudi Blesh (Host) | ["Jazz", "Dixieland", "Traditional Jazz", "Live Music", "Rudi Blesh"] |
Cornetist Wild Bill Davison and clarinetist Edmond Hall lead an all-star Dixieland jazz ensemble in an energetic live performance of At the Jazz Band Ball. |
| "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, Aubert | The Connecticut Yankees | ["Variety", "Vocal", "Comedy", "Music", "Fleischmann's Yeast"] |
Rudy Vallee conducts musical variety sketches and introduces dramatic actress Elsie Mae Gordon and French chanteuse Jeanne Aubert. |
| "Guest Carmen Miranda and Xavier Cugat" | NBC (WEAF) 1945-08-30 8:00 PM EWT |
Procter & Gamble Drene Shampoo |
Rudy Vallee, Miranda | Xavier Cugat and Orchestra | ["Variety", "Vocal", "Comedy", "Latin", "Music"] |
Rudy Vallee exchanges comedic banter with Pinky Lee and welcomes Brazilian star Carmen Miranda performing Latin samba rhythms. |
| "Fay Plans a Surprise for Shuffle" | CBS (WCBS) 1949-08-30 1:15 PM EDT |
Procter & Gamble Oxydol Soap Powder |
Virginia Payne, Egelston | Frank & Anne Hummert | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Serial", "Daytime", "Americana"] |
Ma Perkins helps Fay organize a quiet family celebration to cheer up Shuffle following a discouraging week at the lumber yard. |