On This Day, August 30: Martin and Lewis
Also featured: Tony Bennett, Fitch Bandwagon.
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 comedy, big band music, celebrity DJ interviews, Irish literary drama, and modern audio theater, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis bantering with Jane Russell on NBC (1949), Shep Fields and Mitchell Ayres on The Fitch Bandwagon (1942, 1944), Tony Bennett live on The Howard Miller Show (1955), Maurice O'Sullivan's Irish classic Twenty Years A-Growing on BBC Radio 4 (1977), and John Patrick Lowrie as Sherlock Holmes in The Amateur Mendicant Society (1942–2009):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Amateur Mendicant Society & The Trophy with John Patrick Lowrie" | Imagination Theater 2009-08-30 |
Sustaining Audio Drama |
John Patrick Lowrie, Albert | M.J. Elliott & Jim French | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Sherlock Holmes", "Jim French", "Modern Radio"] |
Holmes and Watson expose a fraudulent London charitable syndicate operating an underworld beggar ring out of a dockside warehouse. |
| "Guest Jane Russell" | NBC (WEAF) 1949-08-30 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Comedy Showcase |
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Russell | Dick Stabile Orchestra | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Slapstick", "Dean Martin", "Jerry Lewis"] |
Jerry creates slapstick havoc while attempting to audition alongside Hollywood glamour star Jane Russell for a new musical picture. |
| "Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1942-08-30 7:30 PM EWT |
F.W. Fitch Co. Fitch's Shampoo |
Tobe Reed, Shep Fields | Shep Fields Orchestra | ["Big Band", "Swing", "Music", "Shep Fields", "Fitch"] |
Shep Fields leads his champagne-music orchestra through signature rippling woodwind arrangements and popular wartime melodies. |
| "Mitchell Ayres and His Fashions in Music" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-08-30 7:30 PM EWT |
F.W. Fitch Co. Fitch's Shampoo |
Tom Reddy, Mitchell Ayres | Mitchell Ayres Orchestra | ["Big Band", "Swing", "Music", "Mitchell Ayres", "Fitch"] |
Mitchell Ayres conducts his orchestra in upbeat big band swing and romantic vocal numbers for Fitch Shampoo. |
| "Maurice O'Sullivan's Blasket Island Memoirs (BBC Radio 4)" | BBC Radio 4 1977-08-30 8:30 PM BST |
Sustaining Literary Dramatization |
Niall Tóibín, McKenna | Maurice O'Sullivan (Author) | ["Drama", "Irish", "Memoir", "Biography", "BBC Radio 4"] |
The evocative dramatization of youth and traditional Gaeltacht island life growing up on the rugged Great Blasket Island. |
| "Guest Tony Bennett with Live Performance" | WBBM / CBS 1955-08-30 11:30 PM CDT |
Sustaining Late Night Music |
Howard Miller, Bennett | Howard Miller Show Staff | ["Music", "Talk", "Interview", "Tony Bennett", "Howard Miller"] |
Disc jockey Howard Miller interviews pop crooner Tony Bennett about his latest Columbia Records hits and live nightclub appearances. |