On This Day, August 30: Murder at Midnight and Lum and Abner
Also featured: Romance.
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 macabre thriller archives, Berry Kroeger hosting the phantom elevator horror The Thirteenth Floor on Murder at Midnight (1946), Martha Scott starring in Benn W. Levy's romantic fantasy Mrs. Moonlight on Romance (1943), three rural comedy adventures on Lum and Abner at the Jot 'Em Down Store in Pine Ridge for Horlick's and Alka-Seltzer (1935–1947), and CBS news coverage of RAF night fighter operations (1935–1947):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Thirteenth Floor" | Mutual (WOR) 1946-08-30 11:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Macabre Thriller |
Berry Kroeger (Host) | Anton M. Leader (Director) | ["Horror", "Macabre", "Supernatural", "Thriller", "Anthology"] |
An ambitious executive uses an express elevator trap to murder a business partner, only to find himself trapped on a phantom floor. |
| "Benn W. Levy's Mrs. Moonlight with Martha Scott" | CBS (WABC) 1943-08-30 11:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Dramatic Romance |
Martha Scott, Cast | Benn W. Levy (Author) | ["Drama", "Romance", "Fantasy", "Adaptation", "Martha Scott"] |
A young Victorian bride wishes on a magical keepsake necklace to remain eternally young, but realizes immortality isolates her from aging loved ones. |
| "British Warplanes and Night-Camouflage Formations" | CBS (WABC) 1940-08-30 6:45 PM EDST |
Sustaining Wartime News |
Bob Trout, Murrow | CBS News Staff | ["News", "World War II", "Battle of Britain", "Aviation", "Historical"] |
CBS correspondents report on RAF nighttime defensive formations over southern England and experimental stealth camouflage finishes. |
| "The Stockholders Vote" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1935-08-30 7:30 PM EDST |
Horlick's Malted Milk Malted Milk Drinks |
Chester Lauck, Goff | Lauck & Norris Goff | ["Comedy", "Rural", "Sitcom", "Americana", "Horlick's"] |
Lum and Abner hold an emergency shareholder meeting at the Jot 'Em Down Store to prevent Squire Skimp from seizing corporate control. |
| "B.J. Accuses Lum" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1944-08-30 8:15 PM EWT |
Miles Laboratories Alka-Seltzer / One-A-Day |
Chester Lauck, Goff | Lauck & Norris Goff | ["Comedy", "Rural", "Sitcom", "Americana", "Alka-Seltzer"] |
B.J. Webster accuses Lum of mismanaging county election ballots during a contentious town hall dispute in Pine Ridge. |
| "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp" | CBS (WCBS) 1947-08-30 8:00 PM EDT |
Miles Laboratories Alka-Seltzer / One-A-Day |
Chester Lauck, Goff | Lauck & Norris Goff | ["Comedy", "Rural", "Sitcom", "Americana", "Alka-Seltzer"] |
Abner discovers a tarnished brass lamp in the store cellar and becomes convinced a wish-granting genie lives inside. |