On This Day, August 30: Nero Wolfe and Count Basie on Jubilee
Also featured: Bob, Ray.
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 wartime AFRS recordings, Santos Ortega as Rex Stout's orchid-growing detective Nero Wolfe in The Case of the Murderous Signature (1943), Ernie Whitman hosting Count Basie and Lena Horne on Jubilee (Program 43, 1943), Bob & Ray's satirical radio bits on WHDH (1948, 1949), Spring Byington in December Bride (1953), and Jimmy Wakely's western melodies (1943–1953):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Rhythm of the Range with The Plainsmen" | CBS (WCBS) 1953-08-30 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Western Music |
Jimmy Wakely, Plainsmen | Jimmy Wakely Show Staff | ["Western", "Country", "Music", "Jimmy Wakely", "Vocal"] |
Cowboy crooner Jimmy Wakely sings western ballads and leads guitar harmonies on Rhythm of the Range. |
| "Arthur Sturdley's Good Scouts and Lyle Gump" | WHDH Boston 1948-08-30 |
Sustaining Radio Satire |
Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding | Bob & Ray (Writers) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Bob and Ray", "WHDH"] |
Bob and Ray lampoon pompous youth troop leaders and interview bewildered soap opera character Lyle Gump. |
| "Laughing Eddie Upjohn and the McBeeBee Twins" | WHDH Boston 1949-08-30 |
Sustaining Radio Satire |
Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding | Bob & Ray (Writers) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Bob and Ray", "WHDH"] |
The comedic duo parody studio game show announcers with the uncontrollably giggling contestant Eddie Upjohn. |
| "Lily Plays Matchmaker with Spring Byington" | CBS (WCBS) 1953-08-30 7:00 PM EDT |
General Foods Instant Maxwell House Coffee |
Spring Byington, March | Parke Levy (Creator) | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Spring Byington", "Parke Levy"] |
Lively widow Lily Ruskin schemes to find a romantic match for her cynical neighbor Pete, causing chaos for her son-in-law. |
| "The Case of the Murderous Signature" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1943-08-30 8:30 PM EWT |
Jergens-Woodbury Woodbury Facial Soap |
Santos Ortega, van Rooten | Rex Stout (Creator) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Nero Wolfe", "Rex Stout", "Santos Ortega"] |
Nero Wolfe deduces how an authentic signature on a fraudulent codicil reveals the identity of a wealthy financier's killer. |
| "Host Ernie Whitman with Count Basie and Lena Horne (AFRS Program 43)" | AFRS (Program 43) 1943-08-30 |
Armed Forces Radio U.S. War Department |
Ernie Whitman, Basie, Horne | AFRS Jubilee Staff | ["Jazz", "Big Band", "Swing", "AFRS", "Count Basie"] |
Ernie Whitman presents Count Basie's swinging big band, Lena Horne's smoky torch songs, and jubilee gospel harmonies for overseas troops. |