On This Day, August 30: Orson Welles' Moby Dick and Kraft Music Hall
Also featured: Frank Merriwell.
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 British BBC broadcasting, Orson Welles starring as Captain Ahab and Father Mapple in Moby Dick on The Mercury Summer Theatre of the Air for Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer (1946), two eras of Kraft Music Hall with Paul Whiteman (1934) and Jo Stafford with Curt Massey (1945), Lawson Zerbe as The Adventures of Frank Merriwell (1947), British teen pop sensation Helen Shapiro on Parade of the Pops (1961), and gritty police action on Police Blotter (1934–1961):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Midnight Safe-Cracker" | Syndicated Radio 1957-08-30 |
Sustaining Crime Vignette |
Dramatic Police Cast | Police Blotter Staff | ["Crime", "Police", "Docudrama", "Short Format", "Investigation"] |
Night patrolmen spot an open warehouse window and corner an expert safecracker attempting to drill through a jeweler's vault. |
| "The Silver Dollar Chase" | NBC (WNBC) 1947-08-30 10:00 AM EDT |
Sustaining Juvenile Adventure |
Lawson Zerbe, Studer | Burt L. Standish (Creator) | ["Juvenile", "Adventure", "Campus", "Sports", "Mystery"] |
Frank Merriwell and Bart Hodge solve a university campus puzzle to retrieve rare stolen silver dollars before graduation ceremonies. |
| "Moby Dick with Orson Welles" | CBS (WABC) 1946-08-30 9:00 PM EDT |
Pabst Brewing Co. Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer |
Orson Welles (Ahab) | Melville & Herrmann | ["Drama", "Classics", "Maritime", "Literature", "Adaptation"] |
Captain Ahab drives the whaling ship Pequod across open seas in a vengeful obsession to destroy the legendary white whale. |
| "Guest Helen Shapiro with Bob Miller and the Millermen" | BBC Light Prog 1961-08-30 12:31 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC Pop Showcase |
Helen Shapiro, Miller | The Millermen Ensemble | ["Music", "Pop", "British Pop", "Big Band", "Top 40"] |
Teen pop singer Helen Shapiro performs her chart-topping hits backed by Bob Miller and the Millermen. |
| "Paul Whiteman with Ramona and Al Bernard" | NBC (WEAF) 1934-08-30 10:00 PM EDST |
Kraft-Phenix Cheese Miracle Whip / Velveeta |
Paul Whiteman, Ramona | Al Bernard & Rhythm Boys | ["Music", "Big Band", "Jazz", "Vocal", "Variety"] |
Paul Whiteman conducts orchestral jazz arrangements and introduces specialty blues numbers by vocalist Ramona. |
| "Guest Jo Stafford and Curt Massey with The Music Maids" | NBC (WEAF) 1945-08-30 9:00 PM EWT |
Kraft Cheese Co. Miracle Whip / Parkay |
Jo Stafford, Massey | John Scott Trotter Orch | ["Music", "Variety", "Vocal", "Big Band", "Pop Standards"] |
Jo Stafford and Curt Massey perform romantic wartime duets and popular summer ballad selections backed by John Scott Trotter's orchestra. |