On This Day, August 30: Sergeant Preston of the Yukon and Young Widder Brown
Also featured: Terry Pratchett.
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, syndicated transcription services, and modern audio theatre, Paul Sutton as Sergeant Preston of the Yukon tracking murderers and claim jumpers for Quaker Oats (1947–1950), Frank and Anne Hummert's daytime serial Young Widder Brown for Haley's M-O (1950), husband-and-wife sleuths in Two on a Clue for Post's Bran Flakes (1945), international intrigue on John Steele, Adventurer (1955), and Terry Pratchett's Discworld classic Guards! Guards! by the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company (1945–2007):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Norine Meets with Dr. Jim Brent" | NBC (WNBC) 1950-08-30 4:45 PM EDT |
Sterling Drug Haley's M-O / Phillips |
Wendy Drew, Wever | Frank & Anne Hummert | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Serial", "Daytime", "Hummert"] |
Norine seeks a secret medical consultation with Dr. Jim Brent to discuss her worsening health without alerting Ellen. |
| "The Moroccan Smuggling Ring" | Mutual (WOR) 1955-08-30 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining International Espionage |
Ted Mallie (Narrator) | John Steele Staff | ["Espionage", "Adventure", "International", "Action", "Drama"] |
Government agent John Steele tracks illicit munitions shipments across the Moroccan desert to prevent an uprising. |
| "The Case of the Noisy Corpse (Part 13)" | CBS (WABC) 1945-08-30 2:00 PM EWT |
General Foods Post's 40% Bran Flakes |
Ned Wever, Fitch | Two on a Clue Staff | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Comedy-Mystery", "Serial", "Daytime"] |
Husband-and-wife sleuths Jeff and Penny Spencer search a creaky Victorian attic for the source of unexplained nighttime tapping sounds. |
| "Clue to a Killer" | ABC (WJZ) 1947-08-30 5:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining / Quaker Puffed Wheat |
Paul Sutton, King | Fran Striker (Writer) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Northwest", "Juvenile", "Mountie"] |
Sergeant Preston and King track a gold claim jumper who murdered a prospector and fled into the mountain wilderness. |
| "Logan's Luck" | Mutual (WOR) 1950-08-30 5:00 PM EDT |
Quaker Oats Co. Quaker Puffed Rice & Wheat |
Paul Sutton, King | Fran Striker (Writer) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Northwest", "Juvenile", "Mountie"] |
Sergeant Preston investigates a suspicious mining claim dispute after an unlucky prospector strikes gold and receives violent threats. |
| "Guards! Guards! (Part 1)" | ARTC Syndication 2007-08-30 |
Sustaining Audio Drama |
ARTC Repertory Cast | Terry Pratchett (Author) | ["Fantasy", "Comedy", "Satire", "Audio Drama", "Adaptation"] |
Captain Sam Vimes and the underdog Ankh-Morpork City Night Watch investigate a secret brotherhood attempting to summon a dragon. |