On This Day, August 30: Town Meeting and Monte Cristo
Also featured: Buster Brown, Jean Shepherd.
August 30 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial story metadata, and pure narrative synopses for the final 11 broadcasts transmitting on August 30, completing August 30 100.0% across American network public affairs debates, classic swashbuckler adventures, radio humor essays, juvenile serials, and Broadway musical reviews, George V. Denny Jr. moderating America's Town Meeting of the Air on postwar employment (1945) and the Middle East (1949), Carleton Young in The Count of Monte Cristo (1949), Smilin' Ed McConnell and Froggy the Gremlin on The Buster Brown Gang (1947, 1952), Jean Shepherd's late-night monologues (1973, 1974), Blair of the Mounties (1935), Kitty Kallen on Broadway in Review (1953), and Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman (1935–1974):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres & Serial Arc | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "A Carib Indian Story" | NBC (WEAF) 1947-08-30 11:30 AM EDT |
Brown Shoe Company Buster Brown Shoes |
Smilin' Ed McConnell, Presby | June Foray & McConnell | ["Children's", "Adventure", "Smilin' Ed", "Buster Brown", "Gunga"] |
Smilin' Ed tells an exciting jungle adventure story about young Gunga and his loyal pet tiger battling a jungle predator. |
| "The Goddess Statue and Froggy the Gremlin" | NBC (WEAF) 1952-08-30 11:30 AM EDT |
Brown Shoe Company Buster Brown Shoes |
Smilin' Ed McConnell, Foray | June Foray & McConnell | ["Children's", "Adventure", "Comedy", "Smilin' Ed", "Buster Brown"] |
Froggy the Gremlin plays mischievous tricks on the guest magician before Smilin' Ed tells a thrilling tale of a stolen jade idol. |
| "How Can We Make Jobs for All, Now?" | ABC (WJZ) 1945-08-30 8:30 PM EWT |
Reader's Digest Assoc. The Reader's Digest |
George V. Denny Jr., McNutt | Town Meeting Staff | ["Public Affairs", "Debate", "Economics", "Postwar", "George Denny"] |
Labor leaders and economic analysts debate postwar industrial reconversion and full employment policies following the end of World War II. |
| "Does the Arab World Need a Marshall Plan?" | ABC (WJZ) 1949-08-30 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Public Affairs Forum |
George V. Denny Jr., Brewster | Town Meeting Staff | ["Public Affairs", "Debate", "Foreign Policy", "History", "George Denny"] |
Foreign policy experts and statesmen debate American economic aid and regional redevelopment across the Middle East. |
| "Trapping the Fur Smugglers (Episode 11)" | Syndicated Adventure 1935-08-30 |
Sustaining Canadian Mountie Serial |
Dramatic Cast Ensemble | Blair of Mounties Staff | ["Adventure", "Mounties", "Canada", "Serial", "RCMP"]Arc: The Northwest Timber Patrol (Part 11) |
Sergeant Blair trails an armed fur-poaching ring across the Yukon wilderness to prevent illicit contraband exports. |
| "The Drive to Sell and Modern Consumerism" | WOR New York 1973-08-30 11:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Late Night Essay |
Jean Shepherd (Host) | Jean Shepherd (Author) | ["Humor", "Monologue", "Essay", "Jean Shepherd", "WOR"] |
Jean Shepherd delivers an improvisational monologue dissecting aggressive marketing techniques and suburban retail rituals. |
| "Compulsive Talkers and Subway Philosophy" | WOR New York 1974-08-30 11:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Late Night Essay |
Jean Shepherd (Host) | Jean Shepherd (Author) | ["Humor", "Monologue", "Essay", "Jean Shepherd", "WOR"] |
Jean Shepherd muses on the peculiar social psychology of nonstop talkers encountered during late-night subway rides. |
| "The Island of If with Carleton Young" | Mutual (WOR) 1949-08-30 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Swashbuckler Drama |
Carleton Young, Baer | Alexandre Dumas (Author) | ["Adventure", "Classics", "Dumas", "Drama", "Carleton Young"] |
Edmond Dantes escapes the grim dungeons of the Château d'If and secures the hidden fortune buried on the Isle of Monte Cristo. |
| "Guest Kitty Kallen (Master 1)" | Syndicated Broadway 1953-08-30 |
Sustaining Broadway Showcase |
Kitty Kallen, Cast | Broadway in Review Staff | ["Music", "Broadway", "Vocal", "Kitty Kallen", "Review"] |
Vocalist Kitty Kallen performs her latest popular chart hits and reviews upcoming theatrical openings on Broadway. |
| "Guest Kitty Kallen (Master 2)" | Syndicated Broadway 1953-08-30 |
Sustaining Broadway Showcase |
Kitty Kallen, Cast | Broadway in Review Staff | ["Music", "Broadway", "Vocal", "Kitty Kallen", "Review"] |
Pop songstress Kitty Kallen shares behind-the-scenes theater anecdotes and sings romantic Broadway show tunes. |
| "The Case of Attila's Mask" | CBS Syndication 1943-08-30 |
Sustaining Mystery Drama |
Dramatic Cast Ensemble | E.W. Hornung (Author) | ["Mystery", "Crime", "Raffles", "E.W. Hornung", "Detective"] |
Gentleman thief A.J. Raffles outsmarts Scotland Yard detectives to restore an ancient gold relic from a corrupt collector. |