On This Day, August 31: Boris Karloff and Whitehall 1212
Also featured: Mysterious Traveler.
August 31 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 31 across Hollywood variety specials, authentic Scotland Yard files, mystery suspense anthologies, daytime soap operas, and sports commentary, Boris Karloff joining Al Jolson on Shell Chateau (1935), Wyllis Cooper's Whitehall 1212 (1952), Karl Weber in Inspector Thorne (1951), Maurice Tarplin in The Mysterious Traveler (1948), Luise Barclay in Arnold Grimm's Daughter (1938), and Bill Stern presenting trumpet maestro Charlie Spivak for Colgate (1935–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Case of the Madden Family with Chief Superintendent John Davidson" | NBC (WNBC) 1952-08-31 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Scotland Yard True Crime |
John Davidson (Host) | Wyllis Cooper (Dir/Writer) | ["Police Procedural", "True Crime", "Scotland Yard", "Whitehall 1212", "NBC"] |
Scotland Yard detectives analyze forensic soil deposits and tire impressions to solve an elusive triple homicide at a rural country cottage. |
| "The Dark Cigarette Murder Case with Karl Weber" | NBC (WNBC) 1951-08-31 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Police Detective Mystery |
Karl Weber, Ocko | Frank Gould (Writer) | ["Detective", "Police Procedural", "Mystery", "Inspector Thorne", "NBC"] |
Inspector Thorne spots a single Turkish tobacco ash on an executive desk, revealing how an apparent heart attack was actually cyanide poisoning. |
| "Murder Has a Price with Maurice Tarplin" | Mutual (WOR) 1948-08-31 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Suspense & Macabre |
Maurice Tarplin (Narrator) | Arthur & Kogan (Writers) | ["Suspense", "Mystery", "Macabre", "The Mysterious Traveler", "Maurice Tarplin"] |
A desperate embezzler hires a waterfront hitman to eliminate a blackmailer, only to face double-cross and fatal extortion. |
| "Stan Has a Surprise for Connie with Luise Barclay" | CBS (WABC) 1938-08-31 2:15 PM EDST |
General Mills Gold Medal Flour |
Luise Barclay, Prentiss | Margaret Sangster (Writer) | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Arnold Grimms Daughter", "Gold Medal", "CBS"] |
Stan reveals an unexpected business promotion to Connie, sparking renewed conflict with her domineering father Arnold Grimm. |
| "Shell Chateau: Guest Boris Karloff with Al Jolson and Victor Young" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1935-08-31 9:30 PM EDST |
Shell Oil Co. Super-Charged Shell |
Boris Karloff, Jolson | Victor Young Orchestra | ["Variety", "Comedy", "Music", "Boris Karloff", "Al Jolson", "Shell"] |
Boris Karloff trades horror banter with Al Jolson and performs a dramatic monologue alongside musical numbers from Victor Young. |
| "Guest Charlie Spivak with Colgate-Palmolive" | NBC (WEAF) 1945-08-31 10:30 PM EWT |
Colgate-Palmolive Colgate Shave Cream |
Bill Stern, Spivak | NBC Sports Division | ["Sports", "News", "Interview", "Bill Stern", "Colgate"] |
Bill Stern narrates dramatic sports legends and presents trumpet virtuoso Charlie Spivak with the Sportsman of the Week award. |