On This Day, August 31: Canterbury Tales and Swaps in the Derby
Also featured: Erle Stanley Gardner.
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 British classical literature, American sports history, courtroom drama, audio retrospectives, Canadian supernatural thrillers, and network romance drama, Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canon's Yeoman's Tale on the BBC Third Programme (1950), Willie Shoemaker recounting Swaps winning the 1955 Kentucky Derby (1955), Erle Stanley Gardner's A Life in Your Hands with Lee Bowman (1951), Jim French's tribute to Dragnet (1996), CBC Radio's supernatural drama Midnight (1982), and Maureen O'Sullivan on NBC Radio Theater (1950–1996):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Swaps Wins the 1955 Kentucky Derby" | NBC (WEAF) 1955-08-31 10:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Sports Documentary |
Willie Shoemaker, Ellsworth | NBC Sports Staff | ["Sports", "Horse Racing", "History", "Kentucky Derby", "NBC"] |
Jockey Willie Shoemaker and owner Rex Ellsworth recount California thoroughbred Swaps' wire-to-wire triumph at Churchill Downs. |
| "The Case of the Fatal Inheritance with Lee Bowman" | NBC (WEAF) 1951-08-31 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Legal Courtroom Drama |
Lee Bowman, Ken Lynch | Erle Stanley Gardner (Creator) | ["Courtroom", "Legal", "Mystery", "Lee Bowman", "Erle Stanley Gardner"] |
Amateur criminologist Jonathan Kring reconstructs physical evidence to determine if a disputed heir committed premeditated poisoning. |
| "The Canon's Yeoman's Preamble and Tale (BBC Third Programme)" | BBC Third Programme 1950-08-31 8:00 PM BST |
Sustaining Classical Literature |
BBC Repertory Co. | Nevill Coghill & Chaucer | ["Classics", "Literature", "Chaucer", "British", "BBC Third Programme"] |
A disillusioned apprentice exposes the deceptive alchemy tricks and fraudulent promises of his alchemist master. |
| "Dragnet and American Radio Sleuths with Jim French" | KIRO / Syndicated 1996-08-31 |
Sustaining Audio Mystery Anthology |
Jim French (Host / Creator) | Jim French Productions | ["Mystery", "Anthology", "Tribute", "Dragnet", "Jim French"] |
A retrospective and tribute examining the realism and iconic documentary style of Jack Webb's vintage police drama Dragnet. |
| "Of Magic and Mephistopheles with CBC Radio Drama" | CBC Radio Canada 1982-08-31 11:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Supernatural Drama |
CBC Repertory Ensemble | Larry LeBlanc (Writer) | ["Horror", "Supernatural", "Macabre", "Canadian", "CBC Radio"] |
A stage illusionist dabbling in genuine occult conjuration discovers his demonic pact demands a terrifying price. |
| "The Italian Girl with Maureen O'Sullivan" | NBC (WEAF) 1959-08-31 8:05 PM EDT |
Sustaining Drama Showcase |
Maureen O'Sullivan, Cast | Fletcher Markle (Director) | ["Drama", "Romance", "Anthology", "Maureen O'Sullivan", "NBC"] |
An aristocratic English family discovers long-buried secrets when an enigmatic Italian houseguest arrives at their country estate. |