On This Day, August 31: Challenge of the Yukon and Boris Karloff
Also featured: Famous Jury Trials.
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 American network Yukon adventures, celebrity comedy-variety, and courtroom docudramas, three eras of Challenge of the Yukon featuring Jay Michael (1939, 1944) and Paul Sutton (1952), Al Jolson welcoming Boris Karloff on Shell Chateau (1935), and two courtroom cases on Famous Jury Trials (1935–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Gold Cache at Porcupine Creek" | WXYZ / Michigan 1939-08-31 7:00 PM EST |
Sustaining Northern Adventure |
Jay Michael (Sgt. Preston) | Trendle & Striker | ["Western", "Adventure", "Mounties", "Sgt Preston", "Fran Striker"] |
Sergeant Preston and King track two claim jumpers who ambushed an elderly prospector to steal his gold cache. |
| "Smokey the Sled Dog with Jay Michael" | WXYZ / Syndication 1944-08-31 5:00 PM EWT |
Sustaining Northern Adventure |
Jay Michael, King | Fran Striker (Writer) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Mounties", "Sgt Preston", "Fran Striker"] |
Sergeant Preston investigates the theft of a championship lead sled dog stolen during a blizzard in Whitehorse. |
| "The Man from Vancouver with Paul Sutton" | Mutual (WOR) 1952-08-31 5:30 PM EDT |
Quaker Oats Company Puffed Wheat & Rice |
Paul Sutton, King | Dan Beattie (Writer) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Mounties", "Paul Sutton", "Quaker Oats"] |
Sergeant Preston exposes a fraudulent gold mine promoter who framed an innocent Vancouver engineer for murder. |
| "Guest Boris Karloff with Al Jolson" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1935-08-31 9:30 PM EDST |
Shell Oil Company Shell Gasoline & Motor Oil |
Al Jolson, Boris Karloff | Victor Young Orchestra | ["Variety", "Music", "Comedy", "Boris Karloff", "Al Jolson"] |
Host Al Jolson welcomes horror icon Boris Karloff for comedic banter, dramatic readings, and musical numbers for Shell Oil. |
| "The Trial of Lafe Carson" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1943-08-31 8:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Courtroom Drama |
Dramatic Voice Cast | Famous Jury Trials Staff | ["Courtroom", "Legal", "True Crime", "Famous Jury Trials", "NBC Blue"] |
Defense attorneys present conflicting ballistic evidence in court to determine whether Lafe Carson shot a neighbor in self-defense. |
| "The State vs. Arthur Murdock" | ABC (WJZ) 1945-08-31 8:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Courtroom Drama |
Dramatic Voice Cast | Famous Jury Trials Staff | ["Courtroom", "Legal", "True Crime", "Famous Jury Trials", "ABC"] |
Prosecutors present circumstantial eyewitness testimony accusing a bank cashier of staging an inside vault robbery. |