On This Day, August 31: Duke Ellington and Dr. Kildare
Also featured: The Aldrich Family.
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 big band jazz club remotes, mature romantic sitcoms, teenage misadventures, hospital melodramas, and circus wild animal adventures, Duke Ellington live from the Aquarium Restaurant on A Date with the Duke (1946), Spring Byington in December Bride (1952), Dick Jones and Bobby Ellis in The Aldrich Family (1945, 1950), Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore in The Story of Dr. Kildare (1950), and The Clyde Beatty Show (1945–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Live from the Aquarium Restaurant with Duke Ellington" | ABC (WJZ) 1946-08-31 5:00 PM EDT |
U.S. Treasury Savings Bonds |
Duke Ellington Orchestra | Johnny Hodges (Sax) | ["Music", "Jazz", "Big Band", "Duke Ellington", "ABC"] |
Duke Ellington leads his orchestra in live performances of Take the A Train, Caravan, and Mood Indigo from New York's Aquarium Restaurant. |
| "Lily's New Suitor with Spring Byington" | CBS (WCBS) 1952-08-31 7:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Domestic Comedy |
Spring Byington, Singleton | Parke Levy (Creator) | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "December Bride", "Spring Byington", "CBS"] |
Lily Ruskin's daughter and son-in-law attempt to play matchmaker by introducing her to an eccentric retired sea captain. |
| "Henry's Summer Job with Dick Jones" | CBS (WABC) 1945-08-31 8:00 PM EWT |
General Foods Post's 40% Bran |
Dick Jones, Jackie Kelk | Clifford Goldsmith | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "Teen", "The Aldrich Family", "Post Bran"] |
Henry Aldrich and Homer Brown attempt to run a mobile bicycle repair service with disastrous mechanical results. |
| "Babysitting the Henderson Twins with Bobby Ellis" | NBC (WNBC) 1950-08-31 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Teen Situation Comedy |
Bobby Ellis, Jackie Kelk | House Jameson (Mr. Aldrich) | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "Teen", "The Aldrich Family", "NBC"] |
Henry takes on an evening babysitting job to earn dance ticket money, only to lose track of the twins during a game of hide-and-seek. |
| "The Hospital Benefactor's Will with Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore" | MGM Syndication 1950-08-31 |
Sustaining MGM Medical Drama |
Lew Ayres, Barrymore | Les Crutchfield (Writer) | ["Medical", "Drama", "Dr Kildare", "Lew Ayres", "Lionel Barrymore", "MGM"] |
Dr. Kildare investigates when an eccentric hospital donor's family attempts to contest a research bequest by alleging medical incompetence. |
| "The Fabulous General Ike with Clyde Beatty" | Commodore Synd. 1950-08-31 |
Sustaining Circus Adventure |
Clyde Beatty, Ensemble | Shirley Thomas (Director) | ["Adventure", "Circus", "Animals", "Clyde Beatty", "Commodore"] |
Clyde Beatty enters the big cat arena to subdue and train an aggressive rogue Bengal tiger named General Ike. |