On This Day, August 31: Eno Crime Clues and The Pied Pipers
Also featured: Rutherford B. Hayes.
August 31 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 broadcasts transmitting on August 31 across American network early detective dramas, vocal harmony broadcasts, historical biographical portraits, and British West End theatrical tributes, early 1930s detective Dan Cassidy in Eno Crime Clues (1931, 1932), The Pied Pipers with Paul Weston on Chesterfield Moonlight Serenade (1944), Larry Haines portraying President Rutherford B. Hayes (1946), Harold Warrender's theatrical celebration The Show Must Go On on the BBC Light Programme (1948), and America's original 1866 melodrama The Black Crook (1931–1948):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres & Serial Arc | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Rutherford B. Hayes with Larry Haines" | NBC (WEAF) 1946-08-31 6:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Biographical Drama |
Larry Haines (Hayes) | NBC Dramatic Staff | ["History", "Biography", "Drama", "Presidents", "NBC"] |
The contested 1876 presidential election and the subsequent civil service reform efforts of Rutherford B. Hayes. |
| "The Pied Pipers and Paul Weston" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-08-31 7:00 PM EWT |
Liggett & Myers Chesterfield Cigarettes |
The Pied Pipers, Weston | Paul Weston Orchestra | ["Music", "Vocal", "Big Band", "The Pied Pipers", "Chesterfield"] |
The Pied Pipers perform vocal harmonies on popular romantic standards backed by Paul Weston's orchestra for Chesterfield. |
| "Overture and Beginners with Harold Warrender" | BBC Light Programme 1948-08-31 8:00 PM BST |
Sustaining Theatrical Showcase |
Harold Warrender (Host) | BBC Variety Orchestra | ["Drama", "British", "BBC Light Programme", "Theater", "Variety"] |
A dramatic tribute to the backstage superstitions, hectic rehearsals, and traditions of British West End theater. |
| "The Clue of the Blood-Stained Fingerprints" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1931-08-31 8:00 PM EDST |
J.C. Eno Ltd. Eno Fruit Salt |
Edward Reese, North | Stewart Sterling (Writer) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Early Radio", "Dan Cassidy", "Eno"] |
Dan Cassidy and Inspector Spencer analyze bloodied latent prints left upon a safe handle to unmask a jewel thief's partner. |
| "Murder on the Yacht (Part 2)" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1932-08-31 8:00 PM EDST |
J.C. Eno Ltd. Eno Fruit Salt |
Edward Reese, North | Stewart Sterling (Writer) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Early Radio", "Dan Cassidy", "Eno"]Arc: Murder on the Yacht (Part 2 of 2) |
Cassidy gathers the stranded yacht passengers in the main salon to demonstrate how the killer staged a poisoned cocktail alibi. |
| "The Black Crook by Charles M. Barras" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1939-08-31 9:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Classics Drama |
NBC Dramatic Repertory | Charles M. Barras (Author) | ["Drama", "Theater", "Classics", "Melodrama", "NBC"] |
A radio adaptation of America's original 1866 musical melodrama featuring a Faustian bargain with an evil sorcerer. |