On This Day, August 31: Fibber McGee and One Man's Family
Also featured: Guiding Light.
August 31 Update
This landmark report marks This update of the comprehensive multi-day day-by-day review, establishing complete historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serialized story chapter metadata, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on August 31 across domestic comedies on NBC Monitor, multi-generational family serials, pioneer daytime soap operas, historical education documentaries, and Jack Benny variety comedy, Jim and Marian Jordan across two Fibber McGee and Molly NBC Monitor features (1957, 1958), Carlton E. Morse's One Man's Family (1950), Irna Phillips' The Guiding Light on CBS (1950), Lands of the Free (1942), and The Jack Benny Program (1934–1958):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres & Serial Arc | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Labeling Plants in the Yard with Jim and Marian Jordan (Monitor)" | NBC Monitor 1957-08-31 |
Sustaining Weekend Radio Service |
Jim & Marian Jordan | Phil Leslie (Writer) | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "Sitcom", "Fibber McGee and Molly", "NBC Monitor"] |
Fibber attempts to systematically label all the shrubs and vegetable plantings in the front yard with homemade wooden tags. |
| "Labor Day Preparations with Jim and Marian Jordan (Monitor)" | NBC Monitor 1958-08-31 |
Sustaining Weekend Radio Service |
Jim & Marian Jordan | Phil Leslie (Writer) | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "Sitcom", "Fibber McGee and Molly", "NBC Monitor"] |
Fibber and Molly plan their holiday weekend picnic while debating whether to invite Mayor LaTrivia and Doc Gamble. |
| "The Book of Henry (Book 77, Chapter 14) with J. Anthony Smythe" | NBC (WNBC) 1950-08-31 8:00 PM EDT |
Miles Laboratories Alka-Seltzer / Bactine |
J. Anthony Smythe, Ellen | Carlton E. Morse (Author) | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Family", "One Mans Family", "Carlton Morse"]Arc: Book 77: The Book of Henry (Chapter 14) |
Father Barbour offers heartfelt counsel to Henry regarding future career ambitions and family responsibilities at the Sea Cliff home. |
| "Bill Bauer's Drinking Problem with Lyle Sudrow and Charita Bauer" | CBS (WCBS) 1950-08-31 1:45 PM EDT |
Procter & Gamble Duz / Ivory Soap |
Lyle Sudrow, Bauer | Irna Phillips (Creator) | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "The Guiding Light", "Irna Phillips", "CBS"] |
Bert confronts Bill over his escalating alcohol dependence and pleads with him to seek medical treatment before his job is lost. |
| "The Road to Dominion (Canada) with NBC Inter-American University" | NBC (WEAF) 1942-08-31 10:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Inter-American Univ. |
Dramatic Voice Ensemble | Richard McDonagh (Writer) | ["Docudrama", "History", "Canada", "Lands of the Free", "NBC"] |
A historical docudrama traces Canada's journey from colonial confederation under Sir John A. Macdonald to sovereign dominion status. |
| "The House of Benny with Mary Livingstone and Don Bestor" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1934-08-31 8:30 PM EDST |
General Foods Jell-O |
Jack Benny, Livingstone | Don Bestor Orchestra | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Jack Benny", "Mary Livingstone", "Jell-O"] |
Jack boasts about his grand new Hollywood mansion, only to have the cast expose that the estate is leased and completely unfurnished. |