On This Day, August 31: Gang Busters and Rogues Gallery
Also featured: Alec Templeton.
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 true crime docudramas, hardboiled detective mysteries, musical comedy series finales, police procedurals, and syndicated Western adventures, two multi-part cases of Gang Busters covering the John Ashley Everglades gang (1938) and Pete Norris (1946), Barry Sullivan as Richard Rogue in Rogues Gallery for Fitch Shampoo (1947), Alec Templeton's series finale on NBC (1947), Police Blotter (1956), and Lightning Jim (1938–1956):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres & Serial Arc | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The John Ashley Gang (Part 1)" | CBS (WABC) 1938-08-31 10:00 PM EDST |
Colgate-Palmolive Palmolive Shave Cream |
Phillips H. Lord, Police | Phillips H. Lord (Creator) | ["True Crime", "Police Procedural", "Gang Busters", "Everglades", "CBS"]Arc: The John Ashley Gang (Part 1 of 2) |
Florida sheriff deputies pursue the notorious John Ashley gang across the Everglades after a string of violent bank robberies. |
| "The Case of Thomas Nathan 'Pete' Norris (Part 2)" | ABC (WJZ) 1946-08-31 9:00 PM EDT |
L.E. Waterman Co. Waterman's Fountain Pens |
Phillips H. Lord, Police | Phillips H. Lord (Creator) | ["True Crime", "Police Procedural", "Gang Busters", "Phillips Lord", "ABC"]Arc: The Case of Thomas Nathan 'Pete' Norris (Part 2 of 2) |
Police detectives set a trap along interstate highways to capture armed robber Pete Norris and dismantle his fugitive network. |
| "The Midnight Hit-and-Run Investigation" | Syndicated Police 1956-08-31 |
Sustaining Police Procedural |
Dramatic Voice Cast | Police Blotter Production | ["Police Procedural", "Crime", "Investigation", "Documentary", "Syndicated"] |
Traffic division officers analyze headlight glass fragments and tire tread markings to track down a fatal hit-and-run driver. |
| "Death Tells a Fortune with Barry Sullivan" | NBC (WEAF) 1947-08-31 7:30 PM EDT |
F.W. Fitch Co. Fitch's Shampoo |
Barry Sullivan, Paul Frees | Ray Buffum (Writer) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Hardboiled", "Barry Sullivan", "Fitch"] |
Private investigator Richard Rogue is knocked unconscious while investigating a clairvoyant medium extorting wealthy socialites. |
| "Series Finale with Alec Templeton" | NBC (WEAF) 1947-08-31 8:00 PM EDT |
Standard Brands Chase & Sanborn Coffee |
Alec Templeton, Ray Noble | Ray Noble Orchestra | ["Music", "Comedy", "Satire", "Piano", "Alec Templeton"] |
Blind pianist and satirist Alec Templeton delivers his final summer broadcast with classical parodies and musical improvisations. |
| "The Rustlers of Red Rock Canyon" | Syndicated Western 1939-08-31 |
Sustaining Western Adventure |
Dramatic Voice Cast | Lightning Jim Production | ["Western", "Adventure", "Cowboy", "Marshal", "Syndicated"] |
U.S. Marshal Lightning Jim tracks a ruthless gang of cattle rustlers attempting to hijack a herd crossing Red Rock Canyon. |