On This Day, August 31: Kraft Music Hall and Mike Hammer
Also featured: Bela Lugosi.
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 variety, hardboiled detective mysteries, Gothic horror, and British topical satire, three generations of Kraft Music Hall featuring Paul Whiteman (1933), Bob Burns with Donald Crisp (1939), and Sonny Tufts with Oscar Levant performing The Trolley Song (1944), Ted de Corsia as Mike Hammer in That Hammer Guy (1954), Bela Lugosi hosting Mystery House (1947), and Jon Culshaw and Jan Ravens on BBC Radio 4's Dead Ringers (1933–2001):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Big Grab with Ted de Corsia as Mike Hammer" | Mutual (WOR) 1954-08-31 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Hardboiled Detective |
Ted de Corsia, Slate | Mickey Spillane (Author) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Hardboiled", "Mike Hammer", "Mickey Spillane"] |
Mike Hammer investigates the murder of a waterfront docks watchman connected to an organized syndicate diamond heist. |
| "Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1933-08-31 10:00 PM EDST |
Kraft-Phenix Cheese Kraft Miracle Whip |
Paul Whiteman, Taylor | Paul Whiteman (Director) | ["Music", "Variety", "Symphonic Jazz", "Paul Whiteman", "Kraft"] |
Paul Whiteman conducts symphonic jazz orchestrations, novelty vocal arrangements, and pop melodies for Kraft. |
| "Guest Host Bob Burns with Donald Crisp and Alice Brady" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1939-08-31 10:00 PM EDST |
Kraft-Phenix Cheese Kraft American Cheese |
Bob Burns, Donald Crisp | John Scott Trotter Orch | ["Music", "Variety", "Comedy", "Bob Burns", "Kraft"] |
The Arkansas Traveler Bob Burns trades down-home humor with film stars Donald Crisp and Alice Brady while playing the bazooka. |
| "Guest Host Sonny Tufts with Oscar Levant and Vera Vague" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-08-31 9:00 PM EWT |
Kraft Cheese Company Parkay / Kraft Dinner |
Sonny Tufts, Levant | John Scott Trotter Orch | ["Music", "Variety", "Comedy", "Oscar Levant", "Kraft"] |
Sonny Tufts trades comedic banter with pianist Oscar Levant and Vera Vague before the ensemble performs The Trolley Song. |
| "The Legend of the Black Cat with Bela Lugosi" | Syndicated Horror 1947-08-31 |
Sustaining Gothic Horror Drama |
Bela Lugosi (Host / Star) | Mystery House Staff | ["Horror", "Macabre", "Gothic", "Bela Lugosi", "Mystery House"] |
A superstitious recluse trapped in an isolated ancestral mansion is haunted by an ominous black cat seeking retribution. |
| "Political Parodies and Impressions (Series 3, Episode 6)" | BBC Radio 4 2001-08-31 6:30 PM BST |
Sustaining Topical Satire |
Jon Culshaw, Ravens | Bill Dare (Producer) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Impressions", "BBC Radio 4", "Dead Ringers"] |
Vocal impressionists perform rapid-fire topical sketches parodying British cabinet ministers, media pundits, and TV personalities. |