On This Day, August 31: The Avenger and I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
Also featured: Flamond.
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 pulp mystery, British BBC improv comedy, historical news broadcasting, and operatic concert broadcasts, James Monks as The Avenger in The Wingate Heirs (1945), Humphrey Lyttelton and the panel on I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (1987), Everett Clarke in The Crime Files of Flamond (1947), Frazier Hunt on Revolutionary War patriot Nathan Hale (1947), James Melton singing Wanting You on Harvest of Stars (1947), and breaking news audio from Paris on the death of Princess Diana (1945–1997):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Case of the Part-Time Corpse" | Mutual / WGN 1947-08-31 4:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Psychological Detective |
Everett Clarke, Bremner | Harry Lawrence (Writer) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Psychological", "Flamond", "Mutual"] |
Criminologist and psychologist Flamond unravels an elaborate life insurance fraud scheme involving a staged drowning. |
| "American Sketchbook - Schoolmaster from Connecticut" | Mutual (WOR) 1947-08-31 2:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Historical Essays |
Frazier Hunt (Host) | Frazier Hunt (Author) | ["History", "Biography", "Essay", "Frazier Hunt", "Mutual"] |
Frazier Hunt chronicles the life and educational legacy of Nathan Hale as a young Connecticut schoolteacher turned Revolutionary War patriot. |
| "The Wine and Cheese Ball (Series 15, Episode 4)" | BBC Radio 4 1987-08-31 6:30 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC Radio Comedy |
Humphrey Lyttelton, Cryer | Jon Naismith (Producer) | ["Comedy", "British", "Panel", "Improv", "BBC Radio 4"] |
Humphrey Lyttelton presides over comedic improv rounds including Mornington Crescent, One Song to the Tune of Another, and Cheddar Gorge puns. |
| "The Death of Princess Diana (Part 1 - Breaking Bulletins)" | Worldwide Broadcast 1997-08-31 |
Sustaining Historical News Archive |
BBC / CBS Correspondents | International News Services | ["News", "History", "Documentary", "Special Report", "Historical"] |
Live news bulletins and breaking eyewitness reports from Paris convey the tragic car collision and sudden death of Diana, Princess of Wales. |
| "Wanting You with James Melton" | NBC (WEAF) 1947-08-31 2:30 PM EDT |
International Harvester Farm Equipment / Trucks |
James Melton, Black | Frank Black Orchestra | ["Music", "Classical", "Operetta", "Vocal", "International Harvester"] |
Operatic tenor James Melton performs romantic operetta melodies including Sigmund Romberg's Wanting You backed by Frank Black's symphony. |
| "The Wingate Heirs with James Monks" | Syndicated Mystery 1945-08-31 |
Sustaining Pulp Detective |
James Monks, Adamson | Paul Ernst (Creator) | ["Superhero", "Mystery", "Pulp", "Street & Smith", "The Avenger"] |
The Avenger uses his secret telepathic science and disguise skills to protect wealthy siblings from an extortionist poisoning plot. |