On This Day, August 31: The Shadow and Rocky Jordan
Also featured: Flash Gordon.
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 superhero mystery, exotic Middle Eastern noir, interplanetary space serials, true newspaper journalism drama, MGM radio comedy, and legendary boxing history, Bret Morrison as Lamont Cranston in The Shadow (1952), George Mohan in The Adventures of Rocky Jordan in Cairo (1952), Gale Gordon as Flash Gordon escaping Emperor Ming on the planet Mongo (1935), Denver Post reporter Edward M. Freeman on The Big Story (1949), Ann Sothern in The Adventures of Maisie (1950), and Tommy Farr recounting his 15-round war against Joe Louis (1935–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres & Serial Arc | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Death by Proxy with Bret Morrison and Gertrude Warner" | Mutual (WOR) 1952-08-31 5:00 PM EDT |
Sylvania / Wildroot Wildroot Cream-Oil |
Bret Morrison, Warner | Judith & David Bublick | ["Superhero", "Mystery", "The Shadow", "Bret Morrison", "Mutual"] |
Lamont Cranston clouds minds to protect an innocent clerk framed for a string of corporate embezzlement murders. |
| "The Return of Dr. Piru with George Mohan" | CBS (WCBS) 1952-08-31 6:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Exotic Detective Drama |
George Mohan, Novello | Larry Roman (Writer) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Exotic", "Rocky Jordan", "Cairo"] |
In Cairo, café owner Rocky Jordan investigates a mysterious archaeological expedition terrorized by a physician presumed dead. |
| "Flash, Still Invisible, Escapes (Episode 23)" | Syndicated Hearst 1935-08-31 |
Sustaining Sci-Fi Adventure Serial |
Gale Gordon, Bergman | Alex Raymond (Creator) | ["Sci-Fi", "Adventure", "Flash Gordon", "Serial", "Alex Raymond"]Arc: The Planet Mongo (Part 23) |
Utilizing Dr. Zarkov's invisibility machine, Flash Gordon eludes Emperor Ming's guards and rescues Dale Arden from the palace dungeons. |
| "The Ace That Beat Three of a Kind with Edward M. Freeman" | NBC (WEAF) 1949-08-31 10:00 PM EDT |
American Tobacco Co. Pall Mall Famous Cigarettes |
Robert Sloane, Freeman | Harry Ingram (Director) | ["Journalism", "Drama", "True Crime", "The Big Story", "Pall Mall"] |
Reporter Edward Freeman of the Denver Post investigates a staged card game holdup to clear a framed dealer and capture the actual gunmen. |
| "The Deserted Wife with Ann Sothern" | MGM Radio Attractions 1950-08-31 |
Sustaining Comedy Drama |
Ann Sothern, McGeehan | Arthur Phillips (Writer) | ["Comedy", "Drama", "Maisie", "Ann Sothern", "MGM"] |
Maisie Ravier takes in a heartbroken young mother and schemes to reunite her with her estranged, misunderstandings-plagued husband. |
| "Tommy Farr Discusses Heavyweight Loss to Joe Louis" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1937-08-31 10:30 PM EDST |
Sustaining Sports Commentary |
Tommy Farr, Commentators | NBC Sports Staff | ["Sports", "Boxing", "History", "Interview", "Joe Louis"] |
Welsh boxing champion Tommy Farr analyzes round-by-round strategies and his narrow 15-round decision loss to Joe Louis at Yankee Stadium. |