On This Day, September 1: Abbott and Costello Sam Shovel
Also featured: Pershing WWI, Nelson Eddy.
September 1 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 September 1 across burlesque parody detective debuts, historic World War I battlefield phonograph addresses from France, concert operetta showcases, comic strip sorcery serials, and big band transcription sessions, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello debuting Sam Shovel (1948), General John J. Pershing's 1918 address from Chaumont, France, Nelson Eddy on The Electric Hour (1946), Mandrake the Magician (1941), Martha Tilton with Billy Mills (1950), and Plantation Echoes (1918–1950):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Debut of Sam Shovel, Private Eye with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello" | ABC (WJZ) 1948-09-01 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Summer Comedy |
Bud Abbott, Lou Costello | Will Osborne Orchestra | ["Comedy", "Parody", "Abbott And Costello", "Sam Shovel", "ABC"] |
Lou Costello debuts his bumbling private eye character Sam Shovel to investigate a missing diamond necklace while Bud Abbott questions his detecting logic. |
| "General John J. Pershing's Address to the American People from France (WWI)" | CPI Audio Record 1918-09-01 |
U.S. Govt. Committee Public Info |
General John J. Pershing | AEF Staff Chaumont | ["Speech", "History", "WWI", "John J Pershing", "Voices Of History"] |
General John J. Pershing delivers an historic battlefield address from Chaumont, France, urging American civilians to purchase Liberty Bonds and support doughboys on the Western Front. |
| "With Nelson Eddy, Nadine Conner, and America's Electric Companies" | CBS (WABC) 1946-09-01 4:30 PM EDT |
Electric Companies Electric Light & Power |
Nelson Eddy, Conner | Robert Armbruster Orch. | ["Music", "Operetta", "Nelson Eddy", "The Electric Hour", "CBS"] |
Baritone Nelson Eddy and soprano Nadine Conner perform classical operetta duets accompanied by Robert Armbruster's concert orchestra. |
| "The Mystery of the Jade Idol with Raymond Edward Johnson and Mutual" | Mutual (WOR) 1941-09-01 5:30 PM EDST |
Sustaining Juvenile Serial |
Johnson (Mandrake), Hernandez | Lee Falk (Creator) | ["Adventure", "Magic", "Juvenile", "Mandrake The Magician", "Lee Falk"] |
Mandrake the Magician and Lothar use hypnotic illusions to rescue a kidnapped museum curator from an ancient temple secret society. |
| "I Love the Guy with Martha Tilton and Standard Radio Transcription" | Standard Trans. 1950-09-01 |
Standard Radio Transcription Library |
Billy Mills, Tilton | Billy Mills (Director) | ["Music", "Pop", "Big Band", "Billy Mills", "Martha Tilton"] |
Billy Mills leads his studio orchestra through lush instrumental arrangements and Martha Tilton performs popular swing standards. |
| "Folk Melodies and Spirituals with The Choral Ensemble (CBS Series Premiere)" | CBS (WABC) 1944-09-01 11:15 PM EWT |
Sustaining Late-Night Folk |
Choral Ensemble | CBS Music Department | ["Music", "Folk", "Spirituals", "Plantation Echoes", "CBS"] |
A choral ensemble performs traditional southern spirituals, work songs, and folk melodies in a late-evening musical showcase. |