On This Day, September 1: Sergeant Preston and Bette Davis
Also featured: Just a Minute.
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 northern frontier Mountie adventures, Somerset Maugham dramatic murder adaptations, legendary BBC parlour game panellists, early transcontinental railroad docudramas, and daytime serials, Jay Michael in Challenge of the Yukon (1938), Bette Davis in The Letter on Your Radio Theater (1959), Nicholas Parsons and Clement Freud in Just a Minute (2003), Harvey Hays in The Empire Builders (1930), Wendy Drew in Young Widder Brown (1950), and The Mystery of the Silver Buffalo (1930–2003):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Lost Comanche Relic with Western Audio Ensemble" | Syndication 1948-09-01 |
Sustaining Western Mystery |
Dramatic Voice Ensemble | Syndicated Audio Staff | ["Western", "Mystery", "Adventure", "Silver Buffalo", "Syndicated"] |
Two Texas rangers search for an ancient silver talisman stolen from a sacred canyon shrine by ruthless outlaws. |
| "Fringe Benefits with Nicholas Parsons, Clement Freud, and Paul Merton" | BBC Radio 4 2003-09-01 6:30 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC Comedy Panel |
Nicholas Parsons, Freud | Paul Merton, Norton | ["Comedy", "Panel Show", "Quiz", "Just A Minute", "BBC Radio 4"] |
Panellists attempt to speak for sixty seconds on topics including Fringe Benefits without hesitation, repetition, or deviation. |
| "The Laying of the Northern Pacific Rails with Harvey Hays" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1930-09-01 9:00 PM EDST |
Great Northern Rail Empire Builder Train |
Harvey Hays (The Pioneer) | NBC Production Staff | ["History", "Western", "Railroad", "The Empire Builders", "Great Northern"] |
The Old Pioneer recounts the perilous laying of transcontinental railroad tracks through the Rocky Mountains against fierce winter blizzards. |
| "Ellen Tells Mariah About Her Relationship with Dr. Anthony with Wendy Drew" | NBC (WNBC) 1950-09-01 4:30 PM EDT |
Sterling Drug Inc. Phillips' Milk of Magnesia |
Wendy Drew, Wever | Frank & Anne Hummert | ["Drama", "Soap Opera", "Young Widder Brown", "Hummert", "Sterling"] |
Ellen Brown confides in Aunt Mariah regarding her emotional uncertainty about marrying Dr. Anthony Loring. |
| "The Letter with Bette Davis (AFRS Recorded Series)" | AFRS Broadcast 1959-09-01 |
AFRS Military Drama Service |
Bette Davis, Marshall | Somerset Maugham (Author) | ["Drama", "Mystery", "Bette Davis", "Somerset Maugham", "AFRS"] |
A rubber plantation manager's wife shoots a family friend in self-defense, hiding a passionate letter that reveals her guilt. |
| "The Secret Cache of Dead Man's Creek with Jay Michael" | WXYZ / Mutual 1938-09-01 7:30 PM EDST |
Sustaining Yukon Adventure |
Jay Michael (Preston) | Tom Dougall (Writer) | ["Western", "Adventure", "Mounties", "Challenge Of The Yukon", "Sergeant Preston"] |
Sergeant Preston and King track two desperate fur thieves through an Alaskan mountain pass to restore stolen gold nuggets. |