On This Day, September 2: Vincent Price and James Melton
Also featured: I Love a Mystery.
September 2 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 2 across gripping psychological radio theater, classical concert music, serialized cliffhanger adventure serials, Golden Age radio detective mysteries, and pioneering early thirties crime investigations, Vincent Price in Emlyn Williams's Night Must Fall for Philip Morris (1953), James Melton and Joan Roberts for Texaco (1945), Carlton E. Morse's I Love a Mystery (1943), The Avenger (1941), Hollywood Mystery Time (1945), and Eno Crime Clues (1931–1953):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Night Must Fall with Vincent Price and Philip Morris" | CBS (KNX) 1953-09-02 9:00 PM EDT |
Philip Morris & Co. Philip Morris Cigarettes |
Vincent Price (Dan) | Emlyn Williams (Author) | ["Drama", "Thriller", "Philip Morris Playhouse", "Vincent Price", "Philip Morris"] |
A charming young bellhop ingratiates himself with a wealthy invalid widow while harboring a sinister secret in his luggage. |
| "Summer Concert with James Melton, Joan Roberts, and Texaco" | CBS (WABC) 1945-09-02 9:30 PM EWT |
The Texas Company Texaco Fire-Chief Gas |
James Melton, Roberts | Al Goodman Orchestra | ["Music", "Concert", "Operetta", "James Melton", "Texaco"] |
James Melton and Broadway soprano Joan Roberts perform romantic operetta duets and American popular standards. |
| "The Decapitation of Jefferson Monk (Part 4) with Carlton E. Morse" | CBS (KNX) 1943-09-02 7:00 PM EWT |
Procter & Gamble Ivory Soap & Oxydol |
Michael Raffetto, Yarborough | Carlton E. Morse (Writer) | ["Adventure", "Mystery", "I Love A Mystery", "Carlton E Morse", "Ivory"] |
Jack Packard and Doc Long search the secret underground passages beneath Jefferson Monk's eccentric estate as midnight approaches. |
| "The Mystery of the Murdered Ghost with James Monks and Syndication" | Syndication 1941-09-02 |
Sustaining Pulp Action Mystery |
James Monks (Brandon) | Helen Adamson (Fern) | ["Mystery", "Pulp", "Action", "The Avenger", "Syndicated"] |
Jim Brandon utilizes telepathic gadgets and his secret laboratory to investigate an apparent spirit haunting an eccentric millionaire's mansion. |
| "The Case of the Painted Mask with Carlton KaDell and Woodbury Soap" | ABC / Blue 1945-09-02 8:30 PM EWT |
Andrew Jergens Co. Woodbury Facial Soap |
Carlton KaDell, Blondell | Woodbury Radio Staff | ["Mystery", "Detective", "Hollywood Mystery Time", "Gloria Blondell", "Woodbury"] |
Amateur sleuth Jim West and movie columnist Patsy Larson investigate the theatrical murder of a costume designer backstage during a movie premiere. |
| "The Clue of the Broken Key with Edward Reese and Eno Fruit Salt" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1931-09-02 9:30 PM EDST |
Harold F. Ritchie Eno Fruit Salt |
Edward Reese (Spencer) | Stewart Sterling (Writer) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Eno Crime Clues", "Stewart Sterling", "Eno"] |
Inspector Dan Spencer pieces together physical clues left at an estate library break-in involving a snapped brass skeleton key. |