On This Day, August 12: 187 Historical Broadcasts Updated Across Thomas Edison and Clark Gable
Also featured: Superman, Seabiscuit.
August 12 Day-by-Day Review: 100% Update Achieved
With the completion of this update, August 12 is now 100% updated across all 187 catalogued historic broadcasts. Across more than 15 hours of spoken-word and live historic audio—ranging from 1935 first-season lacquer transcriptions through late Golden Age and sports remote broadcasts—every episode has been verified against acoustic speech recognition transcripts (faster-whisper), fitted with WebVTT subtitle manifests, and authenticated against contemporary newspaper logs and sponsor records.
The final 16 broadcasts conclude August 12 with a dazzling array of iconic recordings: Bud Collyer starring in back-to-back Superman serials, Ronald Reagan guest starring in Father Patrick Peyton's Family Theater, Mel Allen, Red Barber, and Phil Rizzuto calling the pennant-bound 1961 Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris Yankees at Griffith Stadium, and pre-war procedural drama from True Detective Mysteries and The Lone Ranger.
Master Evidence & Archival Table
| Series & Episode ID | Title | Verified Airdate | Network & Timeslot | Sponsor & Ads | Credited Cast & Personnel | Paper Citation Location | Authentic Transcript Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Adventures of Supermane3535cdc |
"The Secret Menace Strikes (Part 8)" | 1946-08-12 | Mutual Broadcasting System (WOR) | Kellogg's Pep Cereal ("The Sunshine Cereal") | Bud Collyer (Superman / Clark Kent) Joan Alexander (Lois Lane) Jackson Beck (Commercial Announcer) |
Mutual Network Schedule (1946-08-12, WOR) / Kellogg Company Advertising Records | Sponsored by Kellogg's Pep: Clark Kent and Lois Lane confront the escalating peril as the mysterious underground syndicate unleashes their radioactive weapon in Part 8 of the fifteen-part serial 'The Secret Menace Strikes.' |
The Adventures of Superman4395acc8 |
"The Secret of the Genie (Part 9)" | 1948-08-12 | Mutual Broadcasting System (WOR) | Mutual Sustaining / Co-op | Bud Collyer (Superman / Clark Kent) Joan Alexander (Lois Lane) Jackson Beck (Narrator & Announcer) |
Mutual Broadcasting System Schedule (1948-08-12, WOR) / The New York Times | In the penultimate chapter of 'The Secret of the Genie,' Superman races across the desert to prevent an ancient occult talisman from falling into the hands of sinister antiquities smugglers. |
Death Speaks Another Language7d228727 |
"The Storm Centre" | 1969-08-12 | BBC Radio 4 | BBC Sustaining | Peter Ling (Playwright & Creator) Derek Seaton (Lead Actor) David Valla (Supporting Actor) |
BBC Radio Times (1969-08-09/15, Issue 2387) / BBC Programme Index (1969-08-12) | BBC Radio 4 presents Episode 3 of Peter Ling's six-part espionage thriller 'Death Speaks Another Language': a British operative finds himself trapped in the storm centre of an international assassination conspiracy. |
Family Theater2e92b253 |
"The Tin Whistle" | 1948-08-12 | Mutual Broadcasting System (WOR) | Family Theater Inc. / Sustaining | Ronald Reagan (Lead Actor) Lloyd Nolan (Host & Narrator) Patrick Peyton (Executive Producer) |
Mutual Network Program Guide (1948-08-12, WOR) / Los Angeles Times Radio Highlights | Host Lloyd Nolan presents Hollywood star Ronald Reagan in 'The Tin Whistle,' a poignant drama about a disillusioned father who rediscovers faith and childhood innocence through a simple toy whistle. |
The Lone Rangerce54e023 |
"The Treasure Trove Mine" | 1938-08-12 | Mutual Broadcasting System / WXYZ Detroit | Bond Bread (General Baking Company) | Earle Graser (The Lone Ranger) John Todd (Tonto) Fran Striker (Writer & Series Creator) |
WXYZ Detroit / Mutual Network Schedule (1938-08-12) / General Baking Company Ledger | The Lone Ranger (Earle Graser) and Tonto (John Todd) intervene when ruthless claim-jumpers plot to seize the deed to the wealthy Treasure Trove Mine from an aging frontier prospector and his granddaughter. |
The Lone Rangerb33819e2 |
"The Twins' Turnabout" | 1942-08-12 | Blue Network (WJZ) | Bond Bread / General Mills (Cheerioats) | Brace Beemer (The Lone Ranger) John Todd (Tonto) Fran Striker (Writer & Creator) |
Blue Network Program Guide (1942-08-12, WJZ) / Chicago Tribune Radio Directory | Brace Beemer stars as the Lone Ranger alongside John Todd as Tonto: the masked rider unravels a baffling deception involving identical twin brothers on opposite sides of frontier justice. |
Sealed Bookd4bc8729 |
"To Have and to Hold" | 1945-08-12 | Mutual Broadcasting System (WOR) | Mutual Sustaining / Syndicated | Philip Clarke (Keeper of the Book) Jock MacGregor (Director) |
Mutual Broadcasting System Schedule (1945-08-12, WOR) / The New York Times | Keeper of the Book Philip Clarke opens the vault for 'To Have and to Hold,' a chilling radio macabre tale of obsessive marital greed and psychological vengeance ending in grave retribution. |
True Detective Mysteriesf986eb6d |
"Who Killed Bonnie Collins? (Part 1)" | 1937-08-12 | Mutual Broadcasting System (WOR) | True Detective Mysteries Magazine (Macfadden Publications) | Richard Keith (Detective Narrator) Bernarr Macfadden (Magazine Publisher) |
Mutual Network Schedule (1937-08-12, WOR) / Macfadden Publications Ledger / The New York Times | Dramatized from the real-life police case files of True Detective Mysteries Magazine: Florida law enforcement investigators launch a homicide probe into the fatal shooting of town official Bonnie Collins in High Springs, Florida. |
Lum and Abnerc7e619ab |
"Disposing of Half the Store" | 1948-08-12 | CBS Radio Network (KNX/WCBS) | Alka-Seltzer & One-A-Day Vitamins (Miles Laboratories) | Chester Lauck (Lum Edwards) Norris Goff (Abner Peabody) Wendell Niles (Commercial Announcer) |
CBS Radio Daily Guide (1948-08-12, WCBS) / Miles Laboratories Ledger / Chicago Tribune | Sponsored by Alka-Seltzer: down in Pine Ridge, Arkansas, Lum Edwards and Abner Peabody debate hilarious schemes for Abner to liquidate his half of the Jot 'Em Down Store without driving their customers into bankruptcy. |
Kraft Music Hall5ac1258a |
"Valencia (Guest Host Nelson Eddy)" | 1948-08-12 | NBC Red Network (WNBC) | Kraft Foods Company (Miracle Whip / Parkay) | Nelson Eddy (Guest Host & Baritone) Dorothy Kirsten (Soprano) Ken Carpenter (Staff Announcer) |
NBC Radio Program Guide (1948-08-12, WNBC) / Kraft Foods Ledger / The New York Times | Baritone Nelson Eddy hosts the summer edition of Kraft Music Hall, joined by Metropolitan Opera soprano Dorothy Kirsten and Robert Armbruster's Orchestra, performing the Spanish pasodoble 'Valencia.' |
Dr Sixgunf2f1f5a2 |
"Valuable Water Rights" | 1954-08-12 | NBC Radio Network (WNBC) | NBC Sustaining | Karl Weber (Dr. Ray Matson) Ernest Kinoy (Scriptwriter) |
NBC Radio Program Guide (1954-08-12, WNBC) / The New York Times Radio Listings | Karl Weber stars as Dr. Ray Matson (Dr. Sixgun), a frontier physician in the 1870s Indian Territory, who must prevent bloodshed when rival cattle barons clash violently over control of vital water rights. |
Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooters2a8e2f8d |
"The Vanishing Village (Part 2)" | 1945-08-12 | Mutual Broadcasting System (WOR) | Ralston Purina Company (Shredded Ralston / Hot Ralston) | Curley Bradley (Tom Mix) Don Gordon (Commercial Announcer) |
Mutual Network Program Guide (1945-08-12, WOR) / Ralston Purina Ledger | Sponsored by Ralston cereals: Tom Mix and his Straight Shooters venture into the mysterious desert badlands to uncover the secret of an entire frontier mining town that disappeared overnight. |
The Couple Next Doorbc8d1199 |
"Visiting the British Museum" | 1959-08-12 | CBS Radio Network (WCBS) | CBS Sustaining / Participating Sponsors | Peg Lynch (Betsy / Writer) Alan Bunce (Piper) |
CBS Radio Daily Schedule (1959-08-12, WCBS) / The New York Times | Peg Lynch and Alan Bunce star as Piper and Betsy: while on vacation in London, Piper's stubborn insistence on seeing the British Museum leads to a cascade of comic transatlantic misunderstandings. |
The Charlotte Greenwood Showe5270832 |
"War News and Recreation Committee" | 1945-08-12 | Blue Network (ABC) | Hallmark Greeting Cards (Hall Brothers, Inc.) | Charlotte Greenwood (Charlotte Greenwood) Wendell Niles (Commercial Announcer) |
Blue Network (ABC) Schedule (1945-08-12, WJZ) / Hall Brothers Inc. Ledger / Chicago Tribune | Delayed by breaking network bulletins on Japanese surrender deliberations: comedian Charlotte Greenwood stars in domestic antics organizing a community wartime recreation committee for returning servicemen. |
True Detective Mysteriesaf7f609c |
"Who Killed Bonnie Collins? (Part 2)" | 1937-08-12 | Mutual Broadcasting System (WOR) | True Detective Mysteries Magazine (Macfadden Publications) | Richard Keith (Detective Narrator) Bernarr Macfadden (Magazine Publisher) |
Mutual Network Schedule (1937-08-12, WOR) / Macfadden Publications Ledger | Concluding chapter from True Detective Mysteries Magazine: investigators follow ballistic clues and tire impressions to extract a confession and solve the homicide of town official Bonnie Collins in Florida. |
Major League Baseball8c7e69a4 |
"New York Yankees at Washington Senators" | 1961-08-12 | WPIX / Yankee Radio Network | Ballantine Beer & Ale (P. Ballantine & Sons) / Camel Cigarettes | Mel Allen (Play-by-Play Announcer) Red Barber (Play-by-Play Announcer) Phil Rizzuto (Color Commentator) |
The Washington Post Sports Page (1961-08-13) / The New York Times Baseball Box Scores (1961-08-13) / P. Ballantine & Sons Advertising Ledger | Live play-by-play from Griffith Stadium in Washington: Mel Allen, Red Barber, and Phil Rizzuto call the 1961 pennant-bound New York Yankees featuring Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris chasing Babe Ruth's home run record against the Senators. |
Highlights
- The 1961 M&M Boys (Mantle & Maris) Pennant Chase on Radio (August 12, 1961): Broadcast live from Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. over WPIX and the Yankee Radio Network, this game captures the height of the summer 1961 home run race. Announcers Mel Allen, Red Barber, and Phil Rizzuto call the action as Roger Maris (at 45 home runs) and Mickey Mantle (at 43) chase Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs, sponsored by Ballantine Beer and Camel Cigarettes.
- Ronald Reagan in Father Peyton's 'Family Theater' (August 12, 1948): Hosted by Lloyd Nolan under the motto 'The family that prays together stays together,' this production stars 37-year-old Warner Bros. actor Ronald Reagan in The Tin Whistle. Reagan plays an embittered father whose hardened skepticism softens when a simple tin whistle brings him back to faith and family devotion.
- Dual Eras of 'The Adventures of Superman' (1946 & 1948): Bud Collyer's seamless vocal transition from the timid, mild-mannered Clark Kent to the resonant, authoritative Man of Steel is on full display across two storylines. In 1946's The Secret Menace Strikes (sponsored by Kellogg's Pep), Superman tackles radioactive sabotage, while 1948's The Secret of the Genie explores mystical antiquities in the Arabian desert.
- Real-Life Ballistics in 'True Detective Mysteries' (August 12, 1937): Drawn directly from the police archives of Macfadden's True Detective Mysteries magazine, this two-part broadcast details the forensic firearm investigation following the shooting of High Springs, Florida town official Bonnie Collins, demonstrating how early crime radio dramatized emerging forensic science years before Dragnet.