On This Day, September 3: Gene Autry and Jackie Gleason
Also featured: Fu Manchu.
September 3 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 3 across western musical dramas, live variety comedy summer revues, exotic pulp mystery serials, cerebral panel quizzes, and child prodigy broadcasts, Gene Autry on Melody Ranch for Wrigley's (1949), Jackie Gleason and Les Tremayne (1944), Hanley Stafford as Fu Manchu (1939), Clifton Fadiman on Information Please with Joshua Logan and Jo Mielziner (1950), and The Quiz Kids for Alka-Seltzer (1939–1950):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Stagecoach Gold Caper with Gene Autry and Wrigley's Gum" | CBS (KNX) 1949-09-03 8:00 PM EDT |
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. Doublemint Chewing Gum |
Gene Autry, Buttram | Carl Cotner & Orch. | ["Western", "Music", "Gene Autry", "Melody Ranch", "Wrigley"] |
Gene Autry investigates an outlaw gang ambushing state gold shipments while performing Western campfire melodies. |
| "Summer Comedy Showcase with Jackie Gleason and Les Tremayne" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-09-03 8:30 PM EWT |
P. Lorillard Co. Old Gold Cigarettes |
Jackie Gleason, Tremayne | Patsy Kelly & Bunker | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Jackie Gleason", "Les Tremayne", "Old Gold"] |
Jackie Gleason and Les Tremayne present broad summer comedy skits featuring unruly vacation travelers and frantic Broadway rehearsals. |
| "The Joy Shop with Hanley Stafford as Fu Manchu" | Syndication 1939-09-03 |
Sustaining Pulp Mystery Serial |
Hanley Stafford (Fu Manchu) | Gale Gordon & Rohmer | ["Adventure", "Mystery", "Fu Manchu", "Hanley Stafford", "Sax Rohmer"] |
Sir Denis Nayland Smith infiltrates an opium den disguised as a curio toy shop to intercept Fu Manchu's secret assassination orders. |
| "Guests Joshua Logan and Jo Mielziner with Clifton Fadiman" | Mutual (WOR) 1950-09-03 10:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Panel Quiz |
Clifton Fadiman (Host) | Adams, Kieran & Guests | ["Quiz", "Panel", "Information Please", "Clifton Fadiman", "Joshua Logan"] |
Broadway director Joshua Logan and scenic designer Jo Mielziner test their erudition on theater history and literature against the resident panel. |
| "School Bells and Child Prodigies with Joe Kelly (1941)" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1941-09-03 8:00 PM EDST |
Miles Laboratories Alka-Seltzer & One-A-Day |
Joe Kelly (Quizmaster) | Gerard Darrow & Panel | ["Quiz", "Panel", "The Quiz Kids", "Joe Kelly", "Alka Seltzer"] |
Child prodigies answer difficult listener questions on botany, zoology, and world history to earn savings bond prizes. |
| "Wartime Geography and Science with Joe Kelly (1944)" | Blue Network 1944-09-03 7:30 PM EWT |
Miles Laboratories Alka-Seltzer & One-A-Day |
Joe Kelly (Quizmaster) | Joel Kupperman & Panel | ["Quiz", "Panel", "The Quiz Kids", "Joel Kupperman", "Alka Seltzer"] |
Young math wizard Joel Kupperman and panel solve complex navigation, astronomy, and wartime geography puzzles submitted by listeners. |