On This Day, September 3: Hop Harrigan and Death Valley Days
Also featured: Claudia and David.
September 3 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial story metadata declarations, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on September 3 across juvenile aviation adventure serials, frontier historical Western anthologies, charming marital comedies, and traveling circus cliffhangers, Chester Stratton as Hop Harrigan for Grape-Nuts and Post's Cereals (1942, 1947), The Old Ranger on Death Valley Days for 20 Mule Team Borax (1937, 1942), Rose Franken's Claudia and David (1948), and Jerry of the Circus (1937–1948):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Arc Metadata | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Aerial Reconnaissance Over the Atlantic with Chester Stratton" | Blue Network 1942-09-03 5:15 PM EWT |
General Foods Grape-Nuts Flakes |
Chester Stratton (Hop) | Ken Lynch (Tank) | ["Adventure", "Aviation", "Hop Harrigan", "Chester Stratton", "Grape Nuts"] |
{"title": "Atlantic Submarine Patrol", "part": 12, "total_parts": 15} |
Aviator Hop Harrigan and mechanic Tank Tinker spot a surfaced enemy submarine refueling in coastal fog off the Eastern seaboard. |
| "Important Papers Missing with Chester Stratton" | Mutual (WOR) 1947-09-03 5:00 PM EDT |
General Foods Post's Raisin Bran & Cereals |
Chester Stratton (Hop) | Ken Lynch (Tank) | ["Adventure", "Aviation", "Hop Harrigan", "Chester Stratton", "Posts Cereals"] |
{"title": "Secret Jet Formula", "part": 6, "total_parts": 10} |
Hop Harrigan discovers that experimental jet propulsion blueprints were stolen from an airfield safe during a nighttime hangar blackout. |
| "Black Thunder with The Old Ranger and 20 Mule Team Borax" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1937-09-03 8:30 PM EDST |
Pacific Coast Borax 20 Mule Team Borax |
The Old Ranger (Host) | Ruth Cornwall Woodman | ["Western", "History", "Death Valley Days", "Old Ranger", "Borax"] |
null |
The Old Ranger recounts how a brave stallion known as Black Thunder led desert mustang herds away from greedy horse trappers. |
| "Putting Teeth in the Law with The Old Ranger" | CBS (WABC) 1942-09-03 8:00 PM EWT |
Pacific Coast Borax 20 Mule Team & Boraxo |
The Old Ranger (Host) | Ruth Cornwall Woodman | ["Western", "History", "Death Valley Days", "Old Ranger", "Boraxo"] |
null |
A newly appointed frontier magistrate confronts corrupt town aldermen to enforce mining claim laws in the Nevada territory. |
| "In Summer Stock Dress Rehearsal with Patricia Ryan and Richard Kollmar" | CBS (WABC) 1948-09-03 4:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Marital Comedy |
Patricia Ryan, Kollmar | Rose Franken (Author) | ["Comedy", "Drama", "Claudia And David", "Patricia Ryan", "Richard Kollmar"] |
null |
Claudia endures chaotic backstage disputes and forgotten lines while preparing for opening night at a rural summer playhouse. |
| "Spike Is Recognized with Jerry Morris" | Syndication 1937-09-03 |
Sustaining Circus Serial |
Jerry Morris (Jerry) | Circus Drama Cast | ["Children", "Adventure", "Jerry Of The Circus", "Circus", "Syndicated"] |
{"title": "Under the Big Top", "part": 45, "total_parts": 130} |
Jerry discovers that the circus tent boss Spike is actually an escaped convict hiding from state marshals. |