On This Day, September 4: Burns and Allen
Also featured: Space Patrol, Zachary Taylor.
September 4 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 4 across two hilarious eras of The Burns and Allen Show (planning high-society Hollywood parties for Campbell's in 1935 and post-vacation wardrobe dilemmas for Maxwell House in 1947), Commander Buzz Corry locating lost worlds on Space Patrol for Ralston Purina, Edward Arnold portraying President Zachary Taylor on Mr. President, Martin Blaine breaking jewel fencing cartels on The FBI in Peace and War, and peacetime military medical tributes on The Voice of the Army, George Burns & Gracie Allen (1935, 1947), Ed Kemmer (1954), Edward Arnold (1949), Martin Blaine (1952), and US Army (1935–1954):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Gracie's Hollywood Society Party with George Burns" | CBS (WABC) 1935-09-04 8:30 PM EDST |
Campbell Soup Co. Campbell's Tomato Soup |
George Burns & Gracie | Guy Lombardo & Orch. | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Burns and Allen", "Gracie Allen", "Campbell's"] |
Gracie confuses Hollywood society guest lists while planning an extravagant Beverly Hills dinner party, driving George to distraction. |
| "Back from Vacation with Maxwell House Coffee" | NBC (WEAF) 1947-09-04 8:30 PM EDT |
General Foods Maxwell House Coffee |
George Burns & Gracie | Bill Goodwin & Willson | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Burns and Allen", "Gracie Allen", "Maxwell House"] |
Returning home from summer vacation, Gracie becomes convinced that feminine fashion trends have shifted and redesigns George's entire wardrobe. |
| "Locating Tyranna with Ed Kemmer as Buzz Corry" | ABC (KECA) 1954-09-04 10:30 AM EDT |
Ralston Purina Co. Wheat Chex & Instant Ralston |
Ed Kemmer (Buzz Corry) | Lyn Osborn & Lou Huston | ["Sci-Fi", "Adventure", "Space Patrol", "Ed Kemmer", "Ralston"] |
Commander Buzz Corry and Cadet Happy track a rogue cosmic ray storm across the asteroid belt to pinpoint the hidden planetary coordinates of Tyranna. |
| "The Resolute Pioneer (Zachary Taylor) with Edward Arnold" | ABC (WJZ) 1949-09-04 2:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Historical Docudrama |
Edward Arnold (Taylor) | Jean Holloway (Writer) | ["History", "Drama", "Mr President", "Edward Arnold", "Zachary Taylor"] |
President Zachary Taylor navigates escalating congressional sectional tensions over the admission of California to the Union. |
| "The Serpent Ring with Martin Blaine" | CBS (WCBS) 1952-09-04 8:00 PM EDT |
Wildroot Co. Wildroot Cream-Oil |
Martin Blaine (Agent) | Louis Pelletier (Writer) | ["Police", "Procedural", "FBI in Peace and War", "Martin Blaine", "Wildroot"] |
Federal special agents infiltrate an interstate stolen jewelry fenced-goods syndicate recognized by an engraved serpent ring. |
| "Against This Enemy with US Army Recruiting" | Syndication / US Army 1946-09-04 |
U.S. Army Recruiting Military Service |
Dramatic Army Cast | US Army Radio Section | ["Drama", "Military", "Voice of the Army", "US Army", "Medical"] |
A dramatic tribute illustrating how peacetime army medical research corps scientists developed lifesaving vaccines against tropical epidemics. |