On This Day, September 4: Counterspy and Let's Pretend
Also featured: Stars Over Hollywood.
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 Don MacLaughlin thwarting naval convoy espionage on Counterspy for Mail Pouch Tobacco, Nila Mack's junior players in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves on Let's Pretend for Cream of Wheat, Brenda Marshall & Jane Wyatt on Stars Over Hollywood (Dari-Rich in 1943 and Dial Soap in 1948), true crime police investigations on In the Crimelight, and ecumenical labor ethics on A Platform for Christ, Don MacLaughlin (1944), Nila Mack (1954), Brenda Marshall & Jane Wyatt (1943, 1948), and Counterspy (1935–1960):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Case of the Talkative Housekeeper with Don MacLaughlin" | Blue Network (WJZ) 1944-09-04 9:00 PM EWT |
Mail Pouch Tobacco Kentucky Club Pipe Tobacco |
Don MacLaughlin (Harding) | Mandel Kramer & Lord | ["Espionage", "Mystery", "Counterspy", "Don MacLaughlin", "Phillips H Lord"] |
United States Counterspies uncover an Axis espionage ring gathering confidential defense naval convoy schedules through a chatty boardinghouse maid. |
| "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves with Nila Mack" | CBS (WCBS) 1954-09-04 11:05 AM EDT |
Cream of Wheat Corp. Cream of Wheat Cereal |
Pretenders Junior Troupe | Nila Mack (Dir./Writer) | ["Children", "Fantasy", "Let's Pretend", "Nila Mack", "Cream of Wheat"] |
A whimsical dramatization of the Arabian Nights fairy tale as poor woodcutter Ali Baba discovers the magic password into the treasure cave. |
| "A Woman's Weapon with Brenda Marshall" | CBS (KNX) 1943-09-04 12:30 PM EWT |
Bowey's, Inc. Dari-Rich Chocolate Drink |
Brenda Marshall (Star) | Dramatic Repertory Cast | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Stars Over Hollywood", "Brenda Marshall", "Dari-Rich"] |
A spirited society woman uses quick thinking and subtle psychological maneuvering to prevent her fiancé from joining a fraudulent corporate scheme. |
| "The Model Wife with Jane Wyatt" | CBS (KNX) 1948-09-04 1:00 PM EDT |
Armour and Co. Dial Soap & Chiffon |
Jane Wyatt (Star) | Dramatic Repertory Cast | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Stars Over Hollywood", "Jane Wyatt", "Armour"] |
An ambitious commercial artist's wife orchestrates a series of social dinner parties to help her timid husband win a lucrative department store campaign. |
| "True Crime Reenactments with WOR Dramatic Cast" | WOR New York 1935-09-04 |
Sustaining Police Docudrama |
WOR Dramatic Company | WOR Production Staff | ["Crime", "Docudrama", "In The Crimelight", "WOR", "Police"] |
A gritty police docudrama tracing police ballistics experts who track down an armed safe-cracking gang operating in Manhattan. |
| "Christ and Labor Management with Mutual" | Mutual Radio 1960-09-04 |
Sustaining Religious Discussion |
Clergy Panelists | Mutual Religious Staff | ["Religion", "Talk", "Platform for Christ", "Mutual", "Labor Day"] |
A Labor Day ecumenical address examining Christian moral principles applied to collective bargaining, fair wages, and corporate workplace ethics. |