On This Day, September 4: Family Theater and The Magic Key
Also featured: Sir Henry Wickham.
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 Father Patrick Peyton's Family Theater hosted by J. Carrol Naish (1947) and Roddy McDowall (1957), RCA's flagship international variety broadcasts on The Magic Key of RCA (1938, 1939), Westinghouse science educator Dr. Phillips Thomas on Adventures in Research, and jazz retrospectives on Turn Back the Clock, J. Carrol Naish & Roddy McDowall (1947, 1957), Frank Black (1938, 1939), Dr. Phillips Thomas (1951), and Family Theater (1938–1959):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "No Man Is a Stranger with J. Carrol Naish" | Mutual (WOR) 1947-09-04 10:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Family Rosary Crusade |
J. Carrol Naish (Host) | Father Patrick Peyton | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Family Theater", "J Carrol Naish", "Patrick Peyton"] |
A wounded immigrant stonecutter finds compassion and universal brotherhood when strangers unite to help his family rebuild their home. |
| "The Colonel's Daughter with Roddy McDowall" | Mutual (WOR) 1957-09-04 9:05 PM EDT |
Sustaining Dramatic Anthology |
Roddy McDowall (Host) | David Young (Dir.) | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Family Theater", "Roddy McDowall", "Patrick Peyton"] |
A retired military officer's daughter reconciles family duty and personal ambition when a young suitor challenges her father's rigid household rules. |
| "International Variety and Symphonic Showcase with Frank Black" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1938-09-04 2:00 PM EDST |
Radio Corp of America RCA Victor & Tubes |
Frank Black & Symphony | International Soloists | ["Variety", "Concert", "The Magic Key", "RCA Victor", "Frank Black"] |
An international musical variety showcase featuring live shortwave radio pickups from European capitals and classical symphonic selections. |
| "Labor Day All-Star Festival with RCA Victor Artists" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1939-09-04 2:00 PM EDST |
Radio Corp of America RCA Victor Records |
RCA Victor Artists | Frank Black and Orch. | ["Variety", "Concert", "The Magic Key", "RCA Victor", "Frank Black"] |
A gala Labor Day broadcast presenting leading RCA Victor recording artists across opera, concert stage, and popular swing music. |
| "Mr. Wickham Plants a Seed with Dr. Phillips Thomas" | Syndication / KDKA 1951-09-04 |
Westinghouse Electric Institutional Science |
Dr. Phillips Thomas | Paul Shannon (Narr.) | ["Science", "History", "Adventures in Research", "Phillips Thomas", "Westinghouse"] |
The story of English botanist Sir Henry Wickham who smuggled rubber tree seeds from Brazil to establish the modern global rubber cultivation industry. |
| "He Took Advantage of Me with CBS Radio" | CBS Radio 1959-09-04 |
Sustaining Jazz Nostalgia |
Studio Jazz Quartet | CBS Music Department | ["Music", "Nostalgia", "Turn Back The Clock", "CBS", "Jazz Standards"] |
A nostalgic musical retrospective featuring Rodgers and Hart's He Took Advantage of Me and jazz standards from the Roaring Twenties. |