On This Day, September 4: Frank Lovejoy and Don Ameche
Also featured: Mel Blanc.
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 Frank Lovejoy as Chicago Star nightside reporter Randy Stone on Night Beat for Wheaties (1950) and Pabst Blue Ribbon (1952), Don Ameche in a high-altitude transatlantic romance on The First Nighter Program for Campana Italian Balm, Parker Fennelly on Lawyer Tucker, and Chuck Schaden's historic interviews with Jack Benny writer Milt Josefsberg and voice master Mel Blanc, Frank Lovejoy (1950, 1952), Don Ameche (1936), Mel Blanc (1988), and Milt Josefsberg (1936–1988):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Old Home Week with Frank Lovejoy" | NBC (WNBC) 1950-09-04 10:00 PM EDT |
General Mills Wheaties Cereal |
Frank Lovejoy (Stone) | Russell Hughes (Writer) | ["Drama", "Newspaper", "Night Beat", "Frank Lovejoy", "Wheaties"] |
Chicago Star reporter Randy Stone investigates the suspicious return of an exiled small-town ex-convict during an annual civic celebration. |
| "Bomb on the Denver Plane with Frank Lovejoy" | NBC (WNBC) 1952-09-04 8:30 PM EDT |
Pabst Brewing Co. Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer |
Frank Lovejoy (Stone) | Russell Hughes (Writer) | ["Drama", "Newspaper", "Night Beat", "Frank Lovejoy", "Pabst"] |
Randy Stone races against time to locate an extortionist who placed a barometric time bomb aboard a passenger airliner bound for Denver. |
| "Transatlantic Zeppelin with Don Ameche" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1936-09-04 10:00 PM EDST |
Campana Sales Co. Campana Italian Balm |
Don Ameche & Meredith | Charles Hughes & Orch. | ["Drama", "Romance", "The First Nighter Program", "Don Ameche", "Campana"] |
A high-altitude romance and suspense drama aboard a luxury transatlantic passenger airship sailing through North Atlantic gales. |
| "Small Town Defense with Parker Fennelly" | CBS Radio 1947-09-04 |
Sustaining Legal Drama |
Parker Fennelly (Tucker) | Paul West (Writer) | ["Drama", "Legal", "Lawyer Tucker", "Parker Fennelly", "CBS"] |
A shrewd New England country attorney defends an eccentric farmer accused of sabotaging his neighbor's commercial cider press. |
| "Interview with Jack Benny Writer Milt Josefsberg" | WNIB Chicago 1981-09-04 |
Sustaining Radio History |
Chuck Schaden & Josefsberg | Chuck Schaden (Host) | ["Interview", "History", "Chuck Schaden", "Milt Josefsberg", "Jack Benny"] |
Old-time radio historian Chuck Schaden interviews legendary head writer Milt Josefsberg regarding the comedy mechanics and writing room behind The Jack Benny Program. |
| "Interview with Voice Master Mel Blanc on WBBM" | WBBM Chicago 1988-09-04 |
Sustaining Radio Classics |
Chuck Schaden & Blanc | WBBM Radio Staff | ["Interview", "History", "Chuck Schaden", "Mel Blanc", "WBBM"] |
Chuck Schaden conducts an in-depth telephone interview with voice virtuoso Mel Blanc discussing his iconic characters across radio and animation. |