On This Day, September 5: Al Jolson and Crime Doctor
Also featured: Peter Lorre.
September 5 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 5 across Al Jolson welcoming movie star Constance Bennett on The Al Jolson Show for Shell Oil (1936), Everett Sloane resolving psychological murder clues on Crime Doctor for Philip Morris (1943), Peter Lorre presenting Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution (1945) and Death Wears a Mask (1947) on Mystery Playhouse for AFRS, Alexander Scourby in Messenger of Prayer on The Eternal Light (1948), and J.B. Priestley's ocean liner drama People at Sea on BBC's Saturday Night Theatre (1953), Al Jolson (1936), Everett Sloane (1943), Peter Lorre (1945, 1947), and Alexander Scourby (1948):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Guest Constance Bennett with Al Jolson" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1936-09-05 9:30 PM EDST |
Shell Oil Company Super-Shell Gasoline |
Al Jolson & Bennett | Victor Young Orchestra | ["Music", "Variety", "Al Jolson Show", "Constance Bennett", "Shell Oil"] |
Al Jolson belts out minstrel and Broadway showtunes, interviews glamorous actress Constance Bennett, and banters with bandleader Victor Young. |
| "The Case of the Bankrupt Gambler with Everett Sloane" | CBS (WABC) 1943-09-05 8:30 PM EWT |
Philip Morris & Co. Philip Morris Cigarettes |
Everett Sloane & Clarke | Max Marcin (Creator) | ["Detective", "Psychological", "Crime Doctor", "Everett Sloane", "Philip Morris"] |
Amnesiac criminologist Dr. Benjamin Ordway determines whether a bankrupt gambler's fatal balcony plunge was suicide or premeditated murder. |
| "Witness for the Prosecution with Peter Lorre" | AFRS 1945-09-05 |
U.S. Armed Forces Armed Forces Radio |
Peter Lorre (Host) | Agatha Christie (Author) | ["Mystery", "Anthology", "Mystery Playhouse", "Peter Lorre", "Agatha Christie"] |
Peter Lorre presents Agatha Christie's famous courtroom drama where a devoted wife delivers shock testimony to convict her accused husband. |
| "Death Wears a Mask with Peter Lorre" | AFRS 1947-09-05 |
U.S. Armed Forces Armed Forces Radio |
Peter Lorre (Host) | AFRS Drama Staff | ["Mystery", "Anthology", "Mystery Playhouse", "Peter Lorre", "AFRS"] |
Peter Lorre hosts a chilling mystery about a masked gala murder where every costumed guest possessed a motive for homicide. |
| "Messenger of Prayer with Alexander Scourby" | NBC (WNBC) 1948-09-05 12:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Jewish Heritage Drama |
Scourby & JTSA Players | Milton Katims (Score) | ["Religious", "Drama", "The Eternal Light", "Alexander Scourby", "JTSA"] |
A pious cantor travels through rural settlements in 18th-century Eastern Europe to lead solemn Rosh Hashanah prayers for isolated congregations. |
| "People at Sea with BBC Radio Drama Company" | BBC Home Service 1953-09-05 9:15 PM BST |
BBC Sustaining Saturday Night Theatre |
BBC Drama Repertory | J.B. Priestley (Writer) | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Saturday Night Theatre", "JB Priestley", "BBC"] |
Passengers and crew aboard a crippled ocean liner adrift in the Caribbean confront their hidden fears and moral secrets as disaster looms. |