On This Day, September 5: Burns and Allen and The Eternal Light
Also featured: Tokyo Occupation.
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 George Burns and Gracie Allen for Maxwell House Coffee (1946), four spiritual and philosophical dramas from The Eternal Light and NBC University Theater (1948, 1954, 1965, 1971), and live overseas reportage from newly occupied Tokyo on Mutual Overseas War Report (1945), Arthur Mann (1945), George Burns & Gracie Allen (1946), and Alexander Scourby (1965):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "George's Allergies with George Burns and Gracie Allen" | NBC (WNBC) 1946-09-05 8:30 PM EDT |
General Foods Corp. Maxwell House Coffee |
Burns, Allen & Goodwin | Meredith Willson Orch. | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Burns and Allen", "George Burns", "Maxwell House"] |
When George suffers a sudden bout of hay fever sneezes, Gracie consults a pet psychiatrist and attempts to allergy-proof their living room. |
| "Tokyo Occupation Report with Arthur Mann" | Mutual (WOR) 1945-09-05 |
Sustaining Overseas War News |
Arthur Mann & MacVane | Mutual Foreign Bureau | ["News", "History", "Mutual Overseas War Report", "Arthur Mann", "WWII"] |
Overseas correspondents report live on General MacArthur's entry into Tokyo and the initial disarmament of imperial Japanese garrison forces. |
| "Messenger of Prayer with NBC Dramatic Troupe" | NBC (WNBC) 1948-09-05 12:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Religious Drama |
NBC Radio Repertory | NBC Religious Staff | ["Religious", "Drama", "NBC University", "Spiritual", "NBC"] |
A dramatic radio meditation portraying the spiritual journey of an itinerant circuit rider minister in pioneer America. |
| "Supporting Cast of the Bible (Part 10) with JTSA Players" | NBC (WNBC) 1954-09-05 12:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Jewish Heritage Drama |
JTSA Dramatic Cast | Peter Barry (Writer) | ["Religious", "Drama", "The Eternal Light", "JTSA", "NBC"] |
A rich dramatic exploration of minor scriptural figures whose quiet moral choices shaped major Biblical history. |
| "Poetry of the Bible - Psalms with Alexander Scourby" | NBC (WNBC) 1965-09-05 12:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Scriptural Poetry |
Alexander Scourby & Cast | Milton Katims (Music) | ["Religious", "Poetry", "The Eternal Light", "Alexander Scourby", "NBC"] |
Actor Alexander Scourby and musical soloists present poetic recitations and choral interpretations of the Book of Psalms. |
| "Modern Jewish Philosophy with JTSA Scholars" | NBC (WNBC) 1971-09-05 12:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Rabbinic Ethics Forum |
JTSA Academic Panel | NBC Public Affairs | ["Religious", "Talk", "The Eternal Light", "JTSA", "NBC"] |
Scholars discuss ethical dilemmas in modern industrial society examined through the lens of ancient rabbinic law. |