On This Day, October 8: Don Larsen Perfect Game and 12 Postseason Baseball Classics
Also featured: John Garfield in Golden Boy, Orson Welles in Algiers.
October 8 Update & Historical Discoveries
This report records the historical discoveries, verified cast roles, sanitized titles, and contemporary radio logs across all 211 old-time radio broadcasts transmitted on October 8.
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis & Discovered Historical Insights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "1956 World Series Game 5: Brooklyn Dodgers at New York Yankees" | MBS / Mutual Baseball Network 1956-10-08 12:45 PM EST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company | Mel Allen, Vin Scully (Broadcasters) Featuring Don Larsen, Sal Maglie, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider |
Mutual Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Mel Allen and Vin Scully describe Game Five from Yankee Stadium as Don Larsen pitches the only perfect game in World Series history, retiring all twenty-seven batters. Background: Don Larsen throws 97 pitches with 7 strikeouts, capped by pinch-hitter Dale Mitchell called out on strikes in the ninth; Mickey Mantle hits a fourth-inning home run and makes a running catch. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 8, 1956, Sports, p. 38. |
| "1960 World Series Game 3: Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Yankees (Part 2)" | NBC Radio Network 1960-10-08 1:00 PM EST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company | Mel Allen, Jack Quinlan (Broadcasters) Featuring Bobby Richardson, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford |
NBC Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Mel Allen and Jack Quinlan broadcast Game Three from Yankee Stadium as Bobby Richardson slams a grand slam and drives in six runs in a ten-to-zero blowout. Background: Bobby Richardson sets a World Series single-game record with six runs batted in, highlighted by a first-inning grand slam off Clem Labine as Whitey Ford cruises to a four-hit shutout. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 8, 1960, Sports, p. 19. |
| "1961 World Series Game 4: New York Yankees at Cincinnati Reds" | NBC Radio Network 1961-10-08 1:00 PM EST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company | Mel Allen, Waite Hoyt (Broadcasters) Featuring Whitey Ford, Jim O'Toole, Hector Lopez |
NBC Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Mel Allen and Waite Hoyt report Game Four from Crosley Field as Whitey Ford breaks Babe Ruth's consecutive scoreless World Series innings pitching record. Background: Whitey Ford pitches five scoreless innings to reach thirty-two consecutive scoreless World Series innings, breaking Babe Ruth's historic 1918 mark of 29 2/3 innings, leading New York to a 7-0 victory. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 8, 1961, Sports, p. 21. |
| "1962 World Series Game 4: San Francisco Giants at New York Yankees" | NBC Radio Network 1962-10-08 1:00 PM EST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company | Mel Allen, Russ Hodges (Broadcasters) Featuring Chuck Hiller, Juan Marichal, Whitey Ford |
NBC Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Mel Allen and Russ Hodges report Game Four from Yankee Stadium as Chuck Hiller smashes the first grand slam by a National League player in World Series history. Background: Chuck Hiller's historic seventh-inning grand slam off Marshall Bridges breaks a 2-2 deadlock to secure a 7-3 Giants victory, evening the series at two games apiece. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 8, 1962, Sports, p. 43. |
| "1959 World Series Game 6: Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago White Sox" | NBC Radio Network 1959-10-08 1:30 PM CST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company | Bob Elson, Vin Scully (Broadcasters) Featuring Larry Sherry, Duke Snider, Wally Moon |
NBC Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Bob Elson and Vin Scully broadcast Game Six from Comiskey Park as the Los Angeles Dodgers capture their first championship on the West Coast. Background: Reliever Larry Sherry finishes with his second victory and two saves in the series, as Duke Snider and Wally Moon hit crucial home runs before 36,528 Chicago fans. Newspaper listing: Chicago Daily Tribune, Oct 8, 1959, Sports, p. C1. |
| "1973 NLCS Game 3: Cincinnati Reds at New York Mets" | NBC Radio Network 1973-10-08 1:00 PM EST |
Chrysler Corporation | Curt Gowdy, Lindsey Nelson (Broadcasters) Featuring Pete Rose, Bud Harrelson, Jerry Koosman, Rusty Staub |
NBC Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Curt Gowdy and Lindsey Nelson report Game Three from Shea Stadium as an infamous fifth-inning brawl erupts between Pete Rose and Bud Harrelson. Background: Pete Rose slides hard into second base, sparking a benches-clearing fight with Bud Harrelson; Shea Stadium fans throw debris onto the field until Willie Mays and Yogi Berra appeal for calm. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 8, 1973, Sports, p. 49. |
| "Golden Boy" | CBS Radio Network 1945-10-08 9:30 PM EST |
Cresta Blanca Wines | John Garfield (Joe Bonaparte), Lynn Bari (Lorna Moon) Edward Marr (Tom Moody), Alan Reed (Mr. Bonaparte), Gerald Mohr (Eddie Fuseli), Frank Bingman (Announcer) |
Russell Hughes (Adaptor), Bernard Katz (Musician) | ["Drama"] |
Synopsis: A gifted young violinist abandons his classical music career to achieve wealth and fame as a professional boxer, risking his soul in the corrupt fight world. Background: John Garfield reprises his iconic Broadway star-making role as Joe Bonaparte from Clifford Odets' classic drama, supported by Lynn Bari as Lorna Moon and Gerald Mohr as gangster Fuseli. Newspaper listing: Los Angeles Times, Oct 8, 1945, Radio Timetable, p. A3. |
| "Algiers" | CBS Radio Network 1939-10-08 8:00 PM EST |
Campbell Soup Company | Orson Welles (Pepe le Moko), Paulette Goddard (Gaby) Ray Collins (Inspector Slimane), George Coulouris (Carlos), Ernest Chappell (Announcer) |
Orson Welles (Producer/Director), Howard Koch (Writer) | ["Drama", "Romance"] |
Synopsis: An elusive Parisian jewel thief trapped in the labyrinthine Casbah of Algiers risks capture when he falls desperately in love with a visiting tourist. Background: Orson Welles brings poetic fatalism to Pepe le Moko with Paulette Goddard as the intoxicating Parisian socialite Gaby, adapted by Howard Koch from the Henri La Barthe novel. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 8, 1939, Radio Guide, p. 118. |
| "Betrayal in Vienna" | CBS Radio Network 1951-10-08 8:00 PM EST |
Auto-Lite Spark Plugs | Paul Henreid (Franz Richter), Cathy Lewis (Ilse) Joseph Kearns (Police Inspector), Paul Frees (Major), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer) |
Elliott Lewis (Producer/Director), Robert Stevens (Producer) | ["Suspense", "Espionage"] |
Synopsis: An Austrian resistance fighter in post-war allied-occupied Vienna discovers a deadly conspiracy to sell military secrets across the Iron Curtain. Background: Paul Henreid stars in a tense Cold War espionage thriller set among the shadows of occupied Vienna, produced and directed by radio virtuoso Elliott Lewis. Newspaper listing: Chicago Daily Tribune, Oct 8, 1951, Radio Programs, p. B8. |
| "A Duty Of Conscience" | NBC Radio Network 1950-10-08 12:30 PM EST |
Jewish Theological Seminary of America | John Garfield (Commodore Uriah P. Levy), Alexander Scourby (Narrator) Mel Brandt (Announcer), Edgar Nathan Jr. (Host) |
Ed King (Director), Morton Wishengrad (Writer) | ["Historical Drama", "Religious"] |
Synopsis: Naval officer Uriah P. Levy faces court-martial and antisemitic prejudice as he fights to abolish corporal punishment and flogging in the United States Navy. Background: Morton Wishengrad's stirring biographical drama starring John Garfield honors Commodore Uriah Phillips Levy, the heroic naval reformer who also purchased and preserved Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 8, 1950, Radio Guide, p. 107. |