On This Day, August 23: Hildegarde and Beulah
Also featured: Sons of the Pioneers.
August 23 Exhaustive Update
This report documents the comprehensive provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and story synopses for historical broadcasts transmitting on August 23 across American network and syndicated broadcasting history (1935–1959):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Beat the Band: Musical Quiz with Hildegarde (Kix Cereal)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1944-08-23 8:30 PM EWT |
General Mills Kix Cereal & Softasilk |
Hildegarde (Hostess), Harry Sosnik Orchestra, Kim Loo Sisters | Jack Hurdle (Producer), Tom Reddy (Announcer) | ["Quiz", "Music", "Comedy", "Game Show", "Variety"] |
The Incomparable Hildegarde hosts the fast-paced musical quiz show Beat the Band, challenging studio contestants to stump Harry Sosnik's orchestra with obscure musical requests while tossing out fifty-dollar silver dollar prizes and singing romantic standards. |
| "The Socony Sketchbook: Christopher Morley & Johnny Green (Mobilgas & Mobiloil)" | CBS (WABC) 1935-08-23 8:00 PM EDST |
Socony-Vacuum Mobilgas & Mobiloil |
Christopher Morley, Johnny Green Orchestra, Virginia Verrill | Arthur Pryor Jr. (Producer), Kenneth Roberts | ["Variety", "Music", "Literature", "Easy Listening"] |
Author Christopher Morley spins literary vignettes and philosophical essays between lush arrangements by Johnny Green's Orchestra and vocal interpretations of Cole Porter's 'You Do Something to Me' by Virginia Verrill. |
| "The Amos 'n' Andy Music Hall: 30th Anniversary Special (Freeman Gosden & Charles Correll)" | CBS (WCBS) 1959-08-23 7:05 PM EDT |
Sustaining CBS Radio Retrospective |
Freeman Gosden (Amos / Kingfish), Charles Correll (Andy) | Freeman Gosden & Charles Correll, Del Sharbutt | ["Comedy", "Music", "Variety", "Historical", "Retrospective"] |
Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll host a special 30th anniversary commemorative broadcast looking back on three decades of radio history, playing vintage 1929 recordings and sharing memories of early radio pioneer days. |
| "The Henderson Barbecue Pit (Starring Hattie McDaniel as Beulah — Dreft)" | CBS (WCBS) 1948-08-23 7:00 PM EDT |
Procter & Gamble Dreft & Oxydol Detergent |
Hattie McDaniel (Beulah), Hugh Studebaker, Ernest Whitman | Arthur Phillips (Writer), Helen Mack, Marvin Miller | ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Family"] |
Housekeeper Beulah helps the Henderson family untangle a comical domestic crisis when Mr. Henderson's overzealous attempt to build a backyard barbecue pit collapses the neighbor's prize flower trellis. |
| "10-2-4 Time: The Sons of the Pioneers (Dr Pepper Show #142)" | Syndication 1943-08-23 (Show #142) |
Dr Pepper Co. Drink a Bite to Eat at 10, 2 & 4 |
Sons of the Pioneers (Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, Hugh Farr) | Dr Pepper Bottling Co., Jack Lacy (Announcer) | ["Music", "Country", "Western", "Vocal", "Folk"] |
Western harmony masters The Sons of the Pioneers perform spirited cowboy ballads and western standards including 'Cool Water' and 'Tumbleweeds' in a refreshing 15-minute musical interlude for Dr Pepper. |
| "The Singing Sands of Alamosa: The Sons of the Pioneers (Dr Pepper Show #298)" | Syndication 1944-08-23 (Show #298) |
Dr Pepper Co. Drink a Bite to Eat at 10, 2 & 4 |
Sons of the Pioneers (Bob Nolan, Lloyd Perryman, Karl Farr) | Dr Pepper Bottling Co., Jack Lacy (Announcer) | ["Music", "Country", "Western", "Vocal", "Folk"] |
The Sons of the Pioneers open their western musical showcase with the evocative harmonies of 'The Singing Sands of Alamosa', blending fiddle solos and western yodeling for Dr Pepper. |