On This Day, August 23: Johnny Mercer and Rudy Vallee
Also featured: This Is Jazz.
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 and international network broadcasting history (1932–1947):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians: 'When I Grow Too Old to Dream' (Chesterfield)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1942-08-23 7:00 PM EWT |
Liggett & Myers Chesterfield Cigarettes |
Fred Waring & his Pennsylvanians, Jane Wilson, Donna Dae, Waring Glee Club | Roy Ringwald (Arranger), Paul Douglas (Announcer) | ["Music", "Vocal", "Choral", "Easy Listening", "Big Band"] |
Fred Waring leads his renowned Pennsylvanians and choral glee club in a stirring musical program for Chesterfield cigarettes, highlighting rich vocal arrangements of 'When I Grow Too Old to Dream' and patriotic wartime anthems. |
| "The Witch's Tale: The Great Green Stone (3DB Melbourne)" | 3DB Melbourne 1932-08-23 9:30 PM |
Local Commercials Australian Advertisers |
Old Nancy the Witch, Satan the Cat, Keith Eden, Catherine Neill | Alonzo Deen Cole (Author), 3DB Studios | ["Horror", "Supernatural", "Occult", "Anthology", "Australian"] |
Old Nancy the Witch and her black cat Satan introduce the terrifying legend of a cursed emerald jewel stolen from an ancient Tibetan shrine, whose gleaming facets drive every subsequent owner to madness and sudden death. |
| "Johnny Mercer's Music Shop with Jo Stafford & The Pied Pipers (Pepsodent)" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-08-23 8:00 PM EWT |
Pepsodent Co. Pepsodent Toothpaste & Powder |
Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford, The Pied Pipers, Paul Weston Orchestra | Bob Brewster (Director), Wendell Niles (Announcer) | ["Music", "Vocal", "Pop", "Jazz", "Variety"] |
Songwriter Johnny Mercer hosts his summery music shop for Pepsodent, singing witty novelty rhymes alongside vocal sensation Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers, backed by the breezy swing rhythms of Paul Weston's Orchestra. |
| "The Case of the Devil's Own Brother (Johnson's Wax)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1938-08-23 9:30 PM EDST |
S.C. Johnson & Son Johnson's Wax & Glo-Coat |
Jim Ameche (Terry Regan), Fran Carlon, Henry Hunter | Milton Geiger (Writer), Fort Pearson (Announcer) | ["Legal", "Drama", "Crime", "Mystery"] |
Idealistic young courtroom attorney Terry Regan defends an upright, hard-working clerk accused of warehouse arson, uncovering proof that the clerk's vengeful identical twin brother framed him to steal an inheritance. |
| "This Is Jazz: 'Ballin' the Jack' with Wild Bill Davison, James P. Johnson & Baby Dodds" | Mutual (WOR) 1947-08-23 2:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Mutual Jazz Presentation |
Rudi Blesh (Host), Wild Bill Davison, James P. Johnson, Baby Dodds | Rudi Blesh (Producer), WOR Sound Engineering | ["Music", "Jazz", "Dixieland", "Historical"] |
Jazz historian Rudi Blesh convenes the world's finest traditional New Orleans and Chicago jazz pioneers for a historic live jam session, performing electrifying renditions of 'Ballin' the Jack', 'High Society', and 'Careless Love'. |
| "The Fleischmann Hour: Rudy Vallee with Ernest Truex as Casper Milquetoast" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1934-08-23 8:00 PM EDST |
Standard Brands, Inc. Fleischmann's Yeast |
Rudy Vallee & Connecticut Yankees, Ernest Truex | J. Walter Thompson Co., Graham McNamee | ["Variety", "Comedy", "Music", "Vocal"] |
Host Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees present stage comedian Ernest Truex in a hilarious dramatic sketch bringing H.T. Webster's timid comic strip hero Casper Milquetoast to life, complemented by Rudy's signature crooning of romantic ballads. |