On This Day, August 23: Tex Williams and Cabin B-13
Also featured: Front Page Drama.
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 broadcasting history (1935–1968):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Tex Williams and his Western Caravan: 'Ridin' Down to Santa Fe'" | Mutual (KHJ) 1947-08-23 7:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Mutual Western Music |
Tex Williams & Caravan, Smokey Rogers, Deuce Spriggens | Don Lee Studios, Larry Keating (Announcer) | ["Western", "Country", "Music", "Variety"] |
Western swing bandleader Tex Williams and his Western Caravan perform a lively set of cowboy swing numbers, featuring 'Ridin' Down to Santa Fe', 'Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)', and comedy tunes with Smokey Rogers. |
| "Below Suspicion (Starring Arnold Moss as Dr. Fabian)" | CBS (WCBS) 1948-08-23 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining CBS Mystery Presentation |
Arnold Moss (Dr. Fabian), Lesley Woods, Luis Van Rooten | John Dickson Carr (Author), John Dietz | ["Mystery", "Detective", "Thriller", "Suspense"] |
Ship's doctor Fabian of the luxury liner S.S. Mauretania relates the baffling murder of a wealthy English country gentleman who was poisoned inside a locked room where every member of the household appeared entirely above suspicion. |
| "SF 68: Escape Mechanism (SABC Science Fiction)" | SABC English 1968-08-23 9:30 PM |
Non-commercial South African Radio |
Michael Mayer, Colin Fish, Diane Appleby | Tommy Read (Producer), David Gretton | ["Science Fiction", "Anthology", "Speculative", "Psychological", "South African"] |
A hyper-advanced psychological space probe unit discovers that its astronaut pilot is retreating into an impenetrable dream world to escape the overwhelming isolation of deep interstellar space. |
| "The Fatal Beauty Queen (The American Weekly)" | Syndication 1935-08-23 (Transcribed) |
The American Weekly Hearst Sunday Magazine |
Frank Readick, Adelaide Klein | Hearst Radio, George Ansbro (Announcer) | ["Docudrama", "True Crime", "Drama", "Journalism"] |
Dramatized from real-life investigative reports in The American Weekly, a dazzling Broadway beauty pageant winner becomes embroiled in a dangerous blackmail ring when a jealous admirer plots her downfall. |
| "King of the Prairies: The Texas Cattle Baron (The American Weekly)" | Syndication 1940-08-23 (Transcribed) |
The American Weekly Hearst Sunday Magazine |
John McIntire, Jeanette Nolan | Hearst Radio, George Ansbro (Announcer) | ["Docudrama", "True Crime", "Western", "Historical"] |
Based on sensational historical features in The American Weekly, a legendary 19th-century Texas cattle baron fights off ruthless range rustlers to defend his sprawling open-range cattle empire. |
| "Galloping Gold: The Racetrack Swindle (The American Weekly)" | Syndication 1941-08-23 (Transcribed) |
The American Weekly Hearst Sunday Magazine |
Santos Ortega, Karl Swenson | Hearst Radio, George Ansbro (Announcer) | ["Docudrama", "True Crime", "Sports", "Mystery"] |
Dramatized from real investigative accounts in The American Weekly, track detectives expose a syndicate of thoroughbred horse-racing ringers substituting champion racers for look-alike steeds to collect fraudulent betting payouts. |