On This Day, August 24: Sherlock Holmes and Jan Savitt
Also featured: John Cleese.
August 24 Exhaustive Update
This report documents the comprehensive provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial multi-part narrative arcs, and story synopses for historical broadcasts transmitting on August 24 across modern Holmesian audio drama, swing big bands, 1950s Chicago DJ broadcasts, and BBC sketch satire radio history (1941–2008):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Adventure of the Great American & The Appearance of Evil (Jim French — Imagination Theater)" | Syndicated 2003-08-24 8:00 PM PDT |
Sustaining Audio Drama Series |
John Patrick Lowrie (Holmes), Lawrence Albert (Watson) | M.J. Elliott, Jim French, Eric Aho | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Victorian", "Suspense", "Audio Drama"] |
Master detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate the sudden disappearance of a wealthy American railroad tycoon visiting London in 'The Adventure of the Great American' (Episode 40), paired with the psychological thriller 'The Appearance of Evil' on Jim French's Imagination Theater. |
| "Lucky Jack & The Helmet (Starring John Gilbert & Larry Albert — Imagination Theater)" | Syndicated 2008-08-24 8:00 PM PDT |
Sustaining Audio Drama Series |
John Gilbert, Larry Albert, Dennis Bateman | Jim French & Matthew Elliott (Writers) | ["Adventure", "Mystery", "Fantasy", "Action", "Audio Drama"] |
A thrilling audio drama double bill featuring soldier of fortune Lucky Jack in an exotic treasure hunt across the Mediterranean, paired with 'The Helmet,' a supernatural mystery regarding an ancient enchanted warrior's helmet. |
| "Hop Aboard the Bandwagon: Jan Savitt & His Top Hatters (Fitch Shampoo)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1941-08-24 7:30 PM EDST |
F.W. Fitch Co. Dandruff Remover Shampoo |
Jan Savitt and his Top Hatters, Allan DeWitt | L.W. Ramsey Co., Homer Fickett, Toby David | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Jazz", "Variety"] |
"Hop aboard the Fitch Bandwagon!" Jan Savitt and his Top Hatters jump into high-gear swing rhythm with '720 in the Books', 'It's a Wonderful World', and hot shuffle beat solos for Fitch's Dandruff Remover Shampoo. |
| "Guest Record Promoter Dick Kilner (Part 1 — Howard Miller — WGN)" | CBS / WGN 1955-08-24 10:45 AM CDT |
Sustaining WGN Chicago Broadcast |
Howard Miller (DJ Host), Dick Kilner (Promoter) | WGN Wrigley Building Studios Chicago | ["Music", "Talk", "Interview", "Disk Jockey", "Pop"] |
Chicago's king of morning disk jockeys Howard Miller spins the latest Billboard chart-toppers and interviews music promoter Dick Kilner about breakthrough rhythm and blues and pop vocal releases. |
| "Midwest Jazz Tours with Dick Kilner (Part 2 — Howard Miller — WGN)" | CBS / WGN 1955-08-24 11:00 AM CDT |
Sustaining WGN Chicago Broadcast |
Howard Miller (Host), Dick Kilner (Guest) | WGN Chicago Broadcast Team | ["Music", "Talk", "Interview", "Disk Jockey", "Pop"] |
In the second segment of the morning broadcast, Howard Miller and guest Dick Kilner discuss upcoming jazz concert tours in the Midwest, playing fresh singles from Capitol and Columbia Records. |
| "Audible Road Signs (The Goodies & John Cleese — BBC Radio 2)" | BBC Radio 2 1975-08-24 2:00 PM BST |
Sustaining BBC Comedy Special |
John Cleese, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden | Graeme Garden & Bill Oddie, Humphrey Barclay | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Sketch", "British", "Parody"] |
The Cambridge Footlights comedy gang unleash an avalanche of rapid-fire puns, sound-effect gags, and surreal sketches about government-mandated 'talking road signs' that shout unsolicited driving criticisms at passing motorists. |