On This Day, August 25: Rudy Vallee (Ethel Merman) and Orson Welles (Revere Copper)
Also featured: George Raft Pilot.
August 25 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 25 across American network, Broadway superstar Ethel Merman guesting on Rudy Vallee's Royal Gelatin Hour, Orson Welles investigating the neuroscience of sleep and hypnosis for Revere Copper, rare 1955 CBS Hollywood audition pilots starring George Raft, small-town Rushville Center drama on Ma Perkins, and western folklore narrated by Marvin Miller (1932–1955):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Spring of Moses (Audition Pilot Take 1 Starring George Raft — CBS)" | CBS (Audition) 1955-08-25 (Columbia Square) |
Audition Recording Proposed CBS Revival |
George Raft (Rocky Jordan), Jay Novello | Larry Roman, Cliff Howell, Roy Rowan | ["Detective", "Hardboiled", "Noir", "Exotic", "Mystery"] |
"Rocky Jordan, owner of the Café Tambourine in Cairo..." In this first audition pilot take starring Hollywood screen icon George Raft, an exotic Egyptian dancer named Cherita seeks Rocky's help to find her missing rebel leader Mustapha, leading into an antiquities smuggling ring. |
| "Say It Isn't So (Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees — Fleischmann's Yeast)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1932-08-25 8:00 PM EDST |
Standard Brands Inc. Fleischmann's Yeast |
Rudy Vallee, The Connecticut Yankees | J. Walter Thompson Co., Graham McNamee | ["Music", "Variety", "Vocal", "Pop", "Early Radio"] |
"The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour, starring America's premier crooner Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees!" Rudy serenades network listeners with megahit songs of the Depression era including 'Say It Isn't So', 'Let's Put Out the Lights', and 'My Time Is Your Time' for Fleischmann's Yeast. |
| "Guest Broadway Star Ethel Merman & Eric Blore (Rudy Vallee — Royal Gelatin)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1938-08-25 8:00 PM EDST |
Standard Brands Inc. Royal Gelatin & Puddings |
Rudy Vallee, Ethel Merman, Eric Blore | Joe Bigelow (Director), Jimmy Wallington | ["Variety", "Music", "Broadway", "Comedy", "Vocal"] |
"The Royal Gelatin Hour, starring Rudy Vallee!" Broadway's brassy queen of song Ethel Merman belts showstopping showtunes, while British comedic star Eric Blore and Frank Craven trade witty banter with Rudy for Royal Gelatin. |
| "Ma Uncovers Discrepancies at the Lumber Yard (Ma Perkins — Oxydol)" | CBS (WBBM) 1950-08-25 1:15 PM EDT |
Procter & Gamble Oxydol — "Whiter Clothes!" |
Virginia Payne (Ma Perkins), Charles Egelston | Frank & Anne Hummert, Jack Brinkley | ["Drama", "Soap Opera", "Domestic", "Family", "Americana"] |
"Ma Perkins... the mother of the air, brought to you by Oxydol!" In the small town of Rushville Center, Ma Perkins confides in loyal lumber yard partner Shuffle Shober that something is seriously wrong with the accounts, suspecting foul play by an unscrupulous competitor. |
| "The Mystery of Sleep and Dreams (Starring Orson Welles — Revere Copper)" | Mutual (WOR) 1946-08-25 9:00 PM EDT |
Revere Copper & Brass Revere Copper & Brass |
Orson Welles (Narrator/Star), Sherman MacGregor | Sherman H. Dryer (Dir.), Andre Baruch | ["Science", "Documentary", "Educational", "Drama", "Psychological"] |
"Exploring the Unknown, presented by Revere Copper and Brass!" Orson Welles dramatizes the cutting-edge scientific and neurological breakthroughs in the study of human sleep, hypnosis, and subconscious dream interpretation for Revere Copper and Brass. |
| "The Mystery of Superstition Mountain (Marvin Miller — Armchair Adventures)" | Mutual (WOR) 1952-08-25 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Folklore & Exploration |
Marvin Miller (Solo Narrator / All Voices) | True Boardman (Writer), Mutual Drama | ["Adventure", "Western", "Folklore", "Mystery", "Exploration"] |
"Armchair Adventures, starring Marvin Miller!" Master storyteller Marvin Miller brings to life the legendary curse of Arizona's Superstition Mountain and the tragic expeditions of treasure hunters searching for the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. |