On This Day, August 25: The Green Hornet (2 Decades) and Frankie Carle
Also featured: Dr. Christian.
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, masked vigilante action, big band ballroom remotes, small-town medicine, and African safari adventure radio history (1938–1967):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Night Time in River's End (Jean Hersholt as Dr. Christian — Vaseline)" | CBS (WCBS) 1948-08-25 8:30 PM EDT |
Chesebrough Mfg. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly |
Jean Hersholt (Dr. Christian), Rosemary DeCamp | Ruth Adams Knight, Neil Reagan, Art Gilmore | ["Drama", "Medical", "Americana", "Small Town", "Human Interest"] |
A midnight emergency calls Dr. Paul Christian to a remote farmhouse on a stormy night, where he delivers a critically ill baby and reconciles an estranged young couple before sunrise for Vaseline. |
| "The Jumbled Words (Al Hodge as The Green Hornet — WXYZ/Mutual)" | Mutual (WXYZ) 1938-08-25 8:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Vigilante Crime Fighter |
Al Hodge (Britt Reid), Raymond Hayashi (Kato) | George W. Trendle & Fran Striker, James Jewell | ["Action", "Superhero", "Detective", "Vigilante", "Crime"] |
"Ride with the Green Hornet! He hunts the biggest of all game: public enemies even the G-men cannot catch!" Publisher Britt Reid and faithful valet Kato decode a jumbled newspaper cryptogram to smash a corrupt city contracting syndicate rigging municipal bids. |
| "The Unwelcome Blackmailer (Jack McCarthy as The Green Hornet — ABC)" | ABC (WJZ) 1950-08-25 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Crime Fighter Drama |
Jack McCarthy (Britt Reid), Rollon Parker (Kato) | George W. Trendle, Dan Beattie, Hal Neal | ["Action", "Superhero", "Detective", "Vigilante", "Crime"] |
When a vicious blackmailer infiltrates the Daily Sentinel offices threatening to frame a crusading judge, Britt Reid dons the mask of the Green Hornet to corner the extortionist in a waterfront warehouse trap. |
| "Live from the Hotel Pennsylvania: Frankie Carle & His Orchestra (AFRS)" | AFRS 1944-08-25 (No. 340) |
Sustaining Armed Forces Radio |
Frankie Carle and his Orchestra, Phyllis Lynne | AFRS Hollywood, Jack McElroy | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Jazz", "Concert"] |
"One Night Stand! Music for the armed forces overseas!" Pianist Frankie Carle and his orchestra light up the Cafe Rouge of the Hotel Pennsylvania in Manhattan with high-energy swing numbers including 'Shine' and 'Sunrise Serenade' for Allied servicemen worldwide. |
| "Live from the Hollywood Palladium: Frankie Masters & His Orchestra (AFRS)" | AFRS 1949-08-25 (Palladium) |
Sustaining Armed Forces Radio |
Frankie Masters and his Orchestra, Phyllis Miles | AFRS Military Radio Unit, Don Wilson | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Jazz", "Concert"] |
Frankie Masters and his orchestra deliver a sensational live ballroom remote from the Hollywood Palladium, performing 'It's a Great Feeling', 'Room Full of Roses', and sweet dance orchestrations for American military personnel across the globe. |
| "The Kalahari Diamond Smugglers (General Motors on Safari — Springbok)" | Springbok Radio 1967-08-25 8:00 PM SAST |
General Motors Chevrolet & Opel South Africa |
Harry (Safari Guide), Peter Lotis, Hugh Rouse | Springbok Radio Drama Unit, David Davies | ["Adventure", "Action", "African", "Safari", "Crime"] |
Veteran safari guide Harry and his expedition team cross the rugged terrain of the Kalahari desert, encountering dangerous wildlife and diamond smugglers attempting to traffic uncut gems across the border for General Motors. |