On This Day, August 25/26: Raffles (100% August 25 Completion) and Milton Berle / Kay Kyser
This report marks the 100% completion of August 25th (390/390 broadcasts fully updated) with Horace Braham & Walter Tetley in Raffles, the Gentleman Thief for CBS, followed by the opening sequence of August 26th featuring…
August 25 (100% Complete) & August 26 Opening Update
This report marks the 100% completion of August 25th (390/390 broadcasts fully updated) with Horace Braham & Walter Tetley in Raffles, the Gentleman Thief for CBS, followed by the opening sequence of August 26th featuring Milton Berle saluting American railroads on Let Yourself Go for Eversharp, two high-seas adventure serials on The Sea Hound, and Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge for Lucky Strike and Pillsbury Mills (1942–1948):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Case of the Seven Stamps (Horace Braham as A.J. Raffles — CBS)" | CBS (WABC) 1943-08-25 8:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Summer Mystery Drama |
Horace Braham (Raffles), Walter Tetley (Bunny) | E.W. Hornung, Himan Brown, Frank Gallop | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Classics", "Victorian", "Crime"] |
"Raffles, the Gentleman Thief, adapted from the stories of E.W. Hornung!" Suave society gentleman and amateur cracksman A.J. Raffles and his loyal accomplice Bunny Manders investigate the disappearance of a rare set of British colonial Mauritius postage stamps stolen from a wealthy philatelist's locked study, outwitting Scotland Yard's Inspector Mackenzie to restore the priceless stamps. (Completes August 25 100%!) |
| "Salutes the Railways of America (Milton Berle — Eversharp Razors)" | CBS (WABC) 1947-08-26 8:00 PM EDT |
Eversharp, Inc. Eversharp Injector Razors |
Milton Berle, Pert Kelton, Dick Farney | Kenneth MacGregor, Frank Gallop | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Vaudeville", "Music", "Americana"] |
"Eversharp presents Let Yourself Go, starring Milton Berle!" Comedian Milton Berle salutes the great railroads of America with hilarious commuter sketches, locomotive sound impressions, musical selections from singer Dick Farney, and Eversharp Schick Injector razor commercials. |
| "The Torpedo Ambush in Cove Bay (Part 11 — Ken Daigneau as Captain Silver)" | ABC (WJZ) 1946-08-26 5:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Maritime Adventure Serial |
Ken Daigneau (Captain Silver), Bobby Hastings | Cyril Armbrister, B.P. Nicholls | ["Adventure", "Juvenile", "Maritime", "Action", "Espionage"] |
"Ahoy, mates! Sail with Captain Silver on The Sea Hound!" Captain Silver and young Jerry navigate treacherous reefs off the coast of Colombia tracking down the ruthless pirate El Mutilador, dodging a torpedo ambush launched from a hidden cove. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (The Chase for El Mutilador — Part 11). |
| "The God of Vengeance on the Andes Line (Part 4 — Captain Silver — ABC)" | ABC (WJZ) 1948-08-26 5:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Maritime Adventure Serial |
Ken Daigneau (Captain Silver), Bobby Hastings | Cyril Armbrister, B.P. Nicholls | ["Adventure", "Juvenile", "Maritime", "Action", "Exotic"] |
"The Sea Hound, adventure in Latin America with Captain Silver!" While assisting with a remote Andes railway construction project, Captain Silver and his crew uncover a plot by river bandits impersonating the ancient Incan deity 'The God of Vengeance' to frighten railway laborers. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (The God of Vengeance — Part 4). |
| "Tribute to Major James V. Edmundson (Kay Kyser & Ish Kabibble — Lucky Strike)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1942-08-26 10:00 PM EWT |
American Tobacco Co. Lucky Strike ("L.S./M.F.T.") |
Kay Kyser, Ish Kabibble, Harry Babbitt | Ed Cashman, Verne Smith | ["Music", "Game Show", "Big Band", "Comedy", "Quiz"] |
"Students, hold your hats! It's Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge, brought to you by Lucky Strike!" The Ol' Professor Kay Kyser leads the student body in zany musical quizzes, features a heartfelt wartime tribute honoring B-17 bomber pilot Major James V. Edmundson, and swings with Ish Kabibble and Harry Babbitt for Lucky Strike. |
| "Audition Demonstration (Kay Kyser & Ish Kabibble — Pillsbury & Ivory)" | ABC Network 1947-08-26 (Audition Track) |
Pillsbury & P&G Flour & Ivory Soap |
Kay Kyser, Ish Kabibble, Jane Russell | Kay Kyser Productions, Verne Smith | ["Music", "Game Show", "Big Band", "Comedy", "Quiz"] |
"Audition Presentation: Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge for Pillsbury and Ivory Soap!" Kay Kyser and comedy star Ish Kabibble deliver a fast-paced sample broadcast demonstrating interactive audience participation, musical quizzes, and integrated commercial parodies for Pillsbury Mills and Procter & Gamble. |