On This Day, August 26: Aunt Mary and Family Theater
Also featured: Adventures in Research.
August 26 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 26 across American network and syndicated radio, Jane Morgan starring as Aunt Mary in two dramatic Beechwood serial installments (for Albers Flapjack Flour and Quick Oats), William Bendix in Half-Time Strategy on Father Patrick Peyton's Family Theater, two Westinghouse science dramatizations on Adventures in Research exploring the 'Ice King' of Boston and bioluminescent cold fire, and Little Jimmy Dickens on the Grand Ole Opry (1946–1992):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Opry Live from Opryland (Little Jimmy Dickens & Porter Wagoner — WSM)" | WSM 650 AM 1992-08-26 7:00 PM CDT |
Martha White Flour GooGoo Cluster |
Little Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner | Bob Whittaker, Hairl Hensley | ["Country", "Americana", "Vocal", "Comedy", "Variety"] |
"Live from Opryland USA in Nashville, Tennessee, WSM presents the Grand Ole Opry!" Little Jimmy Dickens and Porter Wagoner lead a rousing Wednesday night Opry performance featuring classic country hits, novelty comedy, and bluegrass fiddling for Martha White Flour. |
| "Kit's Psychological Crisis (Episode #816 — Jane Morgan — Albers Flapjack Flour)" | NBC Pacific 1946-08-26 3:30 PM PST |
Albers Milling Co. Albers Flapjack Flour |
Jane Morgan (Aunt Mary), Pat McGeehan | Virginia Crosby, George Fogle, Michael Roy | ["Drama", "Soap Opera", "Domestic", "Psychological", "Short Form"] |
"Albers Flapjack Flour presents Aunt Mary, the story of a woman who is mother to all who need her!" In Beechwood, Aunt Mary rushes to provide comfort and guidance when young Kit experiences a severe psychological break from reality after receiving shocking family news for Albers Flapjack Flour. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (Kit's Psychological Crisis — Episode 816). |
| "Randy's Real Estate Deal (Episode #1077 — Jane Morgan — Albers Quick Oats)" | NBC Pacific 1947-08-26 3:30 PM PST |
Albers Milling Co. Albers Quick Oats & Flapjack |
Jane Morgan, Tom Collins (Randy) | Gil Doud, George Fogle, Michael Roy | ["Drama", "Soap Opera", "Domestic", "Romance", "Short Form"] |
"Albers Quick Oats brings you Aunt Mary!" Randy returns to the Lane household bursting with enthusiasm over closing a major real estate transaction for the community development project, but Aunt Mary senses hidden legal complications for Albers Cereals. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (Randy's Beechwood Development — Episode 1077). |
| "Frederic Tudor: The World's First Iceman (Dr. Phillips Thomas — Westinghouse)" | Syndicated 1947-08-26 (KDKA Series) |
Westinghouse Electric Science Education |
Dr. Phillips Thomas, Paul Shannon | Charles G. Proche, Paul Shannon | ["Science", "Docudrama", "Historical", "Educational", "Short Form"] |
"Westinghouse presents Adventures in Research! Exploring the scientific marvels that changed the modern world!" Dr. Phillips Thomas dramatizes the pioneering work of 19th-century inventor Frederic Tudor, the 'Ice King' of Boston, who revolutionized global food preservation by harvesting New England pond ice and shipping it to tropical Caribbean and Indian ports. |
| "The Cold Fire: Bioluminescence & Fluorescence (Dr. Phillips Thomas — Westinghouse)" | Syndicated 1952-08-26 (KDKA Series) |
Westinghouse Electric Educational Features |
Dr. Phillips Thomas, Paul Shannon | Westinghouse Education | ["Science", "Docudrama", "Historical", "Educational", "Short Form"] |
"Adventures in Research, brought to you by Westinghouse!" Dr. Phillips Thomas explores the fascinating discovery of bioluminescence and phosphorescence, demonstrating how deep-sea creatures and fireflies produce light without heat and how modern scientists harnessed 'cold fire' to invent modern fluorescent illumination. |
| "Half-Time Strategy (William Bendix & Dennis O'Keefe — Family Theater)" | Mutual (WOR) 1948-08-26 10:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Family Rosary Crusade |
Dennis O'Keefe, William Bendix, Lurene Tuttle | Father Patrick Peyton, David Young | ["Drama", "Sports", "Inspirational", "Moral", "Family"] |
"Family Theater! More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of! Hosted by Dennis O'Keefe!" In 'Half-Time Strategy', a hard-nosed college football coach played by William Bendix faces a moral dilemma during a championship game when his star quarterback confesses to cheating on an exam, choosing academic integrity over an easy athletic victory. |