On This Day, August 26: Elliott and Cathy Lewis
Also featured: Boys Town, Boeing Stratocruiser.
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 and British radio, Elliott and Cathy Lewis starring in The Prize Fighter on On Stage, Conrad Nagel presenting the story of Father Flanagan's Boys Town on Radio Reader's Digest for Campbell's Soup, Antoinette Donnelly's flight on the double-decker Pan Am Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, Frank Lovejoy on Men at Sea, Bob Trout on CBS News, and Retribution (1940–1954):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Iron Master's Nemesis (John Carson & Ralph Michael — Retribution)" | Syndicated 1947-08-26 (Towers of London) |
Local Merchants Moral Justice Anthology |
John Carson (Narrator), Ralph Michael | George Bellak, Harry Alan Towers | ["Suspense", "Psychological", "Noir", "British", "Short Form"] |
"Retribution! The inescapable law of nature that brings every crime to light and every evildoer to justice! In 'The Iron Master's Nemesis', a ruthless Sheffield foundry owner causes the fatal machinery accident of an inventor to steal his patent, only to be trapped in the automated foundry by the inventor's loyal apprentice." |
| "Pan Am Boeing Stratocruiser Maiden Flight (Antoinette Donnelly — WOR)" | WOR (Mutual) 1949-08-26 12:45 PM EDT |
Manhattan Sponsors New York Daily News |
Antoinette Donnelly, Pan Am Flight Crew | WOR Special Features | ["Talk", "Interview", "Travelogue", "Aviation", "Americana"] |
"Around New York with Antoinette Donnelly, your guide to city life, fashion, and exciting events! Columnist Antoinette Donnelly recounts her exhilarating inaugural flight aboard the luxurious double-decker Pan American Boeing 377 Stratocruiser over Manhattan, detailing the lower-deck cocktail lounge and pressurized passenger comfort." |
| "The Prize Fighter (Elliott & Cathy Lewis — CBS On Stage)" | CBS (WCBS/KNX) 1954-08-26 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Radio Theater Anthology |
Elliott Lewis, Cathy Lewis, Sheldon Leonard | Morton Fine, David Friedkin, George Walsh | ["Drama", "Sports", "Boxing", "Romance", "Americana"] |
"Cathy and Elliott Lewis On Stage, bringing you theater at its best, written, directed, and starring Mr. and Mrs. Radio!" Elliott Lewis stars as a proud middleweight prizefighter struggling with impending blindness who hides his injury from his devoted wife (Cathy Lewis) to fight one final championship bout to secure their financial security. |
| "RAF Night Bombing of Berlin Confirmed (Bob Trout & William L. Shirer — CBS News)" | CBS (WABC) 1940-08-26 11:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Late-Night News Roundup |
Bob Trout (Anchor), William L. Shirer | CBS News Special Events | ["News", "Historical", "Wartime", "Documentary", "Public Affairs"] |
"CBS News, Bob Trout reporting from New York!" Late-night shortwave reports confirm that British Bomber Command aircraft dropped high explosives and incendiary bombs across Berlin military targets in direct retaliation for the Luftwaffe's bombardment of London. |
| "The Miracle of Father Flanagan's Boys Town (Conrad Nagel — Campbell's Soup)" | CBS (WABC) 1945-08-26 9:00 PM EWT |
Campbell Soup Co. Campbell's Vegetable Soup |
Conrad Nagel, Father Edward J. Flanagan | Robert L. Shayon, George Bryan | ["Drama", "Biographical", "Inspirational", "Moral", "Anthology"] |
"The Campbell Soup Company presents Radio Reader's Digest, with your host Conrad Nagel!" The inspiring true story of Father Edward J. Flanagan, who founded Boys Town near Omaha, Nebraska on the revolutionary principle that 'there is no such thing as a bad boy', transforming juvenile delinquents through trust and community. |
| "Voyage to Kings Point (Frank Lovejoy — U.S. Maritime Commission Men at Sea)" | NBC (WEAF) 1945-08-26 6:30 PM EWT |
U.S. Maritime Comm. War Shipping Administration |
Frank Lovejoy, Ted Osborne, Luis Van Rooten | Allan Sloane, John M. Wyatt, Don Wilson | ["Maritime", "Docudrama", "Military", "Historical", "Action"] |
"Men at Sea! The heroic story of the United States Merchant Marine and the men who keep the sea lanes open!" In 'Voyage to Kings Point', a young cadet midshipman trains at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, sailing his liberty ship through wartime submarine-infested waters to deliver vital supplies to Allied armies across the Pacific. |