On This Day, August 26: Jim French and Fitch Bandwagon
Also featured: Eddie Condon.
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, British, and South African radio, three premier audio drama productions from Jim French's Imagination Theatre (Crisis: The Voice of Alec Bellamy, Kincaid's Games Without Frontiers, and Harry Nile in Hush Money), Harry James and Cass Daley headlining The Fitch Bandwagon, Eddie Condon's live Town Hall jazz concert with Muggsy Spanier, and Ronald Segal's South African anti-apartheid drama The Tokolosh on the BBC (1944–2012):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Tokolosh by Ronald Segal (Paterson Joseph & Burt Caesar — BBC)" | BBC Radio 4 1995-08-26 7:50 PM |
Sustaining Play of the Week |
Paterson Joseph, Burt Caesar | Ronald Segal, Ned Chaillet | ["Drama", "Political", "South African", "Apartheid", "Folklore"] |
"BBC Radio 4 presents Saturday Night Theatre in Ronald Segal's powerful political drama, The Tokolosh!" In apartheid-era South Africa, an impoverished township's non-violent bus boycott against soaring fares becomes intertwined with the mythical figure of the Tokolosh, inspiring oppressed factory workers to stand up against brutal state security forces. |
| "Crisis: The Voice of Alec Bellamy & First Hand Experience (Jim French)" | Syndicated 2001-08-26 (KIXI Seattle) |
Syndicated Sponsors Mystery Audio Drama |
John Patrick Lowrie, Terry Rose | Jim French, Larry Albert | ["Mystery", "Suspense", "Audio Drama", "Modern OTR", "Anthology"] |
"From the mystery capital of the world, Jim French presents Imagination Theatre!" In 'The Voice of Alec Bellamy', a late-night talk radio host receives chilling live on-air phone calls from a convicted killer claiming he was framed, followed by 'First Hand Experience', where a private investigator takes a case that turns deadly. |
| "Kincaid, The Strangeseeker: Games Without Frontiers (Terry Rose — Jim French)" | Syndicated 2007-08-26 (KIXI Seattle) |
Syndicated Sponsors Audio Drama |
Terry Rose (Kincaid), John Patrick Lowrie | M.J. Elliott, Jim French | ["Mystery", "Supernatural", "Detective", "Audio Drama", "Occult"] |
"Jim French's Imagination Theatre presents Kincaid, The Strangeseeker!" Occult investigator Kincaid probes an ancient board game unearthed in an English manor whose antique carved pieces compel players to reenact fatal medieval curses in 'Games Without Frontiers', followed by a classic drawing-room murder mystery in 'Murder Among Nice People'. |
| "Harry Nile: Hush Money & The Case of the Bogus Bettor (Larry Albert — Jim French)" | Syndicated 2012-08-26 (KIXI Seattle) |
Syndicated Sponsors Audio Mystery |
Larry Albert (Harry Nile), Dorward | Jim French, John Patrick Lowrie | ["Detective", "Hardboiled", "Noir", "Audio Drama", "Mystery"] |
"Jim French's Imagination Theatre presents The Adventures of Harry Nile, starring Larry Albert as Seattle private eye Harry Nile!" In 'Hush Money', Harry is hired to deliver blackmail payoffs for a prominent shipping tycoon, followed by 'The Case of the Bogus Bettor', unmasking a crooked horse-racing syndicate rigging off-track betting parlors in post-war Seattle. |
| "Guest Harry James & Cass Daley in Ciribiribin (Dick Powell — Fitch Bandwagon)" | NBC (WEAF/KFI) 1945-08-26 7:30 PM EWT |
F.W. Fitch Co. Fitch's Dandruff Shampoo |
Harry James Orchestra, Dick Powell | Ward Wheelock, Toby Reed | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Jazz", "Variety"] |
"Fitch Shampoo presents The Fitch Bandwagon, with guest maestro Harry James and His Music Makers!" Dick Powell welcomes trumpet king Harry James performing 'Ciribiribin', 'It's Been a Long, Long Time' with Kitty Kallen, and riotous slapstick vocal duets with Cass Daley for Fitch Shampoo. |
| "California, Here I Come! Live from Town Hall (Eddie Condon & Muggsy Spanier)" | Blue (WJZ) 1944-08-26 3:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Town Hall Concert |
Eddie Condon, Muggsy Spanier | Ernest Anderson, Fred Robbins | ["Music", "Jazz", "Dixieland", "Swing", "Live"] |
"The Blue Network presents Eddie Condon's Jazz Concert, broadcast live from Town Hall in New York City!" Eddie Condon leads his all-star ensemble through blazing Dixieland jam sessions of 'California, Here I Come', 'Impromptu Ensemble in G', 'Strut Miss Lizzie', and sultry blues vocals by Lee Wiley. |