On This Day, August 26: Superman Serials (Kellogg's) and Orson Welles
Also featured: Benny Goodman.
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, four thrilling Adventures of Superman multi-part serial arcs starring Bud Collyer for Kellogg's Pep (1941 submarine sabotage, 1943 Civil Air Patrol U-boat hunt, 1946 concrete cartel exposé, and 1948 atomic cipher pursuit), Orson Welles exploring forensic evidence in The Black Museum, and Benny Goodman swinging with Johnny Mercer on The Camel Caravan (1939–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Grayson Submarine (Part 2 — Bud Collyer as Superman — Kellogg's Pep)" | Mutual (WOR) 1941-08-26 5:15 PM EDST |
The Kellogg Co. Kellogg's Pep ("Sunshine") |
Bud Collyer (Superman), Joan Alexander (Lois) | George Lowther, Jackson Beck | ["Superheroes", "Action", "Adventure", "Sci-Fi", "Juvenile"] |
"Up in the sky! Look! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!" In Part 2 of 'The Grayson Submarine', enemy saboteurs damage the steering rudder of an experimental midget submarine during sea trials off Metropolis harbor, sending the vessel careening into a deep ocean trench until Superman dives to the rescue for Kellogg's Pep. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (The Grayson Submarine — Part 2). |
| "The Civil Air Patrol (Part 7 — Bud Collyer as Superman — Kellogg's Pep)" | Mutual (WOR) 1943-08-26 5:15 PM EWT |
The Kellogg Co. Kellogg's Pep ("Vitamin B1") |
Bud Collyer (Superman), Jackie Kelk (Jimmy) | George Lowther, Jackson Beck, Al Binnie | ["Superheroes", "Action", "Adventure", "Aviation", "Wartime"] |
"Kellogg's Pep presents The Adventures of Superman!" In Part 7 of 'The Civil Air Patrol', teenage cadet Jimmy Olsen spots a clandestine Morse code signal flashing from a deserted coastal lighthouse toward an offshore U-boat, dodging gunfire until Superman intercepts the spies for Kellogg's Pep. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (The Civil Air Patrol — Part 7). |
| "Candy Meyer's Big Story (Part 3 of 8 — Bud Collyer as Superman — Kellogg's Pep)" | Mutual (WOR) 1946-08-26 5:15 PM EDT |
The Kellogg Co. Kellogg's Pep & Corn Flakes |
Bud Collyer (Superman), Joan Alexander | Allen Ducovny, B.P. Freeman, Jackson Beck | ["Superheroes", "Action", "Adventure", "Crime", "Juvenile"] |
"The Adventures of Superman, brought to you by Kellogg's Pep!" In Part 3 of 'Candy Meyer's Big Story', rookie cub reporter Candy Meyer uncovers proof of a crooked city construction cartel bribing city inspectors with substandard concrete, prompting syndicate goons to trap him inside a collapsing silo until Superman arrives for Kellogg's Pep. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (Candy Meyer's Big Story — Part 3 of 8). |
| "The Mystery of the Letter (Part 9 of 11 — Bud Collyer as Superman — Kellogg's Pep)" | Mutual (WOR) 1948-08-26 5:15 PM EDT |
The Kellogg Co. Kellogg's Pep Cereal |
Bud Collyer (Superman), Joan Alexander | Jessica Maxwell, Jackson Beck, Al Binnie | ["Superheroes", "Action", "Adventure", "Espionage", "Juvenile"] |
"Superman! Champion of courage and justice!" In Part 9 of 'The Mystery of the Letter', Clark Kent decodes an invisible-ink cipher containing atomic secrets smuggled out of a foreign research lab, racing to intercept a midnight courier plane at Metropolis Municipal Airport for Kellogg's Pep. Note: Multi-part serial narrative arc (The Mystery of the Letter — Part 9 of 11). |
| "The Raincoat (Orson Welles — The Black Museum of Scotland Yard)" | Mutual (WOR) 1952-08-26 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Scotland Yard Docudrama |
Orson Welles (Host/Narrator), Ralph Truman | Harry Alan Towers (Towers of London) | ["Police Procedural", "Docudrama", "True Crime", "British", "Mystery"] |
"This is Orson Welles, speaking from London... from the Black Museum of Scotland Yard, a repository of death..." Orson Welles examines an ordinary water-stained mackintosh raincoat found near a Sussex railway embankment, unlocking how Scotland Yard forensic scientists used microscopic coal-dust particles to trap a train murderer. |
| "Swing with Benny Goodman & Johnny Mercer (Camel Cigarettes)" | CBS (WABC) 1939-08-26 10:00 PM EDST |
R.J. Reynolds Co. Camel Cigarettes |
Benny Goodman, Johnny Mercer, Lionel Hampton | William Esty & Co., Dan Seymour | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Jazz", "Variety"] |
"The Camel Caravan, starring Benny Goodman, the King of Swing, brought to you by Camel Cigarettes!" Benny Goodman and his Orchestra swing the hits including 'One O'Clock Jump' and 'Stompin' at the Savoy', featuring vibraphone virtuoso Lionel Hampton, vocals from Louise Tobin, and Johnny Mercer trading witty song rhymes for Camel Cigarettes. |