On This Day, August 26: Vaughn Monroe and Marie McDonald (AFRS)
Also featured: Squad Cars SA.
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 international networks, Vaughn Monroe headlining 'Goodnight, Irene' on The Camel Caravan, glamorous movie star Marie McDonald hosting Woody Herman's Thundering Herd on Command Performance, two high-stakes flying squad cases on South Africa's Squad Cars, Stan Kenton and June Christy in Artistry and Rhythm, and Anne Seymour portraying Red Cross founder Clara Barton on The American Challenge (1940–1983):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story-First Plot Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Goodnight, Irene & Mona Lisa (Vaughn Monroe — Camel Caravan)" | CBS (WCBS) 1950-08-26 7:30 PM EDT |
R.J. Reynolds Co. Camel Cigarettes & Prince Albert |
Vaughn Monroe, The Moon Maids, Ziggy Talent | William Esty & Co., Bob Sherry | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Vocal", "Variety"] |
"The Camel Caravan, starring Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra, brought to you by Camel Cigarettes!" Baritone Vaughn Monroe and the Moon Maids headline the nationwide chart-topper 'Goodnight, Irene', followed by 'Mona Lisa', high-energy trumpet solos, and comedic novelty numbers from Ziggy Talent for Camel Cigarettes. |
| "Command Performance #286 (Marie McDonald & Woody Herman — AFRS)" | AFRS 1947-08-26 (Troop Broadcast) |
U.S. Armed Forces AFRS Worldwide Service |
Marie McDonald, Woody Herman Orchestra, Harry Von Zell | AFRS Hollywood, Bob Welch, Ken Carpenter | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Military", "Big Band", "Vaudeville"] |
"Command Performance! By request of our fighting men overseas, starring glamorous Marie McDonald!" Marie McDonald hosts swinging musical requests with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd tearing through 'Caldonia' and 'Apple Honey', paired with comedy skits from Harry Von Zell for American troops stationed abroad. |
| "A Change of Luck (David Gooden — Springbok Radio Squad Cars)" | Springbok Radio 1977-08-26 8:00 PM SAST |
General Motors Chevrolet & Delco Batteries |
Colin Fisher, Hugh Rouse, Brian O'Shaughnessy | David Gooden (Creator/Dir.) | ["Police Procedural", "Crime", "Action", "Drama", "International"] |
"They cruise the city streets by night and by day... Squad Cars!" When a small-time burglar experiences an unexpected streak of good fortune after looting a suburban safe, flying squad detectives in Johannesburg trace the sudden wealth to an armed diamond smuggling ring. |
| "The Peeping Tom (Colin Fisher & David C. Campbell — Squad Cars)" | Springbok Radio 1983-08-26 8:30 PM SAST |
Sustaining Police Flying Squad Drama |
David C. Campbell, Colin Fisher, Peter Terry | Colin Fisher, David Gooden | ["Police Procedural", "Crime", "Action", "Drama", "International"] |
"Calling Car 5... Calling Car 5... Squad Cars!" Patrol car officers investigate reports of a nocturnal prowler stalking residential estates in Durban, realizing the voyeur is actually casing affluent homes for an organized syndicate of armed jewel thieves. |
| "Progressive Jazz Concert #3 (Stan Kenton & June Christy — AFRS)" | AFRS 1951-08-26 (Jazz Series #3) |
U.S. Armed Forces AFRS Worldwide Jazz |
Stan Kenton, June Christy, Maynard Ferguson | Pete Rugolo, Stan Kenton, Gene Norman | ["Music", "Jazz", "Big Band", "Progressive Jazz", "Instrumental"] |
"Artistry and Rhythm, presenting Stan Kenton and his Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra!" Stan Kenton introduces groundbreaking modern jazz compositions including 'Artistry in Rhythm', 'Collaboration', and 'Eager Beaver', featuring soaring brass solos from Maynard Ferguson and vocals from June Christy. |
| "The Story of Clara Barton & The Red Cross (Anne Seymour — NBC Red)" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1940-08-26 9:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining American History Docudrama |
Anne Seymour (Clara Barton), Karl Swenson | Morton Wishengrad, Joseph Losey, Ben Grauer | ["Historical", "Docudrama", "Biography", "Drama", "Americana"] |
"The American Challenge! Stories of courage that built a free nation!" The heroic life of Civil War 'Angel of the Battlefield' Clara Barton is dramatized, chronicling her relentless crusade against bureaucratic opposition to establish the American Red Cross and provide battlefield relief to wounded soldiers. |