On This Day, August 27: Betty and Bob and Romance
Also featured: Sammy Kaye.
August 27 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on August 27 across American network radio and syndication, Frank and Anne Hummert's classic daytime serial Betty and Bob, two Norman Macdonnell productions on Romance (1953 Captain Huckabee's Beard with John Dehner, 1955 Mrs. O'Toole with Parley Baer), Sammy Kaye swinging on Sammy Kaye's Showroom for Serutan, European espionage thriller Retribution, and Hal Kemp & Skinny Ennis on Chesterfield Time (1937–1955):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "A Difficult Decision for Bob" | Mutual (WOR) 1947-08-27 10:15 AM EDT |
Commercial Soap Opera Sponsors |
Arlene Francis (Betty), Spencer Bentley (Bob) | Frank & Anne Hummert | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Domestic", "Marriage", "Serial"] |
Bob Drake struggles with a painful ethical compromise at his publishing firm while Betty tries to shield their family from impending financial ruin. |
| "Captain Huckabee's Beard" | CBS (WCBS) 1953-08-27 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Dramatic Anthology |
John Dehner, Virginia Gregg | Norman Macdonnell (Director) | ["Romance", "Comedy", "Nautical", "Drama", "Anthology"] |
A stubborn old sea captain refuses to trim his magnificent nautical beard for his wedding until an eccentric bet forces his hand. |
| "The Courtship of Mrs. O'Toole" | CBS (WCBS) 1955-08-27 1:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Dramatic Anthology |
Parley Baer, Jeanette Nolan | Norman Macdonnell (Director) | ["Romance", "Comedy", "Drama", "Americana", "Anthology"] |
A determined Irish railroad worker attempts to court a proud, sharp-tongued boardinghouse widow with humorous persistence. |
| "I'm Making Believe" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1944-08-27 1:30 PM EWT |
Serutan "Read It Backwards" |
Sammy Kaye, Nancy Norman, Tommy Ryan | Sammy Kaye Ensemble | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Pop Standards", "Vocal"] |
Sammy Kaye leads his orchestra in gentle swing melodies and audience sing-alongs, headlined by Mack Gordon's wartime ballad 'I'm Making Believe'. |
| "The Double Cross in Lisbon" | Syndicated Elec 1946-08-27 |
Commercial Crime Melodrama |
Syndicated Dramatic Cast | Syndicated Production | ["Crime", "Mystery", "Noir", "Suspense", "Anthology"] |
A ruthless international jewel smuggler in postwar Lisbon schemes to double-cross his conspirators, unaware that his trusted accomplice is an undercover agent. |
| "You Can't Have Everything" | CBS (WABC) 1937-08-27 8:30 PM EDST |
Liggett & Myers Chesterfield ("They Satisfy!") |
Hal Kemp, Skinny Ennis, The Smoothies | Paul Douglas (Announcer) | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Pop Standards", "Vocal"] |
Hal Kemp leads his orchestra in sophisticated dance rhythms, featuring Skinny Ennis singing the title song from the 20th Century-Fox musical 'You Can't Have Everything'. |