On This Day, August 27: Hitler's Ultimatum and Paris Liberation
Also featured: Front Page Drama.
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, special news bulletins on Hitler's diplomatic ultimatum to Poland on the eve of World War II, CBS battlefield reporting from liberated Paris, Mayan archaeological adventure on Movietown Radio Theater, and three classic true-crime dramatizations from the files of The American Weekly on Front Page Drama (1933 Emerald Necklace heist, 1938 society columnist blackmail, and 1950 district attorney extortion) (1933–1950):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "News — Hitler's Demands on Poland" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1939-08-27 11:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Special News Bulletin |
NBC News Desk, Baukhage | NBC News Room | ["News", "Journalism", "Wartime", "Historical", "Live Broadcast"] |
Special bulletins detail Adolf Hitler's formal diplomatic demands to Great Britain and Poland concerning the Danzig corridor and transit rights. |
| "CBS World News Today (Paris Liberation)" | CBS (WABC) 1944-08-27 2:00 PM EWT |
Sustaining World News Roundup |
Douglas Edwards, Charles Collingwood | Winston Burdett, CBS News | ["News", "Journalism", "Wartime", "Historical", "Live Broadcast"] |
Live reports chronicle the liberation festivities across Paris and Allied tank columns driving retreating German divisions eastward. |
| "Teddy Battles the Ancients" | Syndicated 1948-08-27 8:30 PM |
Commercial Hollywood Theater |
C.P. MacGregor Dramatic Cast | C.P. MacGregor Staff | ["Adventure", "Drama", "Archaeology", "Hollywood", "Anthology"] |
An adventurous college archaeologist ventures into ancient Mayan ruins in search of a hidden jade idol, facing dangerous booby traps. |
| "The Emerald Necklace Heist" | Syndicated Elec 1933-08-27 |
Hearst Newspapers The American Weekly |
American Weekly Dramatic Cast | American Weekly Staff | ["Docudrama", "Crime", "Mystery", "Newspaper", "Anthology"] |
A dramatization from the files of The American Weekly recounting the daring burglary of a society heiress's diamond-and-emerald necklace. |
| "People Who Live in Glass Houses" | Syndicated Elec 1938-08-27 |
Hearst Newspapers The American Weekly |
American Weekly Dramatic Cast | American Weekly Staff | ["Docudrama", "Crime", "Mystery", "Newspaper", "Anthology"] |
A high-society gossip columnist finds herself the target of an extortion plot after publishing rumors about a prominent banker's family secrets. |
| "The Anonymous Blackmailer" | Syndicated Elec 1950-08-27 |
Hearst Newspapers The American Weekly |
American Weekly Dramatic Cast | American Weekly Staff | ["Docudrama", "Crime", "Mystery", "Newspaper", "Anthology"] |
A courageous district attorney refuses to bow to poison pen extortion letters threatening to fabricate scandals during his re-election campaign. |