On This Day, August 27: Leonidas Witherall and Lower Basin Street
Also featured: Gene Autry.
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, Walter Hampden and Agnes Moorehead in Phoebe Atwood Taylor's The Adventures of Leonidas Witherall, Milton Cross presiding over jazz satire on Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street, decorated war hero Sgt. John Rooney on The Purple Heart, Robert Young in The Anacin Hollywood Star Theater, Jackie Gleason & Les Tremayne for Old Gold, and Gene Autry & Pat Buttram in Gene Autry's Melody Ranch for Wrigley's Doublemint Gum (1944–1949):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Case of the Missing Manuscript" | Mutual (WOR) 1944-08-27 7:00 PM EWT |
Sustaining Mystery Comedy |
Walter Hampden, Agnes Moorehead | Phoebe Atwood Taylor | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Comedy", "Literary", "Eccentric"] |
Eccentric mystery author and headmaster Leonidas Witherall investigates when his publisher's safe is burglarized and the only manuscript of his new novel is stolen. |
| "The Anvil Chorus" | NBC Blue / AFRS 1944-08-27 9:15 PM EWT |
Sustaining / AFRS Jazz Satire |
Milton Cross, Paul Laval, Henry Levine | Ernestine Mercer | ["Music", "Jazz", "Comedy", "Satire", "Dixieland"] |
Milton Cross presides over satirical jazz commentaries and swinging chamber renditions of Verdi's 'Anvil Chorus' and traditional Dixieland blues. |
| "Sgt. John Rooney's Story in Occupied France" | Mutual (WOR) 1944-08-27 8:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Military Order of PH |
Don Douglas (Narrator), Sgt. Rooney | Mutual Dramatic Staff | ["Docudrama", "Military", "Wartime", "Historical", "Biography"] |
A dramatization of decorated Army Sergeant John Rooney's escape through the French Underground and covert reconnaissance behind German fortifications. |
| "The Sacrificial Lamb" | NBC (WNBC) 1949-08-27 8:00 PM EDT |
Whitehall Pharmacal Anacin Pain Relief |
Robert Young, Lurene Tuttle | Herbert Marshall (Host) | ["Drama", "Hollywood", "Anthology", "Legal", "Suspense"] |
A loyal junior partner agrees to accept responsibility for a boardroom embezzlement scheme until he uncovers evidence that his senior partners intend to frame him for grand larceny. |
| "Look for the Silver Lining" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-08-27 6:30 PM EWT |
P. Lorillard Co. Old Gold Cigarettes |
Jackie Gleason, Les Tremayne, Patsy Kelly | Phil Spitalny, Stardusters | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Vaudeville", "Music", "Pop Standards"] |
Jackie Gleason and Les Tremayne trade quick-witted comedy sketches and vaudeville banter interspersed with Jerome Kern's 'Look for the Silver Lining'. |
| "The Phantom Rustler of Red River" | CBS (WCBS) 1949-08-27 8:00 PM EDT |
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Doublemint Gum |
Gene Autry, Pat Buttram, Cass County Boys | Carl Cotner, Charlie Lyon | ["Western", "Country", "Music", "Adventure", "Americana"] |
Gene Autry and sidekick Pat Buttram track a gang of phantom cattle thieves using muffled horseshoes to rustle livestock along the Red River. |