On This Day, August 28: Les Brown and Harry James
Also featured: Gang Busters.
August 28 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 28 across American network radio and Armed Forces Radio Service, Les Brown & His Band of Renown live from the Hollywood Palladium, jazz trombonist Urbie Green, Sgt. Johnny Desmond singing 'Blue Moon' with the Army Air Forces Orchestra, Harry James and his Music Makers on NBC's All Star Parade of Bands, Chuck Schaden's nostalgic Night Cap Yarns, and Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf narrating Gang Busters: The Dillingers of the Ozarks for Sloan's Liniment (1939–1959):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Les Brown — Mr. and Mrs. Sippi" | AFRS 1951-08-28 |
US Military AFRS Swing Broadcast |
Les Brown and His Band of Renown | Lucy Ann Polk | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Dance", "Jazz"] |
Les Brown and his Band of Renown perform energetic dance arrangements and brassy swing orchestrations from the Hollywood Palladium. |
| "Urbie Green — Here's One" | AFRS 1959-08-28 |
US Military AFRS Swing Broadcast |
Urbie Green and his Orchestra | AFRS Jazz Staff | ["Music", "Big Band", "Jazz", "Swing", "Trombone"] |
Master jazz trombonist Urbie Green leads a sharp modern swing ensemble through lyrical ballads and cool jazz solos. |
| "Blue Moon" | Mutual (WOR) 1945-08-28 8:00 PM EWT |
Sustaining Big Band Showcase |
Army Air Forces Orchestra | Sgt. Johnny Desmond | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Military", "Vocal"] |
The Army Air Forces Training Command dance band performs lush wartime swing melodies, opening with Rodgers and Hart's classic 'Blue Moon'. |
| "Guest Harry James and his Orchestra" | NBC (WNBC) 1953-08-28 10:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining NBC Music Showcase |
Harry James and his Music Makers | NBC Music Staff | ["Music", "Big Band", "Swing", "Jazz", "Trumpet"] |
Trumpeter Harry James leads his powerhouse orchestra in virtuoso brass solos, boogie-woogie showpieces, and romantic ballroom arrangements. |
| "Official Duty" | Syndicated Elec 1939-08-28 |
Commercial Regional Sponsors |
Syndicated Storyteller | Radio Drama Company | ["Drama", "Storytelling", "Anthology", "Moral", "Americana"] |
An elderly small-town constable must choose between his strict official oath and protecting a desperate runaway youth from a predatory loan shark. |
| "The Dillingers of the Ozarks" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1942-08-28 8:00 PM EWT |
Dr. Earl S. Sloan Sloan's Liniment |
Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf | Phillips H. Lord (Producer) | ["Police Procedural", "True Crime", "Action", "Docudrama", "Hardboiled"] |
Missouri state troopers and local sheriffs wage a relentless armed manhunt across the Ozarks to take down a ruthless family of bank robbers. |