On This Day, August 28: Tennessee Ernie Ford and Green Lama
Also featured: Intrigue.
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 syndication, Tennessee Ernie Ford on The Ford Road Show, John Brown in The Damon Runyon Theatre, Arlene Francis in Betty and Bob, Helen Hayes portraying Mary Queen of Scots on Romance, Joseph Cotten in Nicholas Blake's espionage thriller The Smiler with the Knife on Intrigue, and Paul Frees as The Green Lama (1945–1958):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" | CBS (WCBS) 1958-08-28 7:00 PM EDT |
Ford Motor Co. Ford Dealers of America |
Tennessee Ernie Ford | Jack Fascinato Orchestra | ["Music", "Country", "Pop Standard", "Variety", "Americana"] |
Tennessee Ernie Ford shares down-home humor between lively country and pop standards, leading with Irving Berlin's 'I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm'. |
| "Social Error (Ziv/Syndication)" | Syndicated / Ziv 1949-08-28 |
Commercial Regional Sponsors |
John Brown, Alan Reed | Russell Hughes (Adapter) | ["Comedy", "Crime", "Anthology", "Broadway", "Americana"] |
Broadway narrator recounts how a tough gangster attempts to navigate Manhattan high society by mastering formal ballroom etiquette. |
| "A Letter from the Past" | Syndicated Elec 1947-08-28 |
Commercial Regional Sponsors |
Arlene Francis, Carl Frank | Frank & Anne Hummert | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Marriage", "Domestic", "Serial"] |
Betty discovers an unmailed letter hidden inside Bob's antique desk that threatens to expose a long-buried family secret. |
| "Mary, Queen of Scots" | CBS (WABC) 1945-08-28 8:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Historical Drama |
Helen Hayes (Mary) | William N. Robson (Dir) | ["Drama", "Historical", "Biography", "Romance", "British"] |
A dramatic retelling of the turbulent life, political imprisonment, and tragic execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. |
| "The Smiler with the Knife" | CBS (WABC) 1946-08-28 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Espionage Drama |
Joseph Cotten (Host/Star) | Nicholas Blake (Author) | ["Suspense", "Espionage", "Mystery", "Thriller", "British"] |
A woman investigates an underground fascist conspiracy in pre-war England after discovering a coded ring belonging to a secret military society. |
| "The Case of the Chopsticks" | CBS (WABC) 1949-08-28 5:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Superhero Adventure |
Paul Frees, Ben Wright | Richard Foster (Creator) | ["Superhero", "Pulp", "Adventure", "Detective", "Occult"] |
Jethro Dumont uses Tibetan mystical arts to track a syndicate of smugglers hiding microfilmed state secrets inside ornamental ivory chopsticks. |