On This Day, August 29: Bob Hope and The Fat Man
Also featured: Paul Whiteman.
August 29 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 29 across American network radio and Armed Forces broadcasting, Bob Hope hosting The Bob Hope Show for Woodbury Soap (1937), Dashiell Hammett's hardboiled private investigator Brad Runyon in The Fat Man (1947), Paul Whiteman's Sea Fever series finale on Stairway to the Stars (1947), Bob & Ray satirizing soap operas on CBS (1952), and morning cheer on The Jack Berch Show for Prudential (1937–1952):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Sea Fever (Series Finale)" | ABC (WJZ) 1947-08-29 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Musical Showcase |
Paul Whiteman, Tilton | Ray Eberle (Vocal) | ["Music", "Orchestral", "Big Band", "Vocal", "Easy Listening"] |
Paul Whiteman conducts a lush orchestral farewell program featuring musical arrangements inspired by John Masefield's seafaring poetry. |
| "Sea Fever (Series Finale, AFRS Rebroadcast)" | AFRS Radio 1947-08-29 |
Sustaining Armed Forces Radio |
Paul Whiteman, Tilton | Ray Eberle (Vocal) | ["Music", "Orchestral", "Big Band", "Vocal", "Military"] |
Paul Whiteman conducts a lush orchestral farewell program featuring musical arrangements inspired by John Masefield's seafaring poetry. |
| "It's a Good Day with The Three Suns" | NBC (WNBC) 1947-08-29 11:30 AM EDT |
Prudential Insurance Life Insurance |
Jack Berch, Three Suns | Charlie Magnante (Music) | ["Music", "Vocal", "Morning Show", "Easy Listening", "Variety"] |
Jack Berch sings upbeat morning songs and shares cheerful household commentary backed by The Three Suns instrumental trio. |
| "Portrait of Murder" | ABC (WJZ) 1947-08-29 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Hardboiled Detective |
J. Scott Smart (Runyon) | Dashiell Hammett (Creator) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Hardboiled", "Crime", "Noir"] |
Private investigator Brad Runyon investigates an art gallery heist where an eccentric painter is murdered in front of his unfinished canvas. |
| "Gor the Hangman and CBS Network Spoofs" | CBS (WCBS) 1952-08-29 5:45 PM EDT |
Sustaining Network Comedy |
Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding | Bob & Ray (Writers) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Sketch", "Improv"] |
Bob and Ray satirize radio soap operas and melodrama serials with the recurring spoof 'Gor the Hangman'. |
| "Woodbury Soap Summer Preview with Bob Hope" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1937-08-29 9:00 PM EDST |
Andrew Jergens Co. Woodbury Facial Soap |
Bob Hope, Shep Fields | Honeychile Wilder | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Stand-Up", "Music", "Vaudeville"] |
Bob Hope delivers rapid-fire monologue jokes about Hollywood vacation retreats and introduces musical selections by Shep Fields' orchestra. |