On This Day, August 29: Gangbusters and Rogues Gallery
Also featured: Xavier Cugat.
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 electrical transcription, Phillips H. Lord's authentic police cases on Gangbusters cracking Midwestern bank robbers and highway carjackers (1953–1956), Paul Stewart consulting 'Eugor' in cloudland on Rogues Gallery (1951), Xavier Cugat's Latin dance rhythms live from the Waldorf-Astoria Starlight Roof on All Star Parade of Bands, Penny Singleton's rummage sale, and bedtime humor on Night Cap Yarns (1939–1956):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra from the Waldorf-Astoria" | NBC (WNBC) 1953-08-29 10:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Musical Remote |
Xavier Cugat, Abbe Lane | Waldorf Starlight Roof | ["Music", "Latin", "Mambo", "Rhumba", "Remote"] |
Xavier Cugat conducts his Latin orchestra in mambos, rhumbas, and cha-chas during a live dance remote from the Starlight Roof of the Waldorf-Astoria. |
| "Penny's Country Club Rummage Sale" | NBC (WNBC) 1950-08-29 9:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Summer Comedy |
Penny Singleton, G. Gordon | Parke Levy (Creator) | ["Sitcom", "Comedy", "Domestic", "Family", "Americana"] |
Penny attempts to raise money for the local animal shelter with a chaotic rummage sale that accidentally auctions off her neighbor's golf clubs. |
| "Stubby Parker Meets Defeat" | Syndicated Elec 1939-08-29 |
Commercial Regional Sponsors |
Frank Parker (Narrator) | Syndicated Drama Staff | ["Storytelling", "Humor", "Bedtime Story", "Americana", "Anthology"] |
A nostalgic bedtime yarn recounting a mischievous country boy's comical misadventures trying to outwit the local schoolmaster. |
| "The Case of Shennault, Alexander, and Anderson" | CBS (WCBS) 1953-08-29 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Police Docudrama |
Phillips H. Lord, MacLaughlin | Leonard Bass (Producer) | ["Police Procedural", "Docudrama", "True Crime", "Action", "Law Enforcement"] |
Police detectives deploy fingerprint forensics and road checkpoints to capture a trio of ruthless Midwestern bank vault robbers. |
| "The Case of the Cha Cha Gang" | Mutual (WOR) 1956-08-29 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Police Docudrama |
Phillips H. Lord (Creator) | Mutual Production Staff | ["Police Procedural", "Docudrama", "True Crime", "Action", "Law Enforcement"] |
State troopers track down a violent armed carjacking ring operating out of roadside dance halls and juke joints. |
| "The Case of the Lady in White" | ABC (WJZ) 1951-08-29 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Hardboiled Mystery |
Paul Stewart (Richard Rogue) | Ray Buffum (Creator) | ["Detective", "Hardboiled", "Mystery", "Noir", "Psychological"] |
Private eye Richard Rogue is knocked unconscious and consults his alter ego 'Eugor' in cloudland to solve the murder of a cloaked woman. |