On This Day, August 29: Melody Ranch and The Quiz Kids
Also featured: Comic Weekly Man.
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 syndication, Gene Autry & Pat Buttram tracking payroll stagecoach bandits and cattle rustlers on Melody Ranch for Doublemint (1951–1954), Joe Kelly quizzing child prodigies Joel Kupperman and Gerard Darrow on The Quiz Kids for Alka-Seltzer (1943–1948), and The Comic Weekly Man dramatizing syndicated Sunday funnies including Flash Gordon, Blondie, Popeye, and Prince Valiant (1943–1954):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Stagecoach Hold-up at Yucca Flats" | CBS (WCBS) 1951-08-29 8:00 PM EDT |
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. Doublemint Chewing Gum |
Gene Autry, Pat Buttram | Cass County Boys & Cotner | ["Western", "Music", "Adventure", "Vocal", "Americana"] |
Gene Autry investigates a wounded payroll courier and tracks an outlaw gang that ambushed the Yucca Flats stagecoach. |
| "The Silver Dollar Stampede" | CBS (WCBS) 1954-08-29 7:00 PM EDT |
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. Doublemint Chewing Gum |
Gene Autry, Pat Buttram | Cass County Boys | ["Western", "Music", "Adventure", "Vocal", "Americana"] |
Gene Autry foils cattle rustlers who triggered a midnight herd stampede to loot a nearby mining town saloon. |
| "Wartime Geography and Roman History" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1943-08-29 7:30 PM EWT |
Miles Laboratories Alka-Seltzer / One-A-Day |
Joe Kelly, J. Kupperman | Gerard Darrow & Kids | ["Game Show", "Trivia", "Education", "Juvenile", "Panel"] |
Child prodigies Joel Kupperman and Gerard Darrow answer complex listener questions regarding Mediterranean geography and ancient Roman generals. |
| "Why Can People Sign Their Name for a Hershey?" | NBC (WNBC) 1948-08-29 4:00 PM EDT |
Miles Laboratories Alka-Seltzer / One-A-Day |
Joe Kelly, J. Kupperman | Naomi Cooks & Lunde | ["Game Show", "Trivia", "Education", "Juvenile", "Panel"] |
Quizmaster Joe Kelly tests the juvenile panel on currency idioms, botanical classifications, and American presidential campaign history. |
| "Reading the Sunday Funnies with Flash Gordon and Blondie" | WNBC New York 1948-08-29 |
King Features Synd Puck — The Comic Weekly |
The Comic Weekly Man | King Features Staff | ["Children's", "Comics", "Storytelling", "Pop Culture", "Radio Host"] |
The Comic Weekly Man reads and dramatizes Sunday color comic strips featuring Flash Gordon, Blondie, and Bringing Up Father for juvenile listeners. |
| "Reading the Sunday Comics with Prince Valiant and Popeye" | WRCA New York 1954-08-29 |
King Features Synd Puck — The Comic Weekly |
The Comic Weekly Man | King Features Staff | ["Children's", "Comics", "Storytelling", "Pop Culture", "Radio Host"] |
A dramatic radio reading of syndicated Sunday morning comic strips including Prince Valiant's medieval quests and Popeye the Sailor's adventures. |