On This Day, August 29: W.C. Fields Farewell and The Beatles
Also featured: Meet the Press.
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, military field recordings, and news syndication, W.C. Fields trading his final barbs with Charlie McCarthy on The Chase and Sanborn Hour (1937), The Beatles' final US tour press conference at Capitol Tower in Hollywood (1966), Martha Rountree & Lawrence Spivak interviewing Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney on Meet the Press (1947), Gayne Whitman in Chandu the Magician for Beech-Nut, live combat audio from AFVN Da Nang, and Big City Serenade (1932–1968):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "A Salute to Edinburgh, Scotland" | NBC (WNBC) 1953-08-29 6:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Musical Broadcast |
Skip Farrell, Honey Dreamers | Roy Shield Orchestra | ["Music", "Vocal", "Orchestral", "Scottish", "Pop Standard"] |
The Roy Shield Orchestra and vocal soloists perform lush arrangements of traditional Scottish ballads honoring Edinburgh's international festival. |
| "W.C. Fields' Farewell as Regular Cast Member" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1937-08-29 8:00 PM EDST |
Standard Brands Chase & Sanborn Coffee |
Edgar Bergen, W.C. Fields | Don Ameche & Lamour | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Ventriloquism", "Vaudeville", "Hollywood"] |
W.C. Fields trades his final series of hilarious barbs and insults with Charlie McCarthy before concluding his regular show run. |
| "Rocket and Mortar Attack on Camp Brooks, Red Beach Da Nang" | AFVN Da Nang 1968-08-29 |
AFRTS Military Combat Broadcast |
AFVN Correspondents | Military Radio Staff | ["Documentary", "Military", "Vietnam War", "Combat Audio", "History"] |
Live combat audio and emergency tactical alerts recorded during an intense enemy rocket and mortar bombardment of Camp Brooks. |
| "The Beatles Final US Tour Press Conference in Los Angeles" | Radio News Pool 1966-08-29 |
Sustaining Music History |
The Beatles | Capitol Records Tower | ["Interview", "Music History", "Pop", "Rock", "Documentary"] |
The Beatles field pointed press inquiries at Capitol Records headquarters in Hollywood hours before their historic final concert at Candlestick Park. |
| "The Temple of the Sacred Scarab (Episode 110)" | KHJ / Don Lee 1932-08-29 |
Beech-Nut Packing Beech-Nut Chewing Gum |
Gayne Whitman (Chandu) | Vera Oldham (Author) | ["Adventure", "Occult", "Fantasy", "Mystery", "Serial"] |
Chandu uses ancient astral projection and occult illusion to navigate a secret Egyptian pyramid chamber guarded by poison darts. |
| "Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney on Price Controls and Monopoly Investigations" | Mutual (WOR) 1947-08-29 10:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Public Affairs |
Martha Rountree, Spivak | Senator J.C. O'Mahoney | ["Public Affairs", "Interview", "Journalism", "Politics", "Economics"] |
Wyoming Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney fields sharp questions from top Washington correspondents regarding antitrust enforcement and rising living costs. |